Calm alternatives to Times Tables Rock Stars

What is Times Tables Rock Stars?

Times Tables Rock Stars (TTRS) is a times tables program from Maths Circle Ltd in the UK, used by many schools in the UK and Australia. Children play speed games, earn coins for a rock avatar and take part in class and school battles, and their rock rank depends on how fast they answer. It needs a login from the school or a family plan from its website. If your child's school uses it, it makes sense to keep using it for homework.

Why parents look for an alternative

• It is built around speed: the games are timed by default (the timer can be hidden), and a child's rock rank depends on how fast they answer.
• Some parents say speed ranks such as “Wannabe” and class leaderboards upset their child. One parent says her autistic daughter cried over her rank.
• A child who is still counting may need to understand a table first, and speed practice alone doesn't teach why 4 × 5 = 20.
• You can't create an account in the app: you need a login from school or a family plan bought on the TTRS website.

1. 1. Spots (our app)

   Salimov Studios · iPhone, iPad

   Best for: Untimed practice that explains each table

   What’s good: There is no clock on the screen and no ranks. Every table starts with ladybugs, so your child sees why 4 × 5 = 20, then practises until the answer comes from memory, and a wrong answer shows the counting that leads to the right one.

   Worth knowing: It is brand new (October 2026), has no class or school features, and runs only on iPhone and iPad.

   See it in the App Store

2. 2. Hit the Button Maths

   Topmarks Online Ltd · iPhone, iPad, Android, web browser

   Best for: Quick games, with an untimed mode

   What’s good: Covers times tables, division, doubling, halving and number bonds, and the app lets your child practise without a countdown, with player profiles and trophies.

   Worth knowing: The standard games are minute-long races, so choose untimed practice for a calmer start, and the free web version shows ads.

   See it in the App Store

3. 3. MathHero (Engaging Times Tables)

   MathHero Pte. Ltd. · iPhone, iPad, Android

   Best for: A story game with no timer

   What’s good: A cute character, a light space adventure and outfits to unlock keep many children playing, without speed ranks. There are no ads.

   Worth knowing: Some parents say the character walks slowly between questions and the tables open in a set order.

   See it in the App Store

4. 4. Multiplication: Times Tables

   Chimpanzee, LLC · iPhone, iPad

   Best for: Simple drills on the facts your child needs

   What’s good: Simple and clean, with per-table stats that show which facts to work on, and no ads, accounts or tracking. Its timer can be set to off.

   Worth knowing: Some parents find it plain, and extras such as practising any mix of tables, timer settings and more profiles need the one-time unlock.

   See it in the App Store