The best revision app for a primary school child is the one that matches the job: Pip for adaptive 11+ and KS2 practice, Times Tables Rock Stars for tables speed, Khan Academy, BBC Bitesize and Oak National Academy for free explanations, and Spelling Shed for spelling. This list covers nine, what each is best for, and how to choose without paying for three apps that overlap.
- No single app does everything. Pick by the job: practice, explanation, tables or spelling.
- Ten focused minutes a day beats an hour once a week.
- Adaptive apps keep difficulty right without a parent choosing questions.
- Free options are genuinely good for explanations; paid ones earn their place on practice and tracking.
How to choose a revision app
Start with the problem you are solving. A child who forgets times tables needs a different app from one who is preparing for the 11+ or one who does not understand fractions at all.
Then check four things: does it follow the UK curriculum, does it adapt to your child, are there no ads or open chat, and does it give you a clear view of progress. An app that fails the first two will waste your child's time.
The 9 best revision apps for primary school children
1. Pip
Best for 11+ and KS2 practice that adapts: Pip is ours, so weigh this entry accordingly. It gives UK children in years three to six short daily practice across maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, and the difficulty moves with every answer.
Pip shows the method before the question, so a child who is stuck learns how to do it instead of guessing. Daily practice is free with no ads; Pip Pro adds the lessons and full mock papers.
It is on the App Store, Google Play and the Amazon Appstore. The honest limits: it is mobile only, and it is built for ages seven to eleven.
2. Times Tables Rock Stars
Best for times tables speed: A game built around one job: making times tables fast and automatic, which the Year 4 multiplication check and everything after it rewards. Short bursts, a rock-band theme and a leaderboard make repetition feel like play.
It is narrow by design, so it will not cover the rest of the maths curriculum, and many children first meet it through school.
3. Doodle Maths and DoodleEnglish
Best for a gentle daily workout: Both apps set a short personalised session each day based on what your child already knows. They suit primary-age children who need steady, low-pressure revision rather than exam technique.
Our Doodle Maths review covers where it fits and where it stops.
4. Sumdog
Best for game-loving maths and spelling: A games-based platform for maths and spelling that adjusts question difficulty as a child plays. It works well for children who need the game to get them started, and it is widely used in UK primary schools.
5. Spelling Shed
Best for spelling lists: Built around the word lists UK primary schools set, with games to practise them. If the weekly spelling test is the problem, this is the most direct fix.
It only covers spelling.
6. Khan Academy and Khan Academy Kids
Best free option for filling gaps: Free, ad-free video lessons and exercises that are strong for understanding a concept from scratch. The catch for UK families is that the content follows a US curriculum, so the order and wording do not always match school.
See our Khan Academy review and Khan Academy alternatives.
7. BBC Bitesize
Best free explainer for UK Key Stage 2: Short, curriculum-matched lessons, videos and quizzes for every Key Stage 2 subject, free to use. It is better for understanding a topic and checking it than for building a long daily practice habit.
8. Oak National Academy
Best free full lessons: Free, teacher-made video lessons following the English national curriculum, with quizzes and worksheets. Good for catching up on a missed topic or covering a unit properly.
It is lesson-led, so it needs a parent to set the plan.
9. Prodigy Maths
Best for fantasy-game motivation: Maths questions wrapped in a role-playing game, which is a strong hook for children who resist maths. The trade-off is that the game can take more of the attention than the maths, so keep an eye on how much time goes on actual questions.
We make Pip, so it is first on the list and we have said plainly where it is not the right fit. Every other entry is fairer to its strengths than a sales page would be.
Features and pricing change, so check each app's store page for the latest.
How to use revision apps without burning out
Keep sessions short and regular. Ten focused minutes most days does more than a long weekend cram, which is the same advice behind our 11+ revision tips and our guide to how many hours a week to study.
Use one app for practice and, if needed, one free resource for explanation. Three overlapping apps just split your child's attention.
If you are comparing paid options, our roundup of the best 11+ apps and the best adaptive learning apps go deeper.
Try the app at the top of the list
Pip gives short daily practice in maths, English and reasoning. It shows the method first and adapts every question to your child.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best revision app for primary school children?+
It depends on the job. Pip is built for adaptive 11+ and Key Stage 2 practice, Times Tables Rock Stars for times tables speed, and Khan Academy, BBC Bitesize and Oak National Academy are strong free options for explanations.
Most children need one practice app and, at most, one free explainer.
Are revision apps worth it for primary school children?+
Yes, when they are used in short daily sessions and match what your child needs. Adaptive apps are most useful because they keep the questions at the right level without a parent having to choose them.
How long a day should my child use a revision app?+
Around ten to fifteen focused minutes a day is a good target for most primary-age children. Regular short sessions beat long, infrequent ones.
Are there good free revision apps for primary school?+
Yes. Khan Academy, BBC Bitesize and Oak National Academy are free and strong for explanations.
Pip also offers free daily practice with no ads.
Is there a revision app for the 11+?+
Yes. Pip is made for the 11+ and Key Stage 2, covering maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, with mock papers in Pip Pro.
Our best 11+ apps guide compares the main options.
The Pip team builds Pip, the 11+ and KS2 practice app for children in years three to six. We write these guides from real exam formats and past papers.