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| Saxon Math | Math with Confidence | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | K–12 | K–6 |
| Approach | Spiral / incremental | Gentle, hands-on |
| Who teaches | Scripted for the parent | Scripted for the parent |
| Parent prep | Low (scripted) | Low (gather household items) |
| Screen time | Mostly offline | Mostly offline |
| Video lessons | Available: official video lessons sold separately (Saxon Teacher) | None: videos are parent training, not student lessons |
| Faith | No religious content | No religious content |
| Cost | About $152 for a homeschool kit (Saxon 5/4); textbook is reusable | 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 |
|
|
| Common complaints |
|
|
Parents like that it's clear, well organized, and tells you exactly what to do each day, and the built-in review keeps skills from fading. The most common complaints are that it's dry, with no color or fun, and that the repetition wears on kids who pick things up quickly. Several parents say the younger levels take more of their time than expected.
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. Saxon Math is the stronger fit for reading and working alone; video lessons a big plus; lots of mixed review. Math with Confidence is the stronger fit for hands-on objects; stories and fun; master one topic, then move on.
Saxon Math is spiral / incremental.
Math with Confidence is gentle, hands-on.
Saxon Math: About $152 for a homeschool kit (Saxon 5/4); textbook is reusable. Math with Confidence: About $106 for the instructor guide and workbooks; about $60 for a sibling's workbooks.
Summaries are in our own words.