Times Tables Rock Stars is laser-focused on one thing: times table fluency at an extraordinary price (£7/year). MathCraft covers the full curriculum through RPG gameplay. They're not really competitors — many families use both.
| Feature | MathCraft | Times Tables Rock Stars |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Free (beta) → £4.99 | ~£0.60 (est.) |
| Annual price | TBC | £6–7.20 |
| Free tier | Yes — free during beta | None (school trials available) |
| Age range | 5–14 (Y1–Y9) | 6–11 (Y2–Y6) |
| Curriculum | UK National / White Rose Maths | Times tables ONLY (up to 12×12) |
| Adaptive engine | ✓ Spaced repetition + mastery tracking | Pure speed drill with rock star persona gamification |
| Platforms | Web (PWA — any device) | Web, iOS, Android, Kindle |
| Offline mode | ✗ No (internet required) | ✓ Yes |
| AI tutoring | ✓ Merlin (Socratic, logged) | ✗ No |
| Parent dashboard | ✓ Curriculum heatmap + AI logs | Per-fact heatmaps showing which tables need work. Basic progress tracking. |
| Ads / dark patterns | ✗ None | ✗ None |
Times Tables Rock Stars has genuine strengths that are worth acknowledging:
No app is perfect. These are the most common complaints from parents and reviews:
TTRS is laser-focused on one skill; MathCraft covers the full curriculum. TTRS is the conceptual opposite of stealth learning — children drill naked maths facts against a timer. MathCraft hides maths inside RPG quests. Many families use TTRS alongside a broader app like MathCraft.
Rapid times table fluency at an unbeatable price. Pairs brilliantly with a broader maths app.
Your child resists anything that feels like homework and needs genuine game engagement. You want UK curriculum alignment, adaptive practice, AI tutoring, and full parent visibility — all in a game they’ll actually ask to play.
It depends on what you need. TTRS is unbeatable for rapid times table fluency at £7/year. MathCraft covers the full UK curriculum including times tables, fractions, geometry, algebra, and more — all through RPG gameplay. Many families use TTRS for focused times table drill alongside MathCraft for broader maths practice.
Yes, MathCraft covers multiplication tables as part of its full curriculum coverage — from times tables in Year 3-4 through to long multiplication in Year 5-6. However, TTRS offers more intensive, speed-focused times table drilling specifically designed for the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check.
TTRS is not free, but it's remarkably cheap at £6-7.20/year for a family of up to 3 children. Many children access it free through school subscriptions. MathCraft is free during beta.
For some children, yes. Parent reviews report "epic meltdowns and tears" from timer pressure. If your child finds timed challenges stressful, MathCraft's untimed quest format may be a better fit — maths questions appear naturally within the story, without a visible countdown.
Looking at more options? See our Best Alternatives to Mathletics guide.
Step-by-step lessons, worked examples, and adaptive practice — all wrapped in an adventure game your child will love.
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