Best Homeschool Math Curriculum: 13 Programs Compared

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Short on time?

Our quick picks

If you only read one thing on this page, read this. Tap any card for the full review.

Best for understanding

Singapore Math

Deep, visual, and builds real problem solvers.

Amazon ↗

Best budget pick

Math Mammoth

Thorough mastery curriculum for very little money.

Amazon ↗

Best if you don’t want to teach

Teaching Textbooks

Lessons on screen, grading done for you.

Official site ↗

Best video + hands-on

Math-U-See

A teacher on video and blocks to build with.

Amazon ↗

Best for kids who forget

Saxon Math

Daily review of everything, every day.

Amazon ↗

Best for puzzle lovers

Beast Academy

Comics and genuinely hard problems.

Amazon ↗

Best for little kids

RightStart Mathematics

Abacus, games and almost no worksheets.

Amazon ↗

Best open-and-go

The Good and the Beautiful

No prep, short lessons, beautiful pages.

Official site ↗

Best for big families

CTCMath

One subscription covers every kid.

Official site ↗

Best for strong teens

Art of Problem Solving

Real mathematical thinking and competition prep.

Amazon ↗

Best free option

Khan Academy

Videos and practice for every grade, at no cost.

Official site ↗

Best fun extra

Life of Fred

Turns math into a story kids remember.

Amazon ↗

Finding your fit

How to choose, without overthinking it

Forget “the best.” Three honest questions get you to a shortlist of two or three.

How does your kid learn?

Likes to go deep, forgets quickly, loves puzzles, needs to touch things, or loves stories? That picks the style.

Who will do the teaching?

Be honest. If it’s not going to be you every day, choose video or a program written to the kid.

What’s the budget?

Free, lean, comfortable or all-in. Good options exist at every level, including zero.

Curriculum finder

Four questions, a shortlist

Stage

My kid…

Who does the teaching?

Faith-based content

Strong fits

Singapore Math

Mastery

K–8 · $$ · Secular

Visual thinkers. Famous for its bar-model drawings and building understanding step by step.

Heads up: The student books are compact. If you’re nervous, get the teacher’s guide too.

See it on Amazon ↗

Math Mammoth

Mastery

1–7 · $ · Secular

Families on a budget. Written to the student, so many kids can work on it largely on their own.

Heads up: Lots of text and black-and-white pages. Hands-on kids may want some blocks alongside it.

See it on Amazon ↗

RightStart Mathematics

Mastery

K–5 · $$$ · Secular

Young kids. Built around an abacus, card games and lots of hands-on play.

Heads up: You lead every lesson, so it asks more of your time than workbook programs.

See it on Amazon ↗

Math-U-See

Mastery

K–12 · $$$ · Neutral

Parents who want a teacher on video and kids who learn with their hands, using the program’s own blocks.

Heads up: One topic per level is very focused; some families add extra word problems.

See it on Amazon ↗

Also covers this stage: Saxon Math, Horizons Math, The Good and the Beautiful, Beast Academy, Teaching Textbooks, CTCMath, Khan Academy, Life of Fred.

A starting point, not a verdict. Look at the free samples and use the placement test.

At a glance

All programs, side by side

Grades, style, who teaches, how much of your time it takes, and roughly what it costs.

Style	Grades	Taught by	Your time	Cost	Content
Mastery	K–8	You	High	$$	Secular	See it ↗
Mastery	1–7	Kid alone · You	Medium	$	Secular	See it ↗
Mastery	K–12	Video	Low	$$$	Neutral	See it ↗
Mastery	K–5	You	High	$$$	Secular	See it ↗
Spiral	K–12	You · Kid alone	Medium	$$	Secular	See it ↗
Spiral	K–6 + Pre-Algebra	You	Medium	$$	Christian publisher	See it ↗
Gentle	K–7	You	Medium	$	Christian publisher	See it ↗
Puzzle-first	1–5	Kid alone · You	Medium	$$	Secular	See it ↗
Puzzle-first	Prealgebra → Calculus	Kid alone	Low	$$	Secular	See it ↗
Online	Elementary → Precalculus	Video · Kid alone	Low	$$	Secular	See it ↗
Online	K–12	Video · Kid alone	Low	$	Secular	See it ↗
Online	K–12	Video · Kid alone	Low	Free	Secular	See it ↗
Story	Elementary → College	Kid alone	Low	$	Neutral	See it ↗

Cost per child per year, roughly: $ under ~$100 · $$ ~$100–250 · $$$ $250+. Grades and prices change; check the publisher.

The reviews

All 13 programs, reviewed

What each one is really like day to day, who it’s great for, and who should probably skip it.

Mastery · K–8

Singapore Math review

The one most families mean when they say “math that makes kids actually understand.” Brilliant if you’ll sit with it.

What a lesson looks like

You teach a short lesson from the textbook (often with drawings or objects), then your kid does a page or two in the workbook.

What we like

Builds real understanding, not just steps
Famous bar-model drawings make word problems click
Compact pages, no busywork

Heads up

Several editions with similar names: easy to buy the wrong one
Thin on explanation for nervous parents without the teacher’s guide

A great fit if

You’re happy to teach every day and want your kid to think, not just calculate.

Maybe skip if

You need something your kid can do alone, or math makes you anxious.

See Singapore Math on Amazon ↗Read the full Singapore Math review ↗

Grades: K–8
Stages: Elementary · Middle
Style: Mastery
Taught by: You
Your time: High
Cost: $$
Format: Print: textbook, workbook, teacher’s guide
Content: Secular

Mastery · 1–7

Math Mammoth review

The best value in homeschool math. Thorough, clear and cheap, if you don’t mind plain pages.

What a lesson looks like

Your kid reads a short explanation right on the page and works the problems below it. You check and help where needed.

What we like

Very affordable, especially as PDFs
Written to the student, so older kids can work alone
Strong on understanding, mastery style

Heads up

Black-and-white, text-heavy pages
Hands-on kids need you to add objects and games

A great fit if

You’re on a budget, or you want a solid program your kid can mostly run themselves.

Maybe skip if

Your kid needs color, videos or lots of hands-on to stay engaged.

See Math Mammoth on Amazon ↗Read the full Math Mammoth review ↗

Grades: 1–7
Stages: Elementary · Middle
Style: Mastery
Taught by: Kid alone · You
Your time: Medium
Cost: $
Format: Worktexts, as PDF downloads or printed books
Content: Secular

Mastery · K–12

Math-U-See review

Video lessons plus building blocks. A lifesaver for parents who don’t want to explain math themselves.

What a lesson looks like

You (or your kid) watch a short video, build the problem with the blocks, then practise in the workbook.

What we like

A real teacher on video for every lesson
Blocks make abstract ideas visible
One topic per level, very focused

Heads up

One of the pricier options
Levels have names, not grade numbers, so placement matters

A great fit if

You’d rather not teach math yourself, and your kid learns with their hands.

Maybe skip if

Budget is tight or your kid needs lots of variety in each lesson.

See Math-U-See on Amazon ↗Read the full Math-U-See review ↗

Grades: K–12
Stages: Elementary · Middle · High school
Style: Mastery
Taught by: Video
Your time: Low
Cost: $$$
Format: Video lessons, workbooks, manipulative blocks
Content: Neutral

Mastery · K–5

RightStart Mathematics review

The most hands-on program out there. Amazing number sense, but it needs you at the table every day.

What a lesson looks like

You follow a scripted lesson using the special abacus and a math card game. Very little writing in the early levels.

What we like

Games and an abacus instead of worksheets
Exceptional for early number sense
Scripted, so you know exactly what to say

Heads up

Parent-led every single lesson
The starter kit is a real upfront cost

A great fit if

You have young kids and love the idea of learning through play.

Maybe skip if

You have several kids at different levels and limited time.

See RightStart Mathematics on Amazon ↗

Grades: K–5
Stages: Elementary
Style: Mastery
Taught by: You
Your time: High
Cost: $$$
Format: Scripted lessons, abacus, card games
Content: Secular

Spiral · K–12

Saxon Math review

The homeschool classic. Not flashy, but the constant review means kids rarely forget anything.

What a lesson looks like

A short new lesson, then a long mixed problem set covering everything learned so far. A test every few lessons.

What we like

Daily review of all past topics
Runs from kindergarten to calculus
Cheap and easy to find used

Heads up

Can feel dry and repetitive
Long problem sets (it’s fine to assign half)

A great fit if

Your kid forgets quickly and does well with routine.

Maybe skip if

Your kid gets bored easily or needs to see the “why” behind everything.

See Saxon Math on Amazon ↗Read the full Saxon Math review ↗

Grades: K–12
Stages: Elementary · Middle · High school
Style: Spiral
Taught by: You · Kid alone
Your time: Medium
Cost: $$
Format: Print textbooks and tests; third-party video lessons available
Content: Secular

Spiral · K–6 + Pre-Algebra

Horizons Math review

Bright, fast and full of review. Great for kids who like colorful workbooks and a quick pace.

What a lesson looks like

You introduce the lesson from the handbook, then your kid works a colorful two-page spread mixing new and old topics.

What we like

Colorful, engaging pages
Spiral review keeps skills fresh
Moves at a brisk pace

Heads up

Runs a bit ahead of usual grade level
The teacher’s handbook is basically essential

A great fit if

Your kid likes variety and bright pages, and you’re okay with a Christian publisher.

Maybe skip if

You want secular materials or a slower, deeper pace.

See Horizons Math on Amazon ↗

Grades: K–6 + Pre-Algebra
Stages: Elementary · Middle
Style: Spiral
Taught by: You
Your time: Medium
Cost: $$
Format: Colorful consumable workbooks, teacher’s handbook
Content: Christian publisher

Gentle · K–7

The Good and the Beautiful review

Gentle, pretty and affordable. A favorite for open-and-go families with younger kids.

What a lesson looks like

You read the lesson straight from the course book with your kid, play a short activity, then they do a few practice problems.

What we like

Truly open-and-go, almost no prep
Beautiful pages and short lessons
Affordable

Heads up

Lighter than the big mastery programs
Strong math students may need extra challenge

A great fit if

You want calm, short lessons with no planning, and a faith-based publisher is fine.

Maybe skip if

Your kid is advanced, or you want strictly secular content.

See The Good and the Beautiful on Official site ↗

Grades: K–7
Stages: Elementary · Middle
Style: Gentle
Taught by: You
Your time: Medium
Cost: $
Format: Course book, workbook and optional manipulatives
Content: Christian publisher

Puzzle-first · 1–5

Beast Academy review

The program kids actually ask to do. Comic books and hard puzzles for curious, capable kids.

What a lesson looks like

Your kid reads a comic chapter where monsters work through an idea, then tackles practice problems that get properly hard.

What we like

Kids love the comics
Builds real problem-solving grit
Books or online, your choice

Heads up

Deliberately challenging, which can frustrate some kids
Needs a confident reader

A great fit if

Your kid is curious, likes puzzles and gets bored with easy worksheets.

Maybe skip if

Your kid is struggling and needs to rebuild confidence first.

See Beast Academy on Amazon ↗Read the full Beast Academy review ↗

Grades: 1–5
Stages: Elementary
Style: Puzzle-first
Taught by: Kid alone · You
Your time: Medium
Cost: $$
Format: Comic-style guide books + practice books, or an online version
Content: Secular

Puzzle-first · Prealgebra → Calculus

Art of Problem Solving review

Rigorous, deep and fun for strong students. The go-to for teens who love math or want competitions.

What a lesson looks like

Your teen tries the problems before reading the explanation, then works through exercises. Discovery first, method second.

What we like

Teaches real mathematical thinking
Excellent for math competitions
Free online practice to go with it

Heads up

Hard by design
Thick books, not for reluctant learners

A great fit if

Your teen is strong, motivated and maybe thinking about STEM.

Maybe skip if

Your teen just needs to get through the essentials calmly.

See Art of Problem Solving on Amazon ↗

Grades: Prealgebra → Calculus
Stages: Middle · High school
Style: Puzzle-first
Taught by: Kid alone
Your time: Low
Cost: $$
Format: Textbooks with solutions manuals, online classes, free practice site
Content: Secular

Online · Elementary → Precalculus

Teaching Textbooks review

The hands-off option. Kids learn on screen, the app grades everything, and parents get their mornings back.

What a lesson looks like

Your kid logs in, watches a short lesson, works the problems and gets instant feedback with hints. You look at the gradebook.

What we like

Almost no teaching needed from you
Instant feedback and step-by-step solutions
Kids tend to work on it independently

Heads up

Automatic grading can hide a topic that never really clicked
Some families find it gentler than grade level

A great fit if

You don’t want to teach math, or you have a kid who loves working alone.

Maybe skip if

You want lots of hands-on work or less screen time.

See Teaching Textbooks on Official site ↗Read the full Teaching Textbooks review ↗

Grades: Elementary → Precalculus
Stages: Elementary · Middle · High school
Style: Online
Taught by: Video · Kid alone
Your time: Low
Cost: $$
Format: App with video lessons and automatic grading (subscription)
Content: Secular

Online · K–12

CTCMath review

Short video lessons for every grade, and one family plan covers all your kids. Great for big families.

What a lesson looks like

Your kid watches a short video on one topic, then does an online question set that’s marked automatically.

What we like

One subscription for the whole family
Lessons are short and to the point
Every level from K to 12

Heads up

Less engaging than some programs
Best with you checking progress regularly

A great fit if

You have several kids, a tight budget, or want a video backup for weak spots.

Maybe skip if

Your kid needs a lot of warmth and variety to stay motivated.

See CTCMath on Official site ↗

Grades: K–12
Stages: Elementary · Middle · High school
Style: Online
Taught by: Video · Kid alone
Your time: Low
Cost: $
Format: Online video lessons and practice (family subscription)
Content: Secular

Online · K–12

Khan Academy review

Free, huge and genuinely good. A full program for motivated teens, and a backup for everyone else.

What a lesson looks like

Your kid watches a short video, then works practice questions until they master the skill. Progress is tracked for you.

What we like

Completely free
Covers K–12 and beyond
Tracks mastery skill by skill

Heads up

Easy to click through without real effort
Not much structure unless you add it

A great fit if

Budget is zero, or you want a free supplement to fill gaps.

Maybe skip if

Your kid needs a lot of structure and human interaction.

See Khan Academy on Official site ↗

Grades: K–12
Stages: Elementary · Middle · High school
Style: Online
Taught by: Video · Kid alone
Your time: Low
Cost: Free
Format: Free online videos and practice
Content: Secular

Story · Elementary → College

Life of Fred review

A quirky story about a five-year-old professor. Hilarious, memorable, and best as a fun extra.

What a lesson looks like

Your kid reads a short, funny chapter of Fred’s story, then answers a few questions at the end.

What we like

Kids who “hate math” often love it
Cheap and reusable for siblings
Great for read-aloud time

Heads up

Very little practice
The humor isn’t for everyone

A great fit if

You want to add joy to math, or have a reluctant learner.

Maybe skip if

You want it to be your only math program.

See Life of Fred on Amazon ↗

Grades: Elementary → College
Stages: Elementary · Middle · High school
Style: Story
Taught by: Kid alone
Your time: Low
Cost: $
Format: Hardback storybooks
Content: Neutral

Place by skill, never by age.

The big debate

Mastery vs spiral: which is better?

Neither. They’re built for different kids. Here’s how to tell which one yours is.

Mastery

One topic at a time, until it’s solid. Deep and calm. Can forget older topics without a little review added.

Singapore · Math Mammoth · Math-U-See · RightStart

Spiral

A little of many topics, revisited constantly. Less forgetting. Can feel scattered to kids who like depth.

Saxon · Horizons · Teaching Textbooks

My kid… gets bored repeating things they knowMastery

My kid… forgets last month’s topic completelySpiral

My kid… wants to really understand whyMastery

My kid… likes variety in every lessonSpiral

My kid… gets overwhelmed by many topics at onceMastery

Versus

The comparisons parents ask about most

Short, straight answers to the questions that come up in every homeschool group.

Singapore MathvsMath MammothTwo mastery programs with similar ideas.

Singapore is more parent-led and visual, with famous bar models; Math Mammoth is cheaper and written for the kid to read alone. Want to teach? Singapore. Want independence on a budget? Math Mammoth.

Read the full comparison ↗

Saxon MathvsMath-U-SeeSpiral review vs. mastery with video.

Saxon reviews everything daily and suits kids who forget; Math-U-See goes deep on one topic per level with a video teacher and blocks. If review is your problem, Saxon. If explaining is your problem, Math-U-See.

Read the full comparison ↗

Teaching TextbooksvsCTCMathTwo screen-based, self-grading options.

Teaching Textbooks is warmer and more guided, priced per kid; CTCMath has shorter lessons and one family plan for everyone. One or two kids who like a friendly app: Teaching Textbooks. A big family on a budget: CTCMath.

Beast AcademyvsSingapore MathPuzzle-first vs. classic mastery.

Both build deep thinkers. Beast Academy is harder and more fun for strong, curious kids; Singapore is steadier and better for most. Plenty of families use Singapore as the core and Beast Academy for challenge.

Khan AcademyvsA paid programIs free good enough?

For a motivated teen, often yes. For younger kids, a paid program gives you structure, a teacher’s guide and offline practice that Khan doesn’t. Many families use both: a paid core, Khan for gaps.

Before you spend

Placement tests, switching and buying used

Three things that save families a lot of money and frustration.

Always do the placement test

Nearly every publisher has a free one online. Your kid’s grade on paper means very little; their actual skills mean everything. Between two levels? Start lower and move fast.

Switching is allowed

Give a program six to eight weeks. If it’s still not working, switch, mid-year if needed. Do the new placement test, and don’t worry about “wasted” lessons. Nothing learned is wasted.

Buy used, sell on

Teacher’s guides and textbooks last for years. Buy them used, then buy only the student workbook new for each sibling. Popular programs resell for close to what you paid.

Still deciding whether to homeschool at all, or working out what else you’ll need beyond the curriculum? Our full homeschool math guide for parents covers the rules, daily rhythm, supplies, costs and what to do when it gets hard. And for stage-by-stage advice, see our guides to elementary, middle school and high school math.

Questions parents ask

Homeschool math curriculum FAQ

Quick answers to what people search for most.

What is the best homeschool math curriculum?

There isn’t one best curriculum for everyone. Singapore Math is a favorite for deep understanding, Math Mammoth for value, Teaching Textbooks for parents who don’t want to teach, Saxon for kids who need constant review and Beast Academy for puzzle lovers. Match it to how your kid learns and who will do the teaching.

What is the easiest homeschool math curriculum for parents?

Video and app-based programs ask the least of you: Teaching Textbooks, CTCMath and Math-U-See all provide the lessons on screen. Among print programs, The Good and the Beautiful and Horizons are very open-and-go.

What is the cheapest good homeschool math curriculum?

Khan Academy is completely free. Among paid programs, Math Mammoth is one of the best values, especially as PDF downloads, and a used Saxon set is also very affordable.

Is Saxon or Singapore better for homeschool?

They suit different kids. Saxon is spiral, with daily review of everything learned so far, and works well for kids who forget quickly. Singapore is mastery-based and visual, and works well for kids who like to understand deeply. Try a free sample of each.

Should I use a secular or a Christian math curriculum?

Math content is basically the same either way. Faith-based publishers like Horizons or The Good and the Beautiful may include Bible verses or examples; secular programs like Singapore, Math Mammoth, Saxon and Beast Academy don’t. Pick whichever fits your family.

How do I know which level to buy?

Use the publisher’s free placement test, not your kid’s age or grade. Most publishers offer one online. If your kid lands between two levels, start with the lower one and move quickly.

Still stuck?

Pick two. Try the samples. Let your kid vote.

Download a free sample lesson from your top two, do one of each together this week, and watch your kid’s face. That tells you more than any review, including ours.

The full parent guide ↗