➗ Math apps and platforms · 🎮 Learning games and sites
Hit the Button (Topmarks)
By Topmarks Online Ltd. Visit Hit the Button (Topmarks)
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
A quick-fire mental math game from the UK site Topmarks. In one-minute rounds, a child taps the right answer to times tables, division facts, number bonds, doubles, halves and square numbers, choosing a level that fits. It is a classroom favorite for fact recall. The web game is free with ads; a paid app for phones, tablets and computers adds an untimed practice mode, player profiles, high scores and trophies. The maker says a new free version is coming.
Our take: A good, cheap drill for times tables and number bonds; children who need concepts explained rather than speed practice need something else alongside it.
Checked in a browser
A browser check on 2026-10-25: what loads, the ads and trackers we saw, and what a child meets first. Not a hands-on test.
| Child safety: 2 out of 5 | Google AdSense ads run on the page, including a "Discover more" box of ad links ("Online math tutor", "Educational games subscription"). |
|---|---|
| Data: 2 out of 5 | Google's ad network (AdSense via googlesyndication and doubleclick) loaded before any consent, though its requests asked for non-personalized ads (npa=1). |
| Ease: 4 out of 5 | A clear Play Game button and big answer buttons suit young children on a touch screen. |
| Cost honesty: 3 out of 5 | The web game is free, but a "Hit the Button App PREMIUM FEATURES" box sits under the Play button. |
What we found
- The first visit contacted 12 third-party hosts on 8 sites and set 8 cookies, including one doubleclick.net cookie.
- 2 Google ad slots were found; the ad requests carried npa=1 (non-personalized ads).
- A "Discover more" box listed ad links for "Math game app", "Online math tutor" and "Educational games subscription".
- A premium app box (untimed practice, profiles, trophies) appears right below Play Game.
From the test: A good quick math game for young children, but it carries Google ads and an app upsell on the same page.
| Ages it suits | about 5-11 |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | Not stated in terms; the terms of service set no age limit. Topmarks labels the game for ages 5-11. (terms) |
| Price | Free, with paid extras. Web game free with ads. App costs $3.99 (or GBP 3.49) once per platform, with no ads or in-app purchases (Oct 2026). |
| Works on | Web, iPhone and iPad, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook |
| Account | No account needed |
| Ads | Yes |
| In-app purchases | None |
| The AI in it | No AI. |
What's good
- Fast, focused fact practice kids return to
- Paid app is cheap, offline, ad-free and keeps data on the device
- Up to 30 profiles per device for siblings or classes
- No account needed
Watch for
- Web version shows ads
- Timed rounds can stress some children (untimed mode is app-only)
- Drill only; it does not teach why facts work
- Separate purchase for each platform
Data and privacy
The website uses Google AdSense managed by Google's consent tool, and says it follows the UK Children's Code. The apps collect no personal data, store player profiles only on the device, and have no ads, purchases or outside links. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
No independent study found; the maker's own claims only (it says regular use sharpens recall of number facts).
In the Big Index
Alternatives to Hit the Button (Topmarks)
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
99math
99math (Estonia) · ages about 5-14 (grades K-8)
A low-effort, free way for teachers to make fact practice lively; parents of kids who dislike timed competition may want a calmer tool.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
ABCmouse
Age of Learning, Inc. · ages about 2-6 (preschool to kindergarten)
A full preschool program for families who want one paid app; cancel carefully and watch the reward loop.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
ABCya
ABCya.com LLC (a division of IXL Learning) · ages about 4-12 (pre-K to grade 6+)
Handy for quick grade-level practice in class or at home; skip if you want an ad-free experience without paying.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Adventure Academy
Age of Learning, Inc. · ages grades 3-8 (about 8-13)
Good for kids who love online games and need a nudge toward school subjects; families wanting no social contact should set chat to off or choose a solo app.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
ALEKS
McGraw Hill (ALEKS Corporation) · ages school-age students through college (K-12 and higher ed courses)
A rigorous, mastery-based option for motivated older students or homeschoolers; younger or easily bored kids may prefer something more playful.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
AoPS Online
Art of Problem Solving (AoPS Incorporated) · ages grades 5-12 (about 10-18)
A strong fit for a child who loves hard math and wants contest prep; a child who is behind in math needs something gentler.
Where these facts come from
- https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button
- https://www.topmarks.co.uk/apps/hit-the-button
- https://www.topmarks.co.uk/termsofuse
- https://www.topmarks.co.uk/privacypolicy
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.