Topmarks
Topmarks is a Nottingham-based, privately-held educational web portal founded in 1998 that provides free interactive learning games, maths worksheets, and teaching resources for children aged 3-16, teachers, and parents, monetized primarily through one-time sales of its Hit the Button premium app.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersNottingham, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Topmarks does
Topmarks is a UK-based, privately-held educational web portal founded in 1998 and headquartered in Nottingham. It provides a free, ad-light website offering interactive learning games, printable maths worksheets, and teaching resources covering subjects including Maths, English, Science, and seasonal topics for children aged 3 to 16, alongside content targeted at teachers and parents. The core technology is a curated library of browser-based interactive games (e.g., Hit the Button, Coconut Multiples, Shape Patterns) plus printable PDF resources, all built for tablets, desktop browsers, and interactive whiteboards. The free website is complemented by a paid premium app, Hit the Button (launched 2015), distributed across six app storefronts at a one-time price of approximately $3.99 per platform, with no ads, no in-app purchases, and offline functionality.
The business model is freemium product-led growth: the website is free to use and discoverable primarily through organic SEO and social channels (Facebook, X, Pinterest), while revenue is generated through one-time app purchases and a small volume-licensing channel for institutions processed via FastSpring. The company is founder-operated, has no disclosed external funding, no headcount information, and no parent or subsidiary entities. Distribution relies on app store channels (Apple, Google Play, Amazon, Microsoft, Mac) and a Google Classroom share integration that embeds resources into teacher workflows. The company holds no disclosed patents, trademarks, or third-party certifications beyond GDPR and ICO Age Appropriate Design Code compliance (privacy policy last updated September 2024), and it has no management team, leadership changes, M&A, or funding events in the input data.
Topmarks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Topmarks
- Legal name
- Topmarks Online Ltd.
- Website
- https://topmarks.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Topmarks is a Nottingham-based, privately-held educational web portal founded in 1998 that provides free interactive learning games, maths worksheets, and teaching resources for children aged 3-16, teachers, and parents, monetized primarily through one-time sales of its Hit the Button premium app.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Topmarks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Educational Software
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (6117)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Children’s Activity & Practice Books (Workbooks, Puzzles, Handwriting) (EDAGAIAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Formative & Benchmark Assessment Content (K–12) (EDAGADAH)
Keywords
Where Topmarks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nottingham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Topmarks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Mobile and Desktop App Sales: Revenue from selling the Hit the Button app across multiple platforms including iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Amazon Kindle Fire, and Chromebooks. Price point is £3.49 GBP / $3.99 USD / €3.99 EUR / $5.99 AUD per platform license.
- Volume Licensing: Windows and Android app volume licenses sold through FastSpring payment service for educational institutions and households requiring multiple installations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Hit the Button App (per platform) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels5 records
Topmarks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Topmarks operates a free educational website providing interactive learning games, maths worksheets, and teaching resources for children aged 3-16, teachers, and parents. The platform also sells the Hit the Button premium maths app across multiple platforms (iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Amazon Kindle Fire, Chromebook) and offers volume licensing for educational institutions and households through FastSpring.
Product overview
Topmarks is a free educational platform providing interactive learning games, maths worksheets, and teaching resources for children aged 3-16, as well as teachers and parents. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Nottingham, UK. The core offerings include the free Topmarks Website featuring hundreds of educational games and printable resources, and the premium Hit the Button App (launched 2015) available on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac for mental maths practice. Key products include Hit the Button (web and app), Coconut Multiples, Shape Patterns, and themed content for Christmas and Chinese New Year including craft activities, puzzles, colouring pages, and maths worksheets. The platform operates on a free-to-use model with no subscription required, with revenue generated through the premium Hit the Button app and optional advertising.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hit the Button: Popular interactive maths game with quick fire questions on number bonds, times tables, doubling and halving, multiples, division facts and square numbers. Available as both web game and premium app for Windows, Mac, iPad, iPhone and Android.
- Coconut Multiples
- Shape Patterns
Products and services
- Hit the Button App A premium mental maths and calculation skills practice app for 5-11 year olds available on Windows, Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Android. Features 166 different maths game modes including times tables, division, square numbers, number bonds, doubling and halving. No ads, no in-app purchases, no internet required.
- Topmarks Website Free educational website featuring interactive learning games, maths worksheets, and teaching resources for children aged 3-16, teachers, and parents. Covers subjects including Maths, English, Science, and themed topics like Christmas and Chinese New Year activities.
- Volume Licensing for Hit the Button App
Companies that use Topmarks
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Topmarks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
Feature3 records
Topmarks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- FastSpringcoreFastSpring is used as a payment service for purchasing Windows and Android app volume licenses. FastSpring collects personal data as necessary for transactions.
- App Store Providers (Apple, Google, Amazon, Microsoft)coreApps are distributed through Apple iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, and Microsoft app stores. Users enter purchase agreements directly with the respective app store.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Topmarks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Twinkl: Twinkl is a UK-based educational resource platform providing worksheets, games, and teaching materials for primary and secondary school teachers and parents - directly comparable to Topmarks in target audience, free/paid hybrid model, and curriculum-aligned content.
- White Rose Maths: White Rose Maths provides maths resources, worksheets, and interactive activities aligned with UK primary maths curricula for teachers and parents - directly comparable to Topmarks on the maths-focused subset of its content library.
- Khan Academy Kids: Khan Academy Kids is a free educational app and platform for early learners (ages 3-8) covering maths, reading, and social-emotional learning - directly comparable to Topmarks' early-years segment with a free, child-safe, app-based model.
- Prodigy Education: Prodigy is a freemium game-based K-8 maths platform with adaptive learning and a paid premium tier - directly comparable to Topmarks' gamified maths practice approach with Hit the Button, but with adaptive/AI features.
- BBC Bitesize: BBC Bitesize is a publicly-funded UK educational website offering free interactive learning games, videos, and revision resources for children and teachers - directly competing with Topmarks in the UK primary/secondary education space with similar free website distribution model.
- Mathletics (3P Learning): Mathletics is a subscription-based K-12 maths practice platform with curriculum-aligned interactive games and times-tables practice, serving schools and parents globally - directly comparable to Hit the Button on maths fact drilling and gamified practice.
- Oxford Owl (Oxford University Press): Oxford Owl is a UK educational platform from Oxford University Press providing free reading, maths, and learning resources for primary school children and parents - directly comparable to Topmarks in target audience, free model, and curriculum-aligned content.
- Education.com: Education.com provides worksheets, games, and lesson plans for K-8 teachers and parents - directly comparable to Topmarks' content library across worksheets, interactive games, and printable resources.
Broad incumbents
- CBeebies (BBC): CBeebies is a BBC-operated free educational platform and app for young children (under 6) offering games, videos, and activities - a broader incumbent directly comparable to Topmarks' early-years segment but with broader broadcast-media backing.
- IXL Learning: IXL is a comprehensive subscription-based K-12 platform covering maths, English, science, and social studies with adaptive practice - a broader incumbent offering overlapping functionality with Topmarks' maths and English games.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Topmarks social profiles
Digital presenceTopmarks compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Topmarks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Topmarks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Topmarks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Topmarks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Topmarks
What does Topmarks do?
Topmarks operates a free educational website providing interactive learning games, maths worksheets, and teaching resources for children aged 3-16, teachers, and parents. The platform also sells the Hit the Button premium maths app across multiple platforms (iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Amazon Kindle Fire, Chromebook) and offers volume licensing for educational institutions and households through FastSpring.
Is Topmarks a public or private company?
Topmarks is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Topmarks founded?
Topmarks was founded in 1998. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Topmarks based?
Topmarks is headquartered in Nottingham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Topmarks make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Mobile and Desktop App Sales are the primary driver. The others are volume Licensing.
Who are Topmarks's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Twinkl, White Rose Maths, Khan Academy Kids, Prodigy Education, BBC Bitesize, Mathletics (3P Learning), Oxford Owl (Oxford University Press) and Education.com. Broad incumbents are CBeebies (BBC) and IXL Learning.
Does Topmarks have an API?
No public API is recorded for Topmarks.
What industry is Topmarks in?
Topmarks's product category is Educational Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGAIAE, Children’s Activity & Practice Books (Workbooks, Puzzles, Handwriting), with a secondary code of EDAGADAH, Formative & Benchmark Assessment Content (K–12). Its NAICS code is 6117 and its SIC code is 8200.