IXL alternatives for STAAR prep: the best STAAR math websites for Texas grades 3–8, compared
There is no single best IXL alternative for STAAR — the right one depends on what your child needs. For practice with real STAAR questions, nothing beats TEA's free released tests on the Texas Assessment Practice Test Site. For free TEKS-aligned lessons, Khan Academy (grades 3–8 TEKS courses) and Zearn (a Texas-approved K–5 edition) cost nothing. For paid practice, Lumos StepUp adds full-length STAAR-style tests, Mometrix and Effortless Math sell printable test packs, and iPrepGenius offers adaptive practice on one-time passes instead of a subscription.
Prices and features are as of September 2026, taken from each product's own website (linked under each section). Where a site doesn't say, we write “not stated”. iPrepGenius publishes this page and is one of the options — we've tried to be fair, and we say where others are better. Spot something out of date? Email info@iprepgenius.com.
The comparison at a glance
| Option | Price | Free option | TEKS alignment (as claimed) | STAAR-format practice | Math grades | Adaptive? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEA released tests (Texas Assessment Practice Test Site) | Free | Everything — guest login, no account | Written by TEA to the TEKS (they are real STAAR tests) | Yes — actual released STAAR tests, with the real question types, in the online testing platform | 3–8 (and high school EOC) | No | Rehearsing the real test and its new question types |
| IXL | Math only $9.95/mo or $79/yr; +$4/mo per extra child (as shown to us; may vary by location) | 10 free questions per subject per day; no free trial | Claims alignment to the TEKS and STAAR; publishes a “Skill plan for the Redesigned STAAR” for math grades 3–8 | No full practice tests stated; says it practices question types similar to the new STAAR | Pre-K to Calculus | Yes — questions get harder as the SmartScore rises; separate Real-Time Diagnostic | Large volumes of skill-by-skill practice mapped to each TEKS code |
| Khan Academy | Free (Khanmigo AI tutor for families: $4/mo or $44/yr) | Everything except Khanmigo | Separate TEKS-aligned math courses from 3rd grade through high school | No practice tests stated; free STAAR Prep Guides (PDF, written for teachers) for grades 6–8 math link tested TEKS to Khan exercises | K–12 overall; TEKS courses from grade 3 | Mastery-based (skills move from Attempted to Mastered; Course Challenge) — adaptive difficulty not stated | Free, complete TEKS course sequence with videos and exercises |
| Zearn | Free for families (schools buy paid accounts) | Entire content library free for families | “Zearn Math for Texas” (K–5) approved through Texas’s IMRA review; grades 6–8 mapped in a TEKS alignment document | No practice tests stated; lessons include interactive models that mirror new STAAR question types | K–8 overall; Texas edition K–5 | Says lessons “adapt in real time” to help students through challenges | Free daily lessons that follow the Texas K–5 classroom curriculum |
| Lumos Learning StepUp for STAAR | Test Prep $9.95/mo or $49.95/yr (with Coach Help $24.95/mo or $180/yr); recurring | 7-day free trial; free worksheets and a 5-minute practice test (email sign-up) | Free-test page says “fully aligned with the TEKS”; program page says aligned with the Texas State standards | 2 full-length practice tests modeled on the STAAR blueprints | 3–8 | AI assigns personalized remedial practice from Practice Test 1 results | A test → targeted practice → retest cycle on a budget |
| Mometrix | Study guides, e.g. grade 5 math print $24.99 (sale), grade 8 math ebook $19.99 | Free grade-level practice questions for grades 3–8 math | Study guides advertise practice tests “Aligned to the TEKS” | Grade 5 and 8 math guides advertise 3 full-length practice tests (online; some printed in the book) | 3–8 | Not stated | A printed content review with full-length practice tests |
| Effortless Math | Printable PDF test packs, e.g. $18.99–$19.99 (sale) per grade; study guides from $16.99 | Free timed practice tests, 10-question skill quizzes and printable worksheets | Free test pages say aligned to the TEKS; paid product pages say they follow STAAR standards | Paid packs of 5–10 full-length tests per grade (multiple-choice PDFs) | 3–8 and Algebra I | Not stated | Lots of printable full-length practice tests for little money |
| iPrepGenius | One-time passes: $12 for 1 month, $33 for 3 months, $60 for 6 months — never auto-renewed | 7 days of full access for new accounts, then 2 practice questions a day; free STAAR practice by grade with no signup | Skills mapped to STAAR reporting categories and TEKS; coverage and question counts published | Timed mock exams from our bank; multiple-choice only — not STAAR’s newer question types | K–8 (STAAR grades 3–8: math and reading, plus science 5 & 8, social studies 8) | Yes — question difficulty adjusts as your child answers | Adaptive daily practice across STAAR subjects without a subscription |
Each option, honestly
TEA released tests (Texas Assessment Practice Test Site)
Price: Free. Free: Everything — guest login, no account.
Where it's stronger
- The only source of real STAAR questions — every other option on this page, including ours, writes its own.
- Runs on the STAAR Online Testing Platform — the same system used for the real test — so tools like the equation editor and drag-and-drop are the real thing.
- Answer keys and item rationales (why each answer is right) are posted for each released year.
Watch for
- A fixed set of forms per grade — once your child has taken them, there is no fresh practice.
- No lessons, no adaptivity, no progress tracking.
Sources: TEA — STAAR released test questions · Texas Assessment — practice tests · Texas Assessment — prepare for STAAR
IXL
Price: Math only $9.95/mo or $79/yr; +$4/mo per extra child (as shown to us; may vary by location). Free: 10 free questions per subject per day; no free trial.
Where it's stronger
- Far broader catalogue than any other option here — Pre-K through Calculus, plus language arts, science and social studies on combo plans.
- Its STAAR skill plans list IXL skills under each TEKS student expectation, grade by grade.
- Says it practices STAAR-style question types, not only multiple choice.
Watch for
- A recurring subscription; the free tier is 10 questions per subject per day.
- No full-length STAAR-format practice test is stated on its site.
Sources: IXL family pricing · IXL yearly checkout (math) · IXL help — free questions per day · IXL Texas math standards · IXL skill plan for the Redesigned STAAR (grade 3) · IXL and the new STAAR question types (PDF) · IXL SmartScore guide (PDF)
Khan Academy
Price: Free (Khanmigo AI tutor for families: $4/mo or $44/yr). Free: Everything except Khanmigo.
Where it's stronger
- Completely free — including dedicated TEKS math courses for grades 3–8.
- Teaches concepts with videos and articles, not only practice — the strongest free choice when a child needs a topic taught from scratch.
- Grades 6–8 STAAR Prep Guides organise every STAAR-tested TEKS in one place.
Watch for
- No STAAR-format practice tests stated; the STAAR guides cover grades 6–8 only.
- Khanmigo, the AI tutor, is the one paid part.
Sources: Khan Academy — about · Khan Academy grade 3 TEKS course · Khan Academy blog — complete TEKS-aligned math sequence · Khan Academy blog — free STAAR prep guides · Khan Academy blog — free Texas courses · Khanmigo pricing
Zearn
Price: Free for families (schools buy paid accounts). Free: Entire content library free for families.
Where it's stronger
- Free, and its Texas K–5 edition went through the state’s IMRA approval process.
- Built as a companion to Bluebonnet Learning K–5 Math, so it can match what a 3rd–5th grader does in class.
Watch for
- The Texas-specific, state-approved edition stops at grade 5.
- Designed for classroom use; its own site says it is meant as part of classroom instruction.
Sources: Zearn for Texas · Zearn and STAAR · Zearn — Texas IMRA approval · Zearn — family support · Zearn Texas standards alignment (PDF)
Lumos Learning StepUp for STAAR
Price: Test Prep $9.95/mo or $49.95/yr (with Coach Help $24.95/mo or $180/yr); recurring. Free: 7-day free trial; free worksheets and a 5-minute practice test (email sign-up).
Where it's stronger
- Two full-length practice tests modeled on the STAAR blueprints, with remediation assigned from the first one.
- At $49.95/yr, the Test Prep plan costs less per year than IXL’s $79/yr math plan.
- Optional human coach tier.
Watch for
- A recurring subscription.
- Its 2000+ questions are math and ELA combined; no math-only count is stated.
Sources: Lumos StepUp for STAAR · Lumos free STAAR tests and sample questions · Lumos free STAAR worksheets
Mometrix
Price: Study guides, e.g. grade 5 math print $24.99 (sale), grade 8 math ebook $19.99. Free: Free grade-level practice questions for grades 3–8 math.
Where it's stronger
- A one-time purchase that works offline — useful for screen-free review.
- Full-length practice tests in its study guides (three in the grade 5 and 8 math guides we checked), plus free question sets for every grade 3–8.
Watch for
- A book, not an adaptive program; no progress tracking stated.
Sources: Mometrix Academy — STAAR test · Mometrix — STAAR grade 5 math (print) · Mometrix — STAAR grade 8 math (ebook)
Effortless Math
Price: Printable PDF test packs, e.g. $18.99–$19.99 (sale) per grade; study guides from $16.99. Free: Free timed practice tests, 10-question skill quizzes and printable worksheets.
Where it's stronger
- The most full-length practice tests per dollar of any paid option here — for example ten grade 7 tests in one $19.99 PDF.
- Plenty of free printable worksheets.
Watch for
- Paid packs are printable PDFs; adaptivity is not stated.
Sources: Effortless Math — STAAR hub · Effortless Math — 10 STAAR grade 7 math tests · Effortless Math — free grade 6 STAAR test · Effortless Math — STAAR products
iPrepGeniusthat's us
Price: One-time passes: $12 for 1 month, $33 for 3 months, $60 for 6 months — never auto-renewed. Free: 7 days of full access for new accounts, then 2 practice questions a day; free STAAR practice by grade with no signup.
Where it's stronger
- No subscription: a pass is a one-time payment that simply ends.
- One pass covers math, reading, and grade 5/8 science and grade 8 social studies practice, for up to 3 children.
- Publishes exactly what it covers — a live TEKS coverage map with question counts per skill.
- An AI tutor on every question during a pass.
Watch for
- Multiple-choice only: no equation-editor, drag-and-drop or other newer STAAR question types.
- No full-length replica of a STAAR form — use TEA’s released tests for that.
- After the first 7 days the free tier is 2 questions a day.
- A few skills are still thin (see the coverage map).
Sources: iPrepGenius pricing · TEKS math coverage map
The best STAAR prep for a 7th grader in math
Grade 7 is the one STAAR math test with a differently named first category — “Probability and Numerical Representations” — and its heaviest weight sits in Computations and Algebraic Relationships (14–16 of 38 questions) and Geometry and Measurement (11–13), per TEA's blueprint. Proportional reasoning, percent problems, circles and two-step equations carry most of that.
- Start with the released grade 7 tests on the Texas Assessment Practice Test Site — free, real, and in the real platform.
- Free follow-up: Khan Academy's grade 7 TEKS course and its grade 7 STAAR Prep Guide.
- Paid, grade-7 specific: IXL's grade 7 STAAR skill plan, Lumos StepUp (grades 3–8), Effortless Math's ten grade 7 printable tests, or iPrepGenius grade 7 practice (see the grade 7 coverage map).
- Zearn's Texas-approved edition covers K–5, so for a 7th grader it is a general K–8 math resource rather than a Texas-specific one. TestPrep-Online's STAAR math packs list grades 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 — no grade 7.
How to help your child pass the STAAR math test
- Take one released test first, timed. Use the guest login on the Texas Assessment Practice Test Site. It tells you where your child actually is, in the real format.
- Sort the misses by reporting category. TEA publishes a student-expectation file and item rationales with each released test, so you can see which TEKS each missed question tested. Category 2 (Computations and Algebraic Relationships) carries the most questions at every grade.
- Practise the weak categories a little every day. Short, regular sessions on the specific skills are easier to sustain than weekend cramming. Any tool on this page can do this; pick by budget and your child's age.
- Rehearse the new question types. Since 2023 STAAR includes equation-editor, text-entry, graphing, drag-and-drop and other non-multiple-choice questions, and no more than 75% of points can come from multiple choice. Only the official practice site reproduces them exactly.
- Take a second released test a few weeks before test day to check the gaps closed — and stop there, so the final week stays calm.
More detail in our parent's guide to STAAR and every free STAAR practice test source, compared.
When IXL is still the right choice
If your child already uses IXL at school, likes it, and you want one subscription across every subject and grade, IXL is a reasonable choice: its STAAR skill plans map its skills to each TEKS code, and it says it practices STAAR-style question types. The main reasons parents look elsewhere are cost (it is a recurring subscription), wanting full-length STAAR-style practice tests, or wanting lessons as well as practice.
FAQ
Is IXL aligned to STAAR?
IXL says its skills are aligned to the Texas TEKS and STAAR, and it publishes a “Skill plan for the Redesigned STAAR” for math grades 3–8 that lists IXL skills under each TEKS code. Its site does not describe full-length STAAR-format practice tests.
What is the best free alternative to IXL for STAAR math?
For real test practice, TEA’s own released STAAR tests on the Texas Assessment Practice Test Site are free with a guest login. For free lessons and practice, Khan Academy has TEKS-aligned math courses from grade 3, and Zearn is free for families with a Texas-approved K–5 edition.
Does Khan Academy have STAAR practice?
Khan Academy offers free TEKS-aligned math courses from 3rd grade through high school and free STAAR Prep Guides for grades 6–8 math (written for teachers) that link each STAAR-tested TEKS to Khan exercises. It does not describe STAAR-format practice tests.
What is the cheapest way to prepare for STAAR math?
Free: TEA’s released tests plus Khan Academy or Zearn. Among the paid options on this page (prices on each site, September 2026): printable PDF test packs from about $19 (Effortless Math), study guides from about $20 (Mometrix), subscriptions from $9.95 a month (IXL, Lumos), and iPrepGenius one-time passes from $12 with no auto-renewal.
Which STAAR reporting category matters most?
On TEA’s grade 3–8 math blueprints, Category 2 (Computations and Algebraic Relationships) has the most questions at every grade — for example 14–16 of the 38 questions on grade 7.
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STAAR is a registered trademark of the Texas Education Agency. IXL, Khan Academy, Khanmigo, Zearn, Lumos Learning, StepUp, Mometrix and Effortless Math are trademarks of their respective owners. iPrepGenius is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by TEA or any product named here.