Maths Genie vs Save My Exams: Free or Paid?
Compare Maths Genie and Save My Exams for GCSE and A Level maths, including free limits, current subscription costs, revision formats and value.
If you only need GCSE or A Level maths revision, Maths Genie is the stronger free choice: its topic videos, revision guides, worksheets, exam questions and past papers can be used without a paid subscription. Save My Exams is more compelling if you want a notes-led platform covering several subjects and are prepared to pay for unrestricted notes, model answers and personalised tools.
The practical decision is therefore not simply “Which website is better?” It is whether the extra organisation and paid features of Save My Exams solve a problem that free maths resources do not. For many maths students, they will not. For some students revising several GCSEs or A Levels, they may.
Maths Genie vs Save My Exams at a glance
The prices and free-access limits below were checked against Save My Exams’ official UK information on 28 August 2026. Its Help Centre says that prices and trial eligibility can vary by account, location, eligibility and current offer, so confirm the final amount shown before subscribing.
| Decision factor | Maths Genie | Save My Exams | What the trade-off means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost for full maths resources | Free access to its listed videos, revision guides, worksheets, questions and past papers | Limited free plan; full access requires Premium | Maths Genie removes cost as a barrier, while Save My Exams charges for unrestricted use of most of its authored revision library and tools. |
| Published UK subscription prices | No subscription needed for the core maths resources compared here | Official material lists £12 for one month, £30 for three months or £48 for 12 months; the checkout price may vary | The annual plan has the lowest equivalent monthly cost, but requires a larger commitment and normally renews unless cancelled. |
| Free notes and questions | Topic resources are available without a paid limit | Five revision notes and one topic question per month for a free registered user | Save My Exams’ free tier is suitable for sampling its format, not for unrestricted topic-by-topic revision. |
| Main learning format | Videos, topic guides, worksheets and repeated question practice | Concise, specification-aligned revision notes supported by questions, flashcards and videos | Choose according to whether you learn better by seeing a method demonstrated or by reading structured notes. |
| Past papers | Free past papers and mark schemes, with worked solutions where available | Official past papers and mark schemes are free; Premium adds wider platform features and progress tools | Neither platform requires payment merely to obtain standard past-paper practice, although presentation and supporting tools differ. |
| Exam-board navigation | Separate GCSE, AS and A Level maths hubs organised by awarding organisation | Qualification, subject, specification and exam-board pathways across many subjects | Both help you avoid revising the wrong specification, but Save My Exams has greater value if one subscription will support several subjects. |
| Personalisation | Students can choose topics and papers directly and manage their own revision sequence | Premium includes tools such as Target Tests, SmartMark and a progress dashboard | Save My Exams can reduce planning effort; Maths Genie places more responsibility on the student to diagnose and revisit weaknesses. |
| Best fit | Students wanting a free, practice-led maths pathway | Students wanting a multi-subject, notes-led service with paid tracking and feedback tools | Paying is most defensible when you will use the additional features consistently rather than simply reading more content. |
What is genuinely free?
Maths Genie’s free maths pathway
Students can start with the GCSE Maths revision hub, which provides routes for AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, WJEC and CCEA. The available resource types include topic videos, revision guides, worksheets, exam-style questions and past papers.
There are corresponding hubs for AS Level Maths and A Level Maths, with awarding-organisation routes including AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, OCR (MEI), WJEC and CCEA. Students can also use the central revision resources page for shorter tests and paper-based practice.
The important point is not merely that the website can be opened for free. The core study cycle is available without paying:
- Learn or review a method using a guide or video.
- Complete a worksheet or topic-question set.
- Check the answers or worked solution.
- Record the error and repeat the topic.
- Move to a timed past paper when individual skills are secure.
That makes Maths Genie a credible Save My Exams alternative for students whose main priority is mathematics. Its value comes from combining explanation and practice rather than offering isolated free samples.
Maths Genie also includes written revision guides, so it is not a videos-only service. However, its clearest advantage is the short route from an explanation to questions and then to paper practice. That structure suits a subject in which being able to reproduce a method matters more than recognising it on a page.
Save My Exams’ free tier
Save My Exams is a freemium service rather than an entirely paid website. As verified at publication, a free registered user can access five revision notes and one topic question per month. Its Learning Hub articles are also free.
Official past papers and their mark schemes are available without Premium. This distinction matters: it would be inaccurate to describe every Save My Exams resource as paywalled. The restriction mainly affects unrestricted access to its authored notes, topic-question library, model answers and additional study tools.
Free revision notes are viewed in the browser; downloading revision-note PDFs is a Premium feature. Consequently, the free tier is useful for testing the layout and checking whether the writing style works for you. It is much less suitable for revising an entire maths specification solely through those notes.
Save My Exams currently advertises a seven-day Premium trial for eligible users. Its terms state that trial eligibility and usage limits may vary, and that a qualifying annual subscription can begin automatically if it is not cancelled before the trial ends. Read the checkout terms rather than assuming every account receives the same offer.
What does Save My Exams Premium cost?
Official Save My Exams material available at publication lists these UK rates:
- One month: £12, paid for one month.
- Three months: £30 in total, equivalent to £10 per month.
- Twelve months: £48 in total, equivalent to £4 per month.
These are recurring subscription periods, not a permanent purchase. Save My Exams states that exact pricing can depend on account type, location, eligibility and current promotions, so the price shown at checkout is decisive. Subscriptions automatically renew unless renewal is cancelled, although access continues until the paid period ends after cancellation.
The annual price is the cheapest per month, but that does not automatically make it the best value. If you need intensive support for only six weeks, paying upfront for a year may be unnecessary. Conversely, a student using the platform across maths, sciences and other supported subjects throughout an academic year could obtain more value from the same subscription.
Prices and free-tier rules can change after publication. Check both the total charge and renewal period before entering payment details.
Revision notes or videos and worksheets?
When a notes-led format works best
Save My Exams is particularly strong for students who prefer to read concise, specification-matched explanations. Notes can make it easier to locate a definition, formula or single step without watching a complete video. They are also convenient when revising several subjects through a consistent interface.
Premium access adds the full notes library, topic questions, model answers, flashcards, mock examinations and personalised tools. That joined-up environment can help a student who loses time deciding what to revise or wants one account for several qualifications.
The danger is passive reading. Understanding a page about completing the square does not prove that you can complete the process accurately under examination conditions. Even a polished set of notes must lead to unaided questions.
When videos and worksheets work best
A demonstrated method can be more useful when you do not understand why a step is allowed. For example, seeing each stage of rearranging an equation or applying the chain rule can expose a misunderstanding that a compact note assumes away.
Worksheets then force you to reproduce the process. Maths Genie’s combination of videos, guides and questions is therefore well suited to students who need to rebuild a topic, not merely remind themselves of it.
Video-based revision has its own weakness: watching can feel productive even when nothing has been retained. Pause before each worked step, attempt it yourself and compare your line with the explanation. Follow the video with questions completed without assistance.
Students specifically searching for free GCSE maths revision notes can use Maths Genie’s exam-board revision guides, but should combine them with worksheets. Notes help you recognise a method; questions establish whether you can use it.
GCSE considerations
At GCSE, first confirm both your awarding organisation and tier. In England, GCSE Mathematics candidates are entered for Foundation or Higher tier. A resource being labelled “GCSE maths” does not guarantee that every question is appropriate for your tier or specification.
Maths Genie’s GCSE hub separates routes by awarding organisation and provides topic-based practice. This is useful when a mock identifies a precise weakness such as bounds, simultaneous equations or circle theorems. You can revise that topic directly before returning to mixed questions.
Save My Exams may be worth paying for if you want the same notes-led system across several GCSE subjects, not just mathematics. The subscription decision becomes less favourable if you use it only to access material that you could already practise freely elsewhere.
For either platform, move from topic work to complete papers. GCSE Mathematics rewards selecting methods when the topic is not announced. A worksheet headed “Pythagoras” removes that decision; an examination paper does not.
AS and A Level considerations
AS and A Level Mathematics require more than memorising isolated procedures. Questions can combine algebra, calculus, trigonometry, statistics and mechanics, so students need both secure techniques and experience choosing between them.
The free A Level Maths hub is a sensible starting point when you want exam-board-specific videos, worksheets, questions and papers without a subscription. Use the AS Level Maths hub if you are following the standalone AS qualification or revising first-year content.
Save My Exams Premium becomes more attractive if concise written notes help you manage a large specification or if you will use its question feedback and progress features regularly. It may also offer better overall value to a student studying several supported A Levels.
Neither payment nor quantity guarantees effective revision. At this level, write complete solutions, check algebraic notation and identify where method marks would be earned. Reading a model answer after giving up is less valuable than attempting the problem, locating the first incorrect line and trying it again later.
Which should you choose?
Choose Maths Genie first if:
- you only need maths or your budget is zero;
- you want free videos, worksheets, exam questions and past papers;
- you are willing to choose topics and keep your own error log;
- practising methods is more useful to you than reading extensive notes.
Consider Save My Exams Premium if:
- you want one consistent platform across several subjects;
- concise written notes are your preferred starting point;
- you will genuinely use model answers, Target Tests, SmartMark or progress tracking;
- the subscription cost is affordable and you understand its renewal terms.
A hybrid approach is also reasonable. Use Maths Genie as the main free maths pathway and Save My Exams’ free past papers, Learning Hub and limited monthly samples to assess its format. Subscribe only if the locked features address a specific need.
The fairest conclusion is that Save My Exams Premium buys convenience, breadth and additional guidance; it does not buy a substitute for doing questions. For a GCSE or A Level student focused specifically on mathematics, Maths Genie provides enough free explanation and practice to be the logical first choice. Pay only when you can state exactly which additional feature will improve your revision routine.
