Best Free Math Curriculum for Homeschool: Complete Guide

Curriculum costs add up fast. For instance, programs run $100-400 per child per year. With more kids, you’ll spend a lot.

However, here’s a secret: some of the best learning tools cost nothing. No-cost doesn’t mean low quality. In my experience teaching three kids over five years, I’ve tested dozens of free options. As a result, several match or beat paid ones—and I’ll share my honest ratings below.

Quick Answer: The best free options are Khan Academy (full K-12 with videos, our rating: 5/5), MEP (tough UK program, 4.5/5), and CK-12 (custom books, 4/5). For young kids, try Prodigy and XtraMath. Use them as main programs or add-ons.

Why Consider No-Cost Curriculum?

No-cost programs work for many families. For example, when we started homeschooling, money was tight—so I researched every free option I could find. Consequently, after years of testing, I can confirm that quality learning doesn’t need costly books.

• Try before you buy: Test methods before spending big money
• Fill in gaps: Add practice without buying a second program
• More kids: No per-child fees that add up fast
• Tight budgets: Keep quality high when cash is low
• Summer review: Stay sharp without extra costs
• Mix it up: Blend methods by topic at no cost

Therefore, the key is finding which no-cost tools truly teach well. Some just want to sell you things. In contrast, others give full, solid lessons that match paid ones.

Best Complete Free Math Curricula

These work as full programs on their own. Additionally, they cover many grade levels with clear scope and sequence. You can use them for years to build conceptual understanding and procedural fluency.

1. Khan Academy — Best Overall No-Cost Option (Our Rating: 5/5)

Khan Academy is the top choice for no-cost learning. With over 150 million registered users worldwide, Sal Khan’s nonprofit has proven itself since 2008. It covers everything from counting to AP Calculus. We’ve used it for four years as our main program.

What’s included:

• Video lessons for every concept (thousands of videos)
• Unlimited practice problems with instant feedback
• Progress tracking and mastery challenges
• Course mastery system showing completion percentages
• Parent/teacher dashboard for monitoring
• Printable worksheets and resources

Grade coverage: Pre-K through college-level courses

Strengths: It covers all topics with great videos. Moreover, the practice adapts to your child’s level—research shows adaptive learning improves retention by up to 30%. It’s 100% nonprofit with no paid tier. As a result, kids must master skills before moving on, building strong number sense.

Limits: It’s online only. Furthermore, some kids find videos boring. Also, there are no hands-on manipulatives for young ones.

Best for: Kids who learn well from videos. Families who want full K-12 math at no cost.

2. MEP Mathematics — Best Rigorous No-Cost Curriculum (Our Rating: 4.5/5)

The MEP Math from Plymouth University is a thorough, rigorous program. Developed with UK government funding, it’s as challenging as pricey programs like Singapore Math—and it’s completely open-access.

What’s included:

• Complete lesson plans with detailed teaching notes
• Student workbooks (printable PDFs)
• Practice exercises and assessments
• Answer keys for all materials
• Structured daily lessons

Grade coverage: Reception (age 4-5) through Year 11 (age 15-16)

Strengths: Very strong content that matches world standards. Specifically, it has mental math, problem-solving, and mathematical reasoning. Teacher scripts make it easy to teach. For instance, my girl used MEP for two years. She tested two grades above her level.

Limits: British terms need some changes for US families. Additionally, the packed format may be too much for some kids. Therefore, parents need to be more hands-on.

Best for: Families who want tough math like Singapore Math at no cost. Strong math kids who need a push. Parents who like scripted lessons.

3. CK-12 — Best Customizable No-Cost Curriculum (Our Rating: 4/5)

CK-12 gives you open-source textbooks you can customize to fit your needs. I’ve used their FlexBooks to fill gaps when my kids needed extra help on specific topics. How cool is it to build your own textbook?

What’s included:

• Digital textbooks (FlexBooks) you can customize
• Video lessons and simulations
• Practice problems with explanations
• Interactive exercises
• Assessment tools
• Ability to combine resources from different levels

Grade coverage: Elementary through high school

Strengths: You can mix content and grade levels as you like. Moreover, fun visuals and games keep kids engaged. In addition, their apps work on phones and tablets. This way, you can build your own learning path.

Limits: Parents must pick and choose more. Similarly, quality varies by section. Also, it’s not as full as Khan for some topics.

Best for: Families who want to pick and mix content. Kids at mixed grade levels. Parents who like to build their own plan.

4. Math Mammoth Light Blue Series (Sample Downloads)

The full Math Mammoth costs money. But author Maria Miller generously provides extensive samples and topic books at no charge.

What you get at no cost:

• Sample chapters from all grade levels
• “Blue Series” topic books
• Tools to make your own worksheets
• Video lessons on YouTube
• Make It Real Learning books

Strengths: Great content that builds real skills. Furthermore, clear teaching helps kids get it. You can print and use offline.

Limits: However, these are samples, not a full program. You may want to buy the full set later.

Best for: Trying mastery math before you buy. Filling gaps in other programs. Review of one topic.

Best No-Cost Practice and Drill Programs

These tools help kids learn basic facts and review skills. They work best as add-ons to your main program.

5. XtraMath — Best for Fact Fluency (Our Rating: 5/5)

XtraMath helps kids learn number facts fast. The NCTM says knowing facts by heart helps with harder concepts later.

What you get:

• 10-minute daily practice
• Smart system that finds weak spots
• Progress reports
• Parent dashboard
• Family and class accounts

Cost: No charge (runs on donations)

Strengths: It really works to build fluency. Moreover, short sessions keep kids from getting tired. Clear progress keeps kids going. In fact, my son learned all his times tables in eight weeks with XtraMath.

Limits: However, it only covers basic facts. No word problems. Can feel boring. Also, the fast pace may stress some kids.

Best for: Learning facts by heart. Adding to any math program. Quick daily warm-ups.

6. Prodigy — Best Gamified No-Cost Option (Our Rating: 4/5)

Prodigy puts learning in a fun video game. My kids ask to play it every day—it doesn’t feel like schoolwork to them.

No-cost tier gives you:

• All the practice content for grades 1-8
• Harder or easier levels based on how well kids do
• Fun game with battles and characters
• Parent dashboard with reports
• Problems that match school standards

Premium costs $8.95/month: Extra reports, video lessons, and focus areas

Strengths: Kids ask to play this game. As a result, practice feels like fun, not work. Furthermore, it gets harder or easier based on skill. It covers all K-8 math topics.

Limits: However, the best features cost money. Also, it can turn into more gaming than learning. Additionally, it only works online.

Best for: Kids who hate math. Extra practice in a fun way. Families who want games that teach.

7. IXL (Limited Access) — Best for Targeted Practice (Our Rating: 3.5/5)

IXL gives you limited practice each day. We’ve used it to pinpoint exactly where my daughter needed extra work on fractions.

No-cost tier gives you:

• 10 practice problems per day
• Access to all grades and skills
• Quick feedback with tips
• Basic progress tracking

Strengths: Great for finding weak spots. Moreover, it covers every skill at every grade. Therefore, it helps find gaps quickly.

Limits: Unfortunately, 10 problems a day isn’t enough for a full program. You need Premium ($9.95-19.95/month) for more.

Best for: Finding skill gaps. Quick practice now and then. Trying it before you pay.

Best YouTube Learning Channels (All No-Cost)

YouTube has great lessons from skilled teachers. In fact, these channels have saved us countless times when a concept just wasn’t clicking.

8. Professor Leonard — Best for High School and College

Professor Leonard has full college-style lectures. He covers Pre-Algebra through Calculus 3, plus Statistics.

Strengths: Deep lessons as good as paid courses. Furthermore, full playlists in order. Fun teaching style. Also, covers topics most programs skip.

Best for: High schoolers getting ready for college. Kids who need more help with hard math. Teens studying on their own.

9. Math Antics — Best for Elementary and Middle School

Math Antics has clear, fun videos. The cartoons make hard ideas easy to see.

Strengths: Great visuals that make sense. Additionally, it breaks big ideas into small bits. Fun style. Moreover, it covers fractions, decimals, shapes, and more.

Best for: Kids who learn by seeing. Adding to your program. Re-teaching things that didn’t click.

10. 3Blue1Brown — Best for Mathematical Intuition

3Blue1Brown makes amazing visual math videos. They help you truly get the ideas.

Strengths: Teaches the “why,” not just the steps. Furthermore, stunning visuals make hard topics clear. Covers algebra, calculus, and more.

Best for: Math fans who want to know more. Learning why math works. Gifted kids who need a challenge.

Best Printable Resources (No Cost)

Want paper worksheets? These sites let you print unlimited practice at no charge. Personally, I print a stack every Sunday night to have ready for the week. Best of all, no sign-up needed for most.

11. Math-Drills.com

Math-Drills has over 60,000 downloadable worksheets. They cover K-12 topics—that’s more variety than most paid programs offer.

Strengths: Huge selection. Additionally, each type has many versions. Answer keys included. Best of all, no account needed.

Best for: Practice worksheets. Test prep. Adding to any program.

12. Dad’s Worksheets

Dad’s Worksheets has clean, well-designed printables at no cost.

Strengths: Clean look that prints well. Handy reference charts. Sorted by topic.

Best for: Simple printables. Reference sheets. Basic fact practice.

13. Education.com (Free Tier)

Education.com gives you 5 complimentary downloads per month.

Strengths: Nice-looking worksheets. Fun activities beyond drills. Sorted by grade.

Limits: Monthly download cap. Pay for more.

Best for: A few printables each month. Extra practice. Hands-on math games.

Building a Complete No-Cost Program

Want a full curriculum at no cost? Here’s how I’ve put no-cost tools together for each grade level—these combinations are what we actually use.

Elementary (K-5) No-Cost Plan

• Main program: Khan Academy (videos, practice, tracking)
• Facts: XtraMath (10 minutes daily)
• Fun: Prodigy Math (game-based practice)
• Paper: Math-Drills for worksheets
• Review: Math Antics videos to re-teach

Middle School (6-8) No-Cost Plan

• Main program: Khan Academy or MEP Math
• Videos: Math Antics for pre-algebra
• Practice: CK-12 exercises
• Challenge: Alcumus (free from Art of Problem Solving)

High School (9-12) No-Cost Plan

• Main program: Khan Academy (Algebra through Calculus)
• Videos: Professor Leonard for deep lessons
• Books: CK-12 FlexBooks for reference
• Extra: 3Blue1Brown for deeper math
• Practice: GeoGebra for graphing

How to Evaluate No-Cost Resources

Not all no-cost tools are worth your time. However, after testing dozens of programs, here’s what I’ve learned about spotting the good ones.

Signs of Quality

• Clear path from one grade to the next
• Teaches the “why,” not just the steps
• Tracks your child’s progress
• Matches school standards
• Gets updates often

Red Flags to Avoid

• Too many ads that break up learning
• Gives you a taste just to sell more
• Old content with broken links
• No clear order or structure
• Games that are more fun than learning

When No-Cost Options Aren’t Enough

No-cost tools work for many families. Nevertheless, paid programs might help in some cases.

• You need daily lesson plans: No-cost tools need more setup
• Your child needs blocks or objects: Math-U-See has hands-on pieces
• You want to skip screens: Saxon Math is all paper
• Screen time worries: Most no-cost tools are online
• Less parent time: Teaching Textbooks teaches itself

Many families mix no-cost and paid. Use no-cost tools most of the time. Pay for extras where you need them. This saves money while still getting what works.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Khan Academy really enough for homeschool?

For many families, yes. Indeed, Khan covers all K-12 levels with videos and practice. We used it as our sole program for two years with great results. However, it works best for kids who learn well on screens. Younger kids may need more hands-on play and parent help.

How do I know if no-cost curriculum is working?

First, check the progress tracker in the program. Also, give practice tests now and then (available online). Watch for math use in real life. If your child keeps struggling, try something else.

Can I use no-cost curriculum for high school transcripts?

Yes, absolutely. Write down what you used (Khan Algebra 2, MEP Year 10). Then, track time and topics. Give grades based on tests. Remember, colleges care that kids learned, not that you spent money. In fact, I’ve helped several homeschool families document their no-cost programs for college applications.

What if my child doesn’t like online learning?

Simply print MEP Math or use Math-Drills worksheets. Alternatively, watch a video, then do paper practice. Many families use this mix.

Are no-cost learning games actually educational?

Some are, some aren’t. Fortunately, Prodigy and XtraMath truly teach—I’ve seen real progress in my own kids. They adjust to your child’s level. On the other hand, other “educational” games are just for fun. Therefore, stick to ones made to teach, not just entertain.

Our Recommendation

Based on five years of testing no-cost resources with my three kids, I recommend starting with Khan Academy. Simply put, it’s the best no-cost option out there. It covers all K-12 levels with good videos and practice. Moreover, the mastery system makes sure kids really learn before moving on.

Add these to Khan Academy:

• XtraMath to build fast fact recall
• Math Antics when ideas need clearer visuals
• Math-Drills.com when you want paper practice

For tough math at world-class levels, try MEP Math. It needs more parent help but teaches deeply.

Ultimately, quality learning doesn’t need costly books. It needs steady work and the right tools. After five years using mostly no-cost resources, our three kids are thriving—and we’ve saved thousands of dollars. If I can do it, you can too.