➗ Math apps and platforms · 🔠Science, nature and the world
Gizmos
By ExploreLearning. Visit Gizmos
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
Gizmos is a library of over 550 online math and science simulations for grades 3-12. A student changes variables in a virtual lab, such as planting flowers on fraction number lines or testing forces, records what happens, and answers guided questions; STEM Cases add story-based investigations. Teachers get lesson materials and guides. A rotating set of about 30 Gizmos is free; the rest needs a school license.
Our take: A good free science and math sandbox for curious kids, and better with a school license and a teacher.
| Ages it suits | grades 3-12 |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | Licensed to schools for their teachers and students; parents, guardians or teachers should supervise children, and family-account holders sharing access with under-13s must supervise them. (terms) |
| Price | Free, with paid extras. Rotating free Gizmos (31 in Oct 2026) with no time limit; 30-day free trial of the full library; school pricing by quote. |
| Works on | Web |
| Account | A school account |
| Ads | None |
| In-app purchases | None |
| The AI in it | No AI. |
What's good
- Hands-on experiments without lab gear
- Free rotating selection for anyone
- Strong student-privacy certifications
Watch for
- Full library needs a school license
- Works best with a teacher's guide; can be confusing alone
- Rotating free set changes
Data and privacy
Student data is collected only for the school as a FERPA school official; the company relies on the school or parent for consent for under-13s, does not sell student data or use it for targeted ads, and is iKeepSafe COPPA and FERPA certified. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
The maker reports a Digital Promise ESSA Tier 3 certification and studies it calls independent; we read only the maker's summary.
In the Big Index
- The maker in the who's who: ExploreLearning
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Where these facts come from
- https://www.explorelearning.com/
- https://www.explorelearning.com/our-products/gizmos
- https://gizmos.explorelearning.com/
- https://gizmos.explorelearning.com/find-gizmos/free-gizmos
- https://www.explorelearning.com/free-trial
- https://apps.explorelearning.com/account/el/terms
- https://apps.explorelearning.com/account/el/privacy
- https://www.explorelearning.com/research/
- https://gizmos.explorelearning.com/research/the-impact-of-gizmos-on-student-achievement
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.