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Two popular homeschool math programs, compared on what actually decides the fit: how your child learns, how much you'll teach, and how each one handles review.
Updated September 2026 · based on parent reviews and publisher information
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Compare for my child| Beast Academy | Math with Confidence | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | ~Grades 1–5 | K–6 |
| Approach | Problem solving | Gentle, hands-on |
| Who teaches | The program teaches | Scripted for the parent |
| Parent prep | Low | Low (gather household items) |
| Screen time | Mix of screen and paper | Mostly offline |
| Video lessons | Available: videos come with Beast Academy Online | None: videos are parent training, not student lessons |
| Faith | No religious content | No religious content |
| Cost | $100 a year online, or about $120 for a level of books ($160 for both) | About $106 for the instructor guide and workbooks; about $60 for a sibling's workbooks |
| Placement | Free placement tests | Author's placement guide |
| Parents love |
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| Common complaints |
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Math-loving kids tend to adore it, and parents describe real growth in persistence and reasoning. Nearly every review warns that it's hard on purpose. Kids who need drill, or who get discouraged easily, often struggle, and some families don't finish a full level in a year.
Parents describe it as a gentle but solid middle-of-the-road program: scripted, open-and-go, full of games and easy on the budget. The main gripes are gathering household manipulatives before lessons and a pace that can feel slow for very advanced kids.
Neither is better for every child. Beast Academy is the stronger fit for races ahead, loves puzzles; reading and working alone; video lessons a big plus. Math with Confidence is the stronger fit for struggles or feels anxious; steady, about on pace; hands-on objects.
Beast Academy is problem solving.
Math with Confidence is gentle, hands-on.
Beast Academy: $100 a year online, or about $120 for a level of books ($160 for both). Math with Confidence: About $106 for the instructor guide and workbooks; about $60 for a sibling's workbooks.
Summaries are in our own words.