Comparison

Hit the Button Math vs Explore Learning

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Hit the Button Math

Develop mental math skills with this engaging app for children aged 5-11. It offers 166 game modes covering essential arithmetic topics, with options for timed or untimed practice. Track progress with player profiles and earn rewards.

Highlights
  • 166 game modes
  • Timed and untimed practice
  • Covers times tables, division, squares, number bonds, doubling, halving
  • Supports addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
  • Up to 30 player profiles
  • Local data storage
  • Bronze, silver, gold star rewards
Read full description

Hit the Button Math is an app designed to help develop mental math and calculation skills. The app is aimed at 5-11 year olds. There are 166 different game modes of varying difficulty so it is useful throughout grades K-5. Answer as many questions as possible in minute-long games, or you can now practice without the pressure of a countdown timer. Questions are randomly generated which means it is very replayable. The game has been carefully designed for children, with large, widely spaced buttons. We recommend that young children play on a tablet. Six main topics are covered: * Times tables - up to 10 or 12 * Division - up to 10 or 12 * Square numbers * Number bonds * Doubling * Halving Between these topics, the four standard arithmetic operations are covered: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. You can create up to 30 player profiles per device to track an individual's scores. If you prefer there's also the option to play as a guest. All data is stored locally on your device so you don't have to worry about privacy issues. We've also made it very easy for children to quickly switch between profiles after playing a game, if they're sharing a device. After each game, the score achieved is displayed along with the child's high score. Bronze, silver or gold stars and trophies are awarded depending on the score achieved in each game.

About

Explore Learning

This app keeps parents informed about their child's educational progress with session summaries and an AI coach. Easily manage bookings and reschedule sessions. Stay connected to your child's learning journey and success.

Highlights
  • Session summaries
  • Manage bookings
  • Reschedule tuition
  • Book progress meetings
  • AI Coach for learning guidance
  • Stay informed on progress
Features
Read full description

Your child’s learning journey, now in your pocket. Welcome to the official Explore Learning app, designed to help you stay informed, empowered and connected to your child’s progress.

 This first release features:

 Session Summaries
Stay up to date after every session with clear, easy-to-understand summaries. See what your child covered, what they’re improving on, and what they’re working towards next. Manage Bookings with Ease Now you can reschedule tuition sessions, book progress meetings, and stay organised in just a few taps.
 Chat with the AI Coach
 Have questions about your child’s progress? Want to understand a concept better? Our AI Coach will help you dive deeper into your child’s learning journey, explain development areas, and offer guidance whenever you need it. Download today and stay connected to your child’s success with Explore Learning. Not a member yet? Book a free trial today https://bit.ly/explore-trial

Screenshots

Hit the Button Math4 screens
Explore Learning3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Explore Learning at Free against Hit the Button Math's $3.99. Explore Learning also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%) and update cadence (monthly vs every 22 months). Hit the Button Math's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Explore Learning is free to download; Hit the Button Math costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hit the Button Math ships an update every 22 months, Explore Learning monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Hit the Button Math versus Explore Learning: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHit the Button MathExplore Learning
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating3.7 (14 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings14 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 22 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB73 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTopmarks Online LtdExplore Learning Ltd

Customer experience

Hit the Button Math

All ratings14 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral7.1%
Negative21.4%
Written reviews66 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral10.6%
Negative22.7%

Explore Learning

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Hit the Button Math

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Game freezes constantly
  • Scores and high scores disappeared
  • Keyboard not aligning or working
  • Mouse not working correctly
  • App does not launch
Show 5 more
  • Sound does not work on iPad version
  • Cannot select child after adding
  • Buttons do not work on touch
  • Player name typing issues
  • Game rigged

Requested features

9 requests
  • Add daily ten as a separate app
  • Include 15 and 17 times tables
  • More levels/exercises
  • Ability to see trophies earned for each exercise
  • Improve graphics and layout
Show 4 more
  • More encouraging feedback mechanisms
  • Increase the number of player profiles
  • Fix sound issue on iPad
  • Limit multiplication tables to ten

Explore Learning

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Hit the Button Math

No in-app purchases

None

Explore Learning

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hit the Button Math free?
Hit the Button Math costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Explore Learning free?
Explore Learning is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Hit the Button Math or Explore Learning have ads?
Neither Hit the Button Math nor Explore Learning shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hit the Button Math or Explore Learning?
Hit the Button Math ships an update every 22 months, and Explore Learning monthly. Most recently, Hit the Button Math was updated on September 23, 2026 and Explore Learning on September 22, 2026.

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