Home › Civics & economics › Comparisons
Two homeschool civics and economics programs, compared on what actually decides the fit: viewpoint, what you study, teaching style, and how much you'll teach.
Updated September 2026 · based on parent reviews and publisher information
Still torn? Answer a few questions and see how both rank for your child, side by side.
Compare for my child| Classical Historian Gov & Econ | Documents of Freedom | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | 9th–12th | 9th–12th |
| Viewpoint | Leans free-market and limited-government; not tied to a religion | Pro-Constitution, limited-government civic virtue; not religious |
| Approach | Reading, discussion, research and presentations; students defend and argue both sides | Inquiry and discussion around founding documents, with essays and activities |
| Who teaches | The parent teaches | The parent teaches |
| Parent prep | High (learn the Socratic method, lead discussion, buy two outside books) | High (teacher reads and plans discussions and activities) |
| Screen time | Mostly offline (books and paper) | Online |
| Video lessons | Available: a training DVD for teachers and a live online class are sold separately | None: mostly readings; few videos |
| Cost | $22: student edition; the teacher edition (about $22) and two required outside books are extra | $0: free online course |
| Parents love |
|
|
| Common complaints |
|
|
Reviewers like that it joins government and economics into something engaging and builds the skill of defending an opinion. It works best in a weekly group, so a single student at home loses a lot. Expect to learn the Socratic method and to buy two outside books, and note the free-market lean.
The one outside review praises a free, broad set of primary sources and activities that students remember. It is not neutral, since it presents a clear pro-Constitution, limited-government view, it takes real teacher preparation, and many activities are built for a group. There are no exams, so you grade essays yourself.
Neither is better for every child. Classical Historian Gov & Econ is the stronger fit for mostly offline; video lessons a big plus. Documents of Freedom is the stronger fit for online.
Classical Historian Gov & Econ: leans free-market and limited-government; not tied to a religion. Documents of Freedom: pro-Constitution, limited-government civic virtue; not religious.
Classical Historian Gov & Econ: $22: student edition; the teacher edition (about $22) and two required outside books are extra. Documents of Freedom: $0: free online course.
Summaries are in our own words.