Home › Math › Comparisons
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
Still torn? Answer a few questions and see how both rank for your child, side by side.
Compare for my child| Math-U-See | Math with Confidence | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | K–12 | K–6 |
| Approach | Mastery, hands-on | 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 | Included: video lesson for every lesson | None: videos are parent training, not student lessons |
| Faith | No religious content | No religious content |
| Cost | First year costs more: about $220 the first year (includes the $82 block kit); less in later years | About $106 for the instructor guide and workbooks; about $60 for a sibling's workbooks |
| Placement | Free placement tool | Author's placement guide |
| Parents love |
|
|
| Common complaints |
|
|
Parents of struggling learners, including some kids with dyscalculia, often describe the blocks as a breakthrough. The flip side is pace: families with quick or math-loving kids find it repetitive and light on problem solving. Some also report a bumpy switch when moving to another program in middle school.
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. Math-U-See is the stronger fit for video lessons a big plus; video lessons nice to have; minimal. Math with Confidence is the stronger fit for steady, about on pace; stories and fun; mostly offline.
Math-U-See is mastery, hands-on.
Math with Confidence is gentle, hands-on.
Math-U-See: First year costs more: about $220 the first year (includes the $82 block kit); less in later years. Math with Confidence: About $106 for the instructor guide and workbooks; about $60 for a sibling's workbooks.
Summaries are in our own words.