The Best AI For Maths: Teacher Rated AI Tools And Programmes Compared For Schools

The best AI for maths today bears little relation to the early versions that made their now legendary mistakes. Now the top AI maths programmes can legitimately claim to personalise learning, boost outcomes, and make real inroads into supporting teachers to better manage their workload.

But there are a lot out there and it’s not always clear which AI maths tool does what and which are most effective at raising maths attainment. So we asked teacher Neil Almond to look at the most popular and best AI for maths currently being used in primary and secondary schools and provide this useful comparison guide to help you decide what’s best for your school context.

Here we are not looking at the higher level AI maths solvers like Mathway, Symbolab, Julius or Wolfram Alpha. These often have incredible computational engine capabilities and are able to provide detailed explanations but they are not currently suitable for the needs of primary and secondary school maths teachers teaching students up to GCSE maths level.

Evaluation criteria 

With no standardised criteria to grade various AI tools against, what follows is a set of useful ‘at a glance’ criteria to help you make decisions when investing in a particular AI tool.

As AI tools develop rapidly, I strongly recommend checking official sources for the latest updates before adopting any solution.

Features and functionality

I’ll assess the core capabilities, including the including the ability to tackle maths problems from basic arithmetic to complex maths concepts.

Key features assessed include:

• Providing step-by-step solutions and detailed explanations;
• Options for chat-based tutoring or voice-based tutoring;
• Resource generation;
• How the math solver functions as a math problem solver, solving equations such as calculus;
• How it functions as a maths tutor.

Pricing model

Where possible, I’ll determine the cost structure: whether it’s entirely free, uses a freemium model, requires a subscription, or offers custom school licenses – all of which are likely determining factors in your school or department.

Curriculum alignment

Here, I’ll evaluate how well the tool’s content and approach align with the UK National Curriculum, ensuring it supports learning objectives for various math topics.

User experience

This covers ease of use from both teacher and student perspectives, including:

• Clarity of teacher dashboards;
• Intuitiveness of the pupil interface;
• Complexity of initial set-up.

An intuitive design is crucial for a positive learning experience.

Technical requirements

Here, I’ll cover Operating System (OS) requirements or device limitations, assessing the real-world feasibility of deployment across different school environments.

Benefits and disadvantages

Summaries cover:

• Whether the AI programme is a valuable educational aid;
• Accuracy of instant solutions and reliable solutions;
• Pedagogical depth of the explanations and whether they promote a deeper understanding;
• Potential teacher workload and staff training/ongoing CPD.

Real-world feasibility

I’ll consider how easily the AI math tool integrates into existing school technology and workflows, and the extent of staff training required, determining if it’s a practical, valuable resource or requires significant changes.

This section also questions whether it can act as a versatile homework assistant, allowing students a personalised learning experience.

The best AI for maths: a detailed breakdown for schools

This comparison looks in-depth at the following AI for maths programmes:

• Third Space Learning
• Khanmigo
• Eedi
• MagicSchool AI
• TeachMateAI
• Brainly
• Photomath
• Mathspace

1. Third Space Learning’s AI maths tutor: Skye

Brief overview:

Third Space Learning is trying something different – voice-driven adaptive AI maths tutoring. Skye, the dialogue-driven AI tutor, talks students through problems, providing tailored guidance, just as a traditional tutor would. The intelligent tutoring system helps learners figure out step-by-step solutions themselves, rather than simply spitting out answers like a maths solver. Skye is built using GPT4o to ensure fast responses that adapt to student learning.

Educator feedback:

Teachers appreciate that the AI tutoring pushes students to think through problems using dialogue, making learning a more active experience. Schools currently enrolled say it’s promising for interventions.

We’ve used Third Space Learning for a few years and it has such a strong impact. The AI programme has allowed us to get more children onto the programme because it’s so affordable and more flexible with the the same quality lessons as traditional tutoring.

David Gooding, Assistant Head,
Harrison Primary School

Key features:

Voice interaction that adapts to the student and dialogue-based step-by-step explanations covering misconceptions. Built by teachers and maths experts to ensure it covers the maths national curriculum for England for KS2 and KS4, including SATs and GCSE exam preparation.

Benefits:

• Unlimited usage for the school fee is decent.
• The voice tutoring is unique and can make learning feel a bit more personal.
• Teachers and maths experts write and review every lesson to ensure it aligns with the national curriculum, nothing is left to chance.
• It’s based on the same evidence-based pedagogy as their 10+ years of traditional tutoring.
• It builds a deeper understanding.
• Schools receive detailed reports after every lesson covering what objectives were covered, learner engagement and results of the confidence check-out question at the end of each learning objective.
  

Disadvantages:

• While the platform uses a range of pictorial representations, learners may require graphing tools and such.
• As the AI maths tutor programmes are new, the range of maths topics is still growing.
• Programmes available in both the UK and US are still growing, but the teachers and maths experts are working hard to expand them.

Use cases:

• In-class: Handy for small group tutoring for those needing extra maths help, or giving a whole class of pupils simultaneous, individualised and targeted practice on specific maths concepts.
• Homework: Provides help outside the classroom, letting students work through problems at their own pace with guidance.
• Exam prep vs. lower KS: Programmes focus on early intervention for KS2, and specific exam-revision programmes help learners prepare for SATs and GCSEs.

Pricing & tech requirements:

• Pricing: One fixed annual fee for the whole school starting from £3,500.
• Tech requirements: Medium setup, as you need devices with microphones. It’s web-based, so it needs a stable internet connection for the voice to work smoothly.
• Ease of Setup: Medium – full support provided by your school’s personal account manager.

Safeguarding/GDPR compliance

Third Space Learning has taken sensible steps for GDPR, hosting data in the UK and has created an AI policy for schools that they can adapt to use AI safely in education. They do not use any student data to train their AI model. Good to see they’re thinking about school data protection.

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2. Khanmigo (Khan Academy)

Brief overview:

This is Khan Academy’s AI chat tutor, Khanmigo. Built on a pretty advanced AI model (GPT-4 apparently), it aims to be a personal tutor for maths and other subjects, tied into free Khan Academy content covering everything from arithmetic to advanced calculus. It’s designed to be a versatile homework assistant.

Educator feedback:

General feedback is positive about it being from a trusted non-profit. Teachers like the idea of the planning tools, and students seem to get decent homework help, often pointing them towards better understanding rather than just quick solutions.

Key features:

AI chat tutor for solving maths problems provides detailed explanations, plus tools to help teachers with planning. Integrates a whole library of maths topics.

Benefits:

• Non-profit means data privacy is high on their list.
• Covers pretty much every maths topic you can think of.
• Teachers like the tools for generating lesson ideas or quizzes.
• It tries to guide students to step solutions rather than just giving instant solutions.

Disadvantages:

• It’s predominantly US-focused.
• Student access often requires a paid parent account currently.
• Text-based learning can be limiting for some learners.

Use cases:

• In-class: Could support students working independently, offer extra explanations on complex maths concepts, or help teachers quickly draft materials.
• Homework: Excellent for homework, letting students ask questions on problems from basic algebra to complex problems.
• Exam prep vs. Lower KS: It covers K-12 and beyond for homework help or revision support across mathematical problems, including complex equations.

Pricing & tech requirements:

• Pricing: Teacher tools are free, but school-level features have a fee of $35 per student. For a school of approximately 300 students, it would cost $10,500. Khanmigo isn’t available in the UK
• Tech requirements: Low setup – it’s web-based and works on anything with internet.
• Ease of Setup: Low.

Safeguarding/GDPR compliance:

Being part of Khan Academy, privacy is a focus. For school use in the UK/EU, you’d need to check the specific school agreement to make sure it meets GDPR standards for handling data.

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3. Eedi

Name & brief overview:

Eedi is known for its adaptive diagnostic quizzes that pinpoint exactly what students don’t understand in maths. They’ve added an on-demand AI chat tutor to help students tackle specific misconceptions right away to close knowledge gaps.

Educator feedback:

Positive on the diagnostic side. I’ve heard maths leads say it’s been great for revision and picking up on student misconceptions that you might miss in a normal lesson. The real-time text-based tutor helps with identified weak spots.

Key features:

Adaptive diagnostics, Q&A, on-demand text-based tutor for maths assistance, detailed teacher reporting, aligns with UK National Curriculum. Uses artificial intelligence to analyse answers and provide immediate guidance.

Benefits:

• Brilliant for getting detailed insight into student understanding.
• The integrated tutor means students get help exactly when they need it on the problems they struggle with.
• Proven to help close gaps.
• Gives reliable solutions focused on understanding.

Disadvantages:

• To get the really detailed insights and full tutor access, you need the paid plan.
• It’s strictly maths only.

Use cases:

• In-class: Great for quick diagnostic checks, setting targeted practice based on results, or using the tutor on the spot if they’re stuck after a recent test.
• Homework: Excellent for assigning homework that adapts to leaner needs and provides instant help if they hit a misconception while problem solving.
• Exam prep vs. Lower KS: Highly relevant for identifying and fixing gaps before exams across all UK key stages by targeting specific mathematical concepts.

Pricing & tech requirements:

• Pricing: Free basic level; paid Plus plan is around £4.50 per student per month.
• Tech requirements: Low setup – it’s a web app, no installation needed. Works on standard devices with internet.
• Ease of Setup: Low.

Safeguarding/GDPR compliance:

They are very clear about being fully GDPR compliant for schools, acting as a data processor and storing data securely in the EU. They provide the necessary agreements. Seems well set up for handling school data properly.

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4. MagicSchool AI

Brief overview:

MagicSchool AI has a host of AI tools for teachers to help cut down on workload across all subjects. Think lesson planning, quiz generation, and report writing – it does a bit of everything using artificial intelligence. Not just a tool for maths, but a general AI assistant.

Educator feedback:

Teachers rave about the time it saves them on admin and preparation. They find it useful for generating ideas or resources for maths topics, though they know they need to check the output carefully.

Key features:

Over 80 AI tools for teacher tasks and students, generates content across any subject, strong security. Can help create content for solving maths problems or explaining concepts.

Benefits:

• Incredibly versatile – helps with workload reduction in many areas.
• Widely used and trusted on security.
• Can generate varied maths problems or explanations for resources.

Disadvantages:

• It’s not a dedicated AI maths solver or tutor for students.
• The maths output needs thorough checking by the teacher for accuracy and pedagogical quality – it’s more of a starting point.

Use cases:

• In-class: Quickly generating example problems for a demonstration, creating differentiated practice questions for arithmetic or basic algebra on the fly.
• Homework: Designing varied homework assignments or generating revision questions.
• Exam prep vs. Lower KS: Useful for teachers creating revision materials, quizzes, or practice tests for any level, but the AI doesn’t directly tutor the student or interactively provide comprehensive solutions.

Pricing & tech requirements:

• Pricing: Free for educators; unlimited access with the Plus subscription (£99.96/year).
• Tech requirements: Low setup – web-based, standard internet needed.
• Ease of Setup: Low.

Safeguarding/GDPR compliance:

They have a framework for GDPR, but because it’s a general tool, the teacher has to be careful not to put student personal data into it. They have agreements in place to support compliance, but responsible use by staff is key.

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5. TeachMateAI

Brief overview:

TeachMateAI is another AI toolkit built specifically for teachers, with a strong UK focus. It helps with tasks like writing reports, brainstorming lesson ideas, and generating resources. Includes some specific maths tools like a starter generator. Like MagicSchool, it’s an AI powered teacher assistant, not a maths tutor.

Educator feedback:

Positive feedback centres on it being a straightforward, UK-focused tool that saves teachers time on everyday tasks, like creating maths warm-ups.

Key features:

AI tools for teacher admin and planning, including maths starter generator and other resource creation tools, developed for the UK market. Helps teachers generate maths content.

Benefits:

• Effective in saving teacher time.
• Useful specific tools for maths, like generating lesson starters.
• Strong focus on data privacy and the UK context.

Disadvantages:

• Doesn’t provide direct AI maths assistance or tutoring.
• The quality of generated content, while often good, still needs teacher review.
• Requires a subscription beyond the basic tools.

Use cases:

• In-class: Quickly generating starter activities for a maths lesson, creating examples for demonstrating mathematical concepts, brainstorming lesson ideas.
• Homework: Generating practice questions or formatting existing problems into worksheets.
• Exam prep vs. Lower KS: Primarily a teacher tool to create resources for exam prep or lower key stages, not a student-facing revision aid providing step-by-step solutions.

Pricing & tech requirements:

• Pricing: Free basic tools; Pro subscription is £6.99/month or £72/year.
• Tech requirements: Low setup – web interface, standard internet.
• Ease of Setup: Low.

Safeguarding/GDPR compliance:

Clear statement about being fully GDPR compliant, hosting and processing data in the UK, and not using input data for training AI models. Registered with the ICO.

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6. Brainly

Brief overview:

Brainly is a big online forum where learners ask questions about their homework (e.g. maths problems, science etc.) and other students or sometimes experts answer. They’ve bolted on an AI “learning companion” to give instant solutions and explanations. It’s a very different kettle of fish – more of a social Q&A with some AI assistance.

Educator feedback:

There’s a wary view on platforms like this in schools because students can go there for answers instead of doing the work. The AI addition is meant to offer more support than just a quick answer, but the potential for it being just a tool for getting out of problem solving is still there.

Key features:

Huge database of user-submitted questions and answers, AI-powered chat companion for explanations, covers a vast range of subjects, including complex math problems.

Benefits:

• Vast content and quick responses from the community.
• The AI aims to give more detailed explanations than just the final answer.
• Accessible for students seeking maths assistance on specific problems.

Disadvantages:

• Answer quality from the community is hit-and-miss.
• The free version is full of ads.
• Concerns around students using it to bypass the learning process and just get instant solutions.

Use cases:

• In-class: Not really suitable for structured class time.
• Homework: A go-to for homework help on specific maths equations or word problems.
• Exam prep vs. Lower KS: Students might use it for revision questions across any level, but it’s risky relying on it to build a deeper understanding or analytical skills needed for exams.

Pricing & tech requirements:

• Pricing: Free (with ads); Premium subscription for ad-free experience and more features.
• Tech requirements: Low setup – available as an app or on the web, needs internet.
• Ease of Setup: Low.

Safeguarding/GDPR compliance:

As a global consumer platform, their GDPR approach is geared towards individual users rather than school contracts. Schools would need to be very cautious about endorsing or requiring their use due to the potential for data privacy issues and the open Q&A format. It’s probably best avoided for mandatory school tasks involving student data unless a specific school-level agreement with robust GDPR clauses exists.

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7. Photomath

Brief overview:

Photomath is an app where you point your camera at a maths problem and it solves it, giving you the answer and the step-by-step solutions. It’s a pure maths solver, brilliant at one thing but not trying to be an AI maths tutor.

Educator feedback:

While acknowledging how powerful it is as a math problem solver that gives quick solutions, the overwhelming feedback from teachers is concern about cheating. It makes getting the answer too easy, bypassing the hard work of understanding and problem solving that students need to do.

Key features:

Camera input, instant solution and step solutions, covers maths from basic arithmetic to advanced calculus, can work offline for solving. Provides comprehensive solutions visually.

Benefits:

• Incredibly easy and intuitive to use.
• Provides instant solutions and clear step-by-step explanations.
• Works offline, which is handy in some situations.

Disadvantages:

• The major con is how easily it facilitates cheating and bypasses learning analytical skills.
• There’s no real pedagogical depth or attempt to teach the underlying mathematical concepts – it’s just a tool for getting the answer.

Use cases:

• In-class: Pretty much unusable in a test or even practice setting due to cheating. Maybe a teacher could use it to quickly verify a problem’s answer or steps when prepping materials.
• Homework: Can be used to check answers or see steps if stuck, but carries a high risk of learners simply scanning to finish the homework without engaging.
• Exam prep vs. Lower KS: Provides solutions for problems across all levels, but using it for exam prep risks not developing the problem solving skills required. It’s useful for checking basic arithmetic or basic algebra steps, but not for truly understanding complex math concepts.

Pricing & tech requirements:

• Pricing: Free core features; Photomath Plus subscription for more advanced help.
• Tech requirements: Low setup – mobile app only. Needs a working camera. Works offline for solving.
• Ease of Setup: Low.

Safeguarding/GDPR compliance:

Primarily a consumer app. Schools using it would need to consider if student data is being handled appropriately under GDPR. It’s not designed for school-wide data management compliance. Best treated as an unmanaged personal device tool.

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8. Mathspace

Brief overview:

Mathspace is an adaptive online maths practice platform. It gives students problems, and as they work through them, it checks every single step, providing instant feedback and step-by-step explanations. It aims for a personalised learning experience by adapting based on performance.

Educator feedback:

Teachers value the granular feedback Mathspace provides on every step of a student’s working out. They find it excellent for tracking progress and helping students correct mistakes immediately, which helps build a better understanding of mathematical concepts. The adaptive element is a plus.

Key features:

Adaptive maths practice provides feedback and step-by-step solutions for every step, covers a wide age and topic range, includes graphing tools, detailed teacher reporting. Uses AI to offer tailored guidance.

Benefits:

• Excellent for structured practice and building analytical skills by checking every step.
• Provides comprehensive solutions and immediate guidance.
• Adaptive nature helps students work at their level.
• Covers a huge range of mathematical problems from basic arithmetic to advanced problems like solving algebra and complex equations, including advanced calculus concepts.

Disadvantages:

• The interface is functional and clear, but maybe not as flashy or gamified as some other platforms, which might affect engagement for some.
• It’s more about guided practice than open-ended tutoring dialogue.

Use cases:

• In-class: Great for differentiated practice, setting specific tasks on mathematical concepts, or using the graphing tools for demonstrations.
• Homework: Ideal for assigning practice that gives students instant feedback as they work through problems. Useful for revision.
• Exam prep vs. Lower KS etc: Covers curriculum for ages 8-18, making it very suitable for exam preparation across key stages with focused, step-by-step practice.

Pricing & tech requirements:

• Pricing: Starts from a very reasonable £5 per student per year for schools. Free personal accounts are also available.
• Tech requirements: Low setup – it’s cloud-based, needs internet access, works on most devices.
• Ease of Setup: Low.

Safeguarding/GDPR compliance:

They state they comply with GDPR and FERPA. They allow schools control over data and options for deletion. Designed for educational use, so likely built with appropriate data protection considerations for students.

Comparison matrix

Here’s a snapshot of the best AI for maths tools in one comparison matrix.

	Third Space Learning (Skye)	Khanmigo
Features	Skye the AI maths tutor; Voice-driven and adaptive dialogue-based problem solving	AI text-based tutor (math & more); teacher assistant
Cost	One fixed annual school fee from £3,500 for unlimited pupils to receive unlimited sessions.	Currently free (beta for districts); future TBD
Curriculum alignment	UK KS2 and KS4, US Grades 3–8	Khan Academy content (K–12, US Common Core)
Best for	1:1 tutoring, interventions, revision dialogues	Student tutoring (homework Q&A), teacher planning tools
Benefits & disadvantages	Benefits: Unlimited usage, realistic tutoring, teacher-designed content, strong engagement. Disadvantages: Visual element limited to Third Space Learning’s lesson slides	Benefits: High-quality non-profit content, multi-subject, strong data privacy, notifications for flagged content. Disadvantages: Limited access (US-focused pilot), parental subscription needed for home use.
Ease of set up	Medium	Low
Safeguarding / GDPR compliance	Explicitly addresses safeguarding and data protection (GDPR) with resources like a dedicated AI Tutoring Policy for Schools.	Strong emphasis on user safety and privacy, minimal personal data required, uses encryption, provides moderation and notification systems for adults. Committed to protecting student privacy.
Appropriateness for students	Designed for student use with a focus on engagement through voice interaction. No information provided about ads impacting the student experience.	Designed for student use with a focus on safe and private interactions. No advertising is present.

Download the full comparison matrix to compare each of the AI for maths tools side-by-side.

Implementation & limitations 

Before adopting any AI maths tool, schools must consider a few critical factors beyond features and cost.

• Safeguarding and data privacy: these always come first. If student accounts or personal data are involved, teachers must confirm the tool complies with GDPR (UK) or FERPA (US) regulations. Always check where data is stored and whether the provider has clear privacy policies and data processing agreements in place.
• Teacher CPD: the requirements of AI for maths tools vary. Some tools work straight out of the box, while others, particularly those with adaptive pathways or diagnostic capabilities, require staff training to ensure effective use. Without this, schools risk missing out on the most imapctful features.
• Workload impact: while AI can reduce marking and generate real-time feedback, it can also introduce new demands, such as monitoring for over-reliance on hints or copy-pasting from model answers. Ongoing teacher oversight remains essential.
• Accessibility: this feature must not be overlooked. Schools should check whether the tool supports screen readers, keyboard navigation, or EAL-friendly interfaces like multi-language support or visual scaffolding. Accessibility isn’t just a compliance issue, it’s central to equity in AI-supported learning.

Next steps for finding your best maths AI tool

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. The “best” AI for maths for a particular school will depend on a number of factors, including the school’s specific educational goals, the unique needs of its pupils, and the available budget.

If you have limited budget and resources but a number of primary or secondary pupils who are in need of one to one support to build skills and confidence, and raise grades, then the best AI for your maths needs will be Third Space Learning’s AI maths tutor Skye.

If you want to support your students to find their own answers to maths problems by taking a photo of them then Photomath will be the best AI tool for you.

It really does come down to your needs, your school and your students.

Whatever your goals, I encourage you to approach the adoption of any AI in education with a mindset of informed scepticism, carefully evaluating the promises against the realities. The best AI for maths, like any educational product driven by technology, will contribute to meaningful improvements in student outcomes. If it doesn’t, then it’s just another new and shiny thing and you can save your valuable resources.