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What is Mathplanet?
Mathplanet is a free online math-learning site for high school students, run by the Swedish non-profit Mattecentrum. Its core offering is structured courses in Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Algebra 2 and Geometry, plus SAT and ACT practice tests and tips. It also lists a Math Playground and a Python programming section. The site is in English, and the page states that over 300,000 people used it in a year and that it is supported by donations.
Who it suits: self-learners who want a clear sequence of topics, students reviewing a specific course, and test-takers drilling SAT/ACT-style questions. It is less suited to learners who need live teaching, graded assignments or a full curriculum with a teacher.
Practical next step: open the course matching your current level and work through one section at a time, using the practice tests to check retention rather than as the main study method. If you need a second explanation of the same topic, compare with Khan Academy, which also offers free math courses with video lessons and exercises.
Is Mathplanet really free to use?
Yes. Mathplanet is free to use. The site presents itself as a free service from Mattecentrum, a non-profit, and its course pages carry no signup requirement in the material provided. It covers Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, plus SAT and ACT prep.
What "free" means here in practice
- No paywalled courses: the four high school math courses and the test-prep sections are the main offering, not a teaser for a paid tier.
- Non-profit backing: the platform is run by Mattecentrum, so donations support it rather than subscriptions. The page mentions a donation prompt, which is a request, not a fee.
- No account needed to read lessons: the evidence shows course-start links, not enrollment forms.
Where to look for limits
The free label applies to the lessons and practice material. If you want graded feedback, a teacher, or a certificate, that is a different kind of product and may not be part of what Mathplanet offers. Treat the site as self-study material you work through on your own.
A quick comparison of options
| Option | Cost model | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Mathplanet Mathplanet | Free, non-profit | Structured high school review at your own pace |
| Khan Academy Khan Academy | Free, non-profit | Video lessons plus adaptive practice with progress tracking |
| Art of Problem Solving Art of Problem Solving | Paid courses, free resources | Students who want challenge problems and competition math |
Next step
Pick the course matching your current level — Pre-Algebra if you need to shore up basics, Algebra 1 or 2 if you are filling gaps, Geometry if proofs and spatial reasoning are the weak point. Work one section, then take the matching SAT or ACT practice set to see whether the free material is enough for your goal. If you need explanations in video form or tracked progress, test a lesson on Khan Academy alongside it and keep whichever you actually finish.
Which math course should I start with on Mathplanet?
Start with the course that matches your current comfort level, not your grade. Mathplanet groups its free material into Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, plus SAT and ACT prep, so the main decision is whether your foundations are solid.
Quick guide
- Pre-Algebra — pick this if fractions, negative numbers, ratios or basic order of operations still slow you down. It is the foundation course, and gaps here tend to resurface in every later topic.
- Algebra 1 — the default starting point for most high school students. It covers equations and functions, the core skills that Algebra 2, geometry proofs and test prep all lean on.
- Algebra 2 — choose it if you are already confident solving and graphing linear equations and want to move into more advanced algebra topics.
- Geometry — largely independent of the algebra sequence. Start here if shapes, angles and proofs are your current school focus, or if you want a break from equation-heavy work.
- SAT or ACT prep — treat these as a supplement, not a starting course. They work best once you have some Algebra 1 and Geometry behind you, since both tests draw on that material.
A practical way to decide
Skim the first few lessons of Algebra 1. If the explanations and example problems feel manageable, stay there. If you find yourself re-reading basic steps, drop back to Pre-Algebra for a few weeks and return — that is faster than pushing forward and stalling.
If you are studying for a specific exam, work backwards: check which topics the test emphasises, then start at the lowest course that covers them. Mathplanet also offers practice tests, which are a low-cost way to confirm your level before committing to a full course.
Next step: open the Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1 course pages side by side, read the first lesson of each, and begin with whichever one you can follow without guessing. For a second free option to compare explanations, Khan Academy covers similar ground with its own placement-style exercises.
How can Mathplanet help me prepare for the SAT or ACT?
Mathplanet gives you free SAT and ACT prep sections with practice tests and tips, alongside its high-school courses. If your main goal is exam prep, those two sections are the direct starting points; the course material (Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry) is the supporting layer for the math topics the exams draw on.
What this means in practice
- Diagnose first, then drill. Take a practice test in the SAT or ACT section, note which question types cost you points, then jump into the matching course chapter rather than re-reading everything.
- Use courses to repair gaps. Weak in linear equations and functions? Algebra 1 is the relevant track. Geometry topics such as shapes, proofs and space are covered in their own course, which matters more for the ACT's broader math coverage.
- Tips complement practice. The prep sections pair practice tests with tips, so treat the tips as strategy guidance (pacing, question approach) and the tests as the measurement of whether the strategy works.
Whose observation this is
The site itself states that over 300,000 people learned math there in a year and that it is run by Mattecentrum, a non-profit founded in Sweden. That is the provider's own description, not an independent review. My practical reading: the non-profit framing and free access make it a sensible first stop if cost is a barrier, but the absence of stated pricing details means there is nothing to compare on a paid-tier basis.
A realistic study loop
- Take one practice test under timed conditions.
- List the specific topics behind each miss (for example, systems of equations, coordinate geometry, triangle properties).
- Work the corresponding Mathplanet course chapter, doing the exercises rather than only reading.
- Retake a practice test a week later and compare topic-level errors, not just the total score.
Decision criterion
Choose Mathplanet for SAT or ACT math preparation if you want free, structured topic coverage plus practice tests and are willing to self-direct. If you need full-length adaptive exams, verbal and reading sections, or score prediction, this is a partial fit and you would pair it with an official exam provider. For a broader free-math alternative, Khan Academy also offers exam-aligned practice.
Next step: open the SAT or ACT prep section, take one practice test this week, and build your study list from the misses before touching the courses.
Can I use Mathplanet for self-study without a teacher?
Yes. Mathplanet is built for exactly that kind of independent use: it presents full high school courses—Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Algebra 2 and Geometry—plus SAT and ACT practice, all free and without a teacher or enrollment step. You work through the material at your own pace.
What self-study looks like here
- Course path: Start at Pre-Algebra if your arithmetic and fractions feel shaky; otherwise jump into Algebra 1 and move up. Each course is broken into topics, so you can skip what you already know.
- Test prep as a separate track: The SAT and ACT sections offer practice tests and tips, useful if your goal is a score rather than a course credit.
- Extra practice: The site also points to a math playground and Python programming material, which suits learners who want to experiment rather than only drill.
Where a teacher still helps
Mathplanet gives you explanations, examples and practice, but it does not mark your work or diagnose why an answer was wrong. Self-study works best if you can check your own answers, notice your error patterns, and decide when to move on. If you stall on a topic, a tutor, a study group, or a forum such as Khan Academy can fill that gap.
A practical first step
Pick one course, do its first topic, and finish the practice questions before deciding whether the pace suits you. If you can solve most of them unaided, continue; if not, drop back a level—Pre-Algebra exists precisely for that.
What is Mattecentrum and how does it keep Mathplanet free?
Mattecentrum is the Swedish non-profit organisation behind Mathplanet. Mathplanet itself is described as "a free service from Mattecentrum," and the site says the organisation was founded in Sweden. So the relationship is straightforward: Mattecentrum is the parent non-profit, and Mathplanet is one of its free maths education services.
How "free" works here
Mathplanet keeps its high school courses free through charitable support rather than subscriptions or paid tiers. The site states that it is run by Mattecentrum, a non-profit, and asks visitors to donate to "help us keep it free," with a suggested $20 donation shown on the page. In other words, the model is donation-funded non-profit provision: learners pay nothing, and those who can contribute cover running costs.
That distinction matters if you are choosing where to study. A donation-funded site is not selling you a course, so you will not hit a paywall mid-topic — but it also means the catalogue is shaped by the organisation's mission, not by what sells best.
What that means in practice
A concrete scenario: a student preparing for the SAT who cannot afford a tutor can work through Mathplanet's Pre-Algebra to Algebra 2 sequence and then use the SAT prep practice tests, without entering payment details at any point. A parent looking for a structured supplement to school maths gets the same access.
The trade-off is breadth. Mathplanet covers Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Algebra 2 and Geometry, plus SAT and ACT prep, with additional tools such as Math Playground and Programming in Python. It is a focused high-school offering rather than a full curriculum from primary through university, so check that your specific topic is covered before committing.
A useful next step: open the course list and confirm the level you need exists, then look at the practice tests to judge whether the difficulty matches your goal. If you want a wider comparison, Khan Academy also offers free maths instruction, though it is a separate organisation with a different funding model.
Stockholm, Stockholm County, Sweden
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