➗ Math apps and platforms · 🎮 Learning games and sites · 🏫 Classroom tools
Sumdog
By Sumdog (Sumdog Ltd in the UK, Sumdog Inc. in the US). Visit Sumdog
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
A game-based practice site from Scotland for math, spelling, grammar and times tables, used mostly in elementary schools. A child answers adaptive questions inside short games, earns coins to decorate an avatar and house, and can play live games against classmates or join school and national contests. Teachers set work and see reports; families can subscribe at home through Sumdog Family.
Our take: A fun practice add-on for schools and families who want game-style drills; parents seeking proven gains or no online play with others should look elsewhere.
| Ages it suits | about 5-14 (US grades K-8; UK years 1-9) |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | Students need permission from a parent, guardian or teacher, who must register for them; anyone under 18 logs in only on an account a parent or teacher created. (terms) |
| Price | Paid. Sumdog Family is $8.99 a month in the US after a free trial that needs payment details (Oct 2026). UK school prices start at £210 a year for a class of 35 for math. |
| Works on | Web |
| Account | A parent's account |
| Ads | None |
| In-app purchases | None |
| The AI in it | No generative AI found; questions adapt to the child's level. |
What's good
- Short games keep practice moving
- Covers spelling and grammar as well as math
- Teachers can run class and school contests
- No in-app purchases; coins are earned, not bought
Watch for
- Free trial requires card details and then bills monthly
- Live multiplayer games show children's first names and initials to other players
- Evidence is a vendor-commissioned study without a control group
- Avatar shopping with coins can distract from the math
Data and privacy
When a parent or teacher creates a student account, Sumdog collects the child's name and grade plus play data; multiplayer games share a first name and last initial through a game-network provider. Website visitors who opt in are tracked with analytics and advertising cookies; we found nothing about AI training. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
Sumdog commissioned an England study by ImpactEd Evaluation in 14 primary schools (2024-25) that found gains from term 1 to term 3, but it had no comparison group and the report says gains were not due to Sumdog alone. No Evidence for ESSA rating found.
In the Big Index
Alternatives to Sumdog
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://learn.sumdog.com/en-gb/
- https://learn.sumdog.com/en-us/
- https://learn.sumdog.com/en-us/get-started/sumdog-family
- https://learn.sumdog.com/en-gb/pricing-for-schools
- https://learn.sumdog.com/en-us/terms-of-use
- https://learn.sumdog.com/en-gb/terms-of-use
- https://learn.sumdog.com/en-us/privacy-policy
- https://learn.sumdog.com/en-gb/about-us/evidence-and-impact/england-efficacy-study
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.