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• IXL vs ABCmouse vs Brighterly: Which Online Learning Platform Is the Best?

IXL vs ABCmouse vs Brighterly: Which Online Learning Platform Is the Best?

Choosing between IXL vs ABCmouse vs Brighterly for your child’s academic needs? As each of these platforms has its pros and cons, the decision can be tough. But I am here to help you by comparing and contrasting the three sites and explaining what each one is best for.

Key points

• IXL Learning is an educational website for assessing and practicing mastery skills in core academic subjects.
• ABCmouse is a user-friendly, early childhood education platform for game-based learning.
• Brighterly is a 1:1, completely personalized, real-time math and reading tutoring website that emphasizes excellence and confidence through teacher-led instruction and engaging sessions.

Math & reading from 1st to 9th grade

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IXL vs ABCmouse vs Brighterly: In-depth comparison

The most important difference between ABCmouse vs IXL vs Brighterly is that ABCmouse offers a game-based, self-paced approach to building broad skills in young children, IXL Learning provides independent practice for developing mastery in a range of subjects, and Brighterly is a 1:1, personalized math and reading tutoring platform.

In other words, while IXL and ABCmouse offer online learning resources for independent studying or studying guided by tech-savvy parents, Brighterly capitalizes on the power of real human teachers to connect with students, make even the most complicated concepts understandable, and build both advanced skills and confidence.

Another discrepancy I’d like to highlight is that IXL offers more in-depth knowledge, but smaller kids might feel disassociated and discouraged. Meanwhile, ABCmouse is fun and engaging but doesn’t go in depth. Brighterly, on the other hand, brings the best of both worlds – mastery and engagement – augmented by human communication and real-time interactions.

	IXL	ABCmouse	Brighterly
Best for	Self-paced practice & assessment to develop in-depth knowledge	Gamified learning & practice of basic skills	Teacher-led, game-based, in-depth learning & practice powered by human interactions
Grades	PreK-12	PreK-2	1-9
Subjects	Math Language arts Science Social studies Spanish	Math Reading Science Social studies Art & color Music	Math Reading ELA
Top features	Comprehensive PreK-12 curriculum Skills-based learning Math video lessons Practice questions Detailed assessments	Step-by-step learning plan Game-based learning 850+ video lessons across 10 levels Pre-recorded educational videos Books Games Puzzles	Teacher-based methodology Personalized approach Award-winning curriculum US state standards compatibility STEM focus Affordable pricing Free educational resources
Personalized approach	✅	Limited	✅
US state standards alignment	✅	❌	✅
Progress tracking	✅ Progress & Growth Report	✅ ABCmouse Progress Tracker	✅ Continuous feedback from tutors Monthly progress reports
Real human teacher interaction	❌	❌	✅ Real-time tutoring is at the core
Trustpilot score	1.4	1.3	4.4

 

IXL vs ABCmouse vs Brighterly cost: Pricing comparison

	Subscription Fees	Free Features
IXL cost	$9.95/month for a single subject $15.95/month for math & ELA $19/95/month for all core subjects	30-day satisfaction guarantee
ABCmouse cost	$14.99/month or $45/year	30-day free trial
Brighterly cost	From $17.30/lesson (with a 12-month plan for 3 lessons/week) No hidden fees	Free first lessons Free math & reading worksheets Free math & reading tests Free educational materials for parents

When comparing the cost of ABC mouse vs IXL vs Brighterly, ABCmouse emerges as the cheapest learning platform, followed by IXL. Brighterly costs more per month, but it offers real-time tutoring as opposed to pre-recorded videos and unguided exercises. Still, Brighterly’s price is well below the average US tutoring rates per hour of $25-$80.

ABC mouse vs IXL vs Brighterly: Which learning program is better?

Between IXL vs ABC mouse vs Brighterly, the latter emerges as a powerful option for students and parents who’re looking for an unmatched combination of individualization, national standards alignment, and in-depth knowledge gains, which lead to love for learning and confidence.

Having said that, ABCmouse and IXL could work well for families that prefer self-paced learning without support from a professional. To optimize outcomes, parents need to be heavily involved in the education process, especially when it comes to younger students. Otherwise, they can easily lose focus and interest.

What does Brighterly stand for?

The Brighterly math and reading platform provides private, customized tutoring in math, reading, and ELA to students in elementary, middle, and first year of high school. The main distinction between IXL vs ABC mouse vs Brighterly is that the third one emphasizes highly personalized instruction delivered by human teachers in real time.

This online learning method has undeniable advantages over human-deprived strategies.

Why Brighterly is the #1 learning platform for 200,000+ US parents

😻More than 200,000 US families have chosen Brighterly as their preferred educational website for their kids because of the personalized teaching style, engaging sessions, knowledgeable tutors, and a confidence boost. Parents’ reviews on Trustpilot clearly show this.

Brighterly’s top 3 features

• Personalized 1:1 tutoring delivered by real teachers
• Top of the top math & reading tutors
• High value for money

Personalized 1:1 tutoring delivered by real teachers

The first major benefit of Brighterly that transpires in my review of ABC mouse vs IXL vs Brighterly is the private tutoring format. While sessions are held online at times convenient for the student, they are provided by human teachers in real time.

Both the math program and the reading program cover basic and advanced academic topics coming directly from the US curriculum. This makes Brighterly similar to IXL in focusing on mastery and different from ABCmouse, which doesn’t go so in-depth.

Top of the top math & reading tutors

Speaking of Brighterly math and reading tutors, that’s the second feature that distinguishes the platform from the IXL or ABCmouse apps. All Brighterly tutors are professional teachers with a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in the subject and 5-10+ years of teaching experience. Meanwhile, you don’t always know who prepared the IXL Learning and ABCmouse curriculum and exercises.

Additionally, Brighterly teachers are trained in pedagogy and hired after a careful screening process, so they have the necessary traits and skills to work with diverse students and accommodate their specific needs. Whether your child is a math star or might be lagging behind in reading speed, their dedicated tutor will dig out the root causes of the problem and design the best learning plan to get over it.

⭐“Knowledgeable”, “passionate”, “patient”, and “friendly” are just some of the words that parents use to describe Brighterly tutors on Trustpilot.

High value for money

The third feature of Brighterly worth highlighting is the endless treasury of free learning resources offered by the learning platform. To begin with, the website offers math worksheets and reading worksheets for kids completely free of charge. Access doesn’t even require registration.

What I really love about the Brighterly worksheets is that they are organized by subject, grade level, and topic. So, families can easily identify the right one for the material currently covered at school or tutoring for additional practice. Moreover, they provide real-world examples to show why we need to learn math and reading and how we’ll apply this knowledge in life.

On top of that, Brighterly offers free math tests and reading tests to accurately diagnose your child’s current state and decide if they need tutoring. Brighterly, meanwhile, uses the results of this diagnosis to identify the precise strengths and weaknesses of your child and prepare a custom learning plan.

Brighterly worksheets and tests have the correct answers so you don’t need to embarrass yourself in front of your child if your knowledge has gotten a bit rusty. 🫣

How much does Brighterly cost?

• 1-month subscription: From $20.70/lesson
• 3-month subscription: From $20.20/lesson
• 6-month subscription: From $19.40/lesson
• 12-month subscription: From $17.30/lesson

The Brighterly prices above refer to 3 lessons/week, with other options available too.

In sum, Brighterly offers affordable tutoring compared to other private online tutoring platforms or in-person options.

What does IXL stand for?

• Comprehensive school curriculum
• Independent learning
• Student awards

How does IXL work?

IXL Learning operates as an online educational platform that helps students in grades PreK-12 develop mastery skills in all academic subjects through practice and assessments. The website depends on an entirely student- or parent-driven approach as there’s no instruction or other interaction with teachers.

In my comparison of ABC mouse vs Brighterly vs IXL, I have to praise the last one for the all-inclusive curriculum for all grade levels compared to other IXL alternatives. So, if you’re wondering “Is IXL a full curriculum?”, the answer is: Yes. 

I find it particularly interesting that materials are organized by grades and skills, making it convenient to find the required resources for each child.

For the core subjects – math and ELA – IXL provides pre-recorded videos, games, and practice questions. For science, social studies, and Spanish, only practice is available. The self-paced methodology makes the website a good fit for exceptionally self-driven students or parents who have free time to spare on their child’s education. My concern is that it is a poor fit for younger kids and those with bad organizational skills as they’ll simply get lost and unmotivated without teacher guidance.

To provide some degree of engagement and motivation, IXL Learning offers awards, such as hidden treasures, that get kids to keep going to uncover more and more special features. They are personalized based on students’ interests and preferences. There are also informal certificates to recognize achievements.

All in all, self-motivated, responsible students can improve skills across subjects with IXL.

How much does IXL cost?

• Single subject: $9.95/month for math or ELA
• Combo package: $15.95/month for math and ELA
• Core subjects: $19.95/month for math, ELA, science, and social studies

While IXL doesn’t offer a free trial, there is a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.

💡The IXL cost is quite low, but it cannot compare to the level of personalization and teacher support that Brighterly offers. While your kid might become somewhat better at school, they are unlikely to build a lifelong passion for learning.

What does ABCmouse stand for?

• Games-driven approach
• Early childhood education focus
• Range of learning resources

How does ABCmouse work?

ABCmouse functions as an online learning platform that emphasizes early childhood education for kids in grades PreK-2 through gamification and adventure. So, in terms of what age is ABCmouse for, the ideal age range is 2-8 years. The website combines instruction delivered in pre-recorded animated videos with practice via games and puzzles.

Comparing ABCmouse vs IXL vs Brighterly, I like the different subjects covered by the first one. This includes both core subjects, such as math, reading, science, and social studies, and supplementary subjects, like art and music. The program is organized by levels and features over 850 animated lessons. This step-by-step learning path is a good fit for little learners.

Many parents wonder, “Is ABCmouse a homeschool curriculum?”, and the truth of the matter is that it can be used by children attending public schools and those enjoying the benefits of homeschooling. However, ABCmouse is not a standalone curriculum but more like a supplementary homeschooling resource.

Unlike more academic-focused ABCmouse alternatives, the platform gives access to diverse fun activities, including videos, books, games, puzzles, math songs for kids, and others. In other words, different types of learners can find the right resources to work on basic skills for PreK-2 grade subjects. But in most cases, the successful implementation of ABCmouse, just like IXL, requires strict parental control and involvement to stay on track.

Finally, ABCmouse offers awards in the form of tickets as well as a customizable student avatar. Completing tasks provides tickets to spend on your avatar or other fun options. This gamified feature can engage and somewhat motivate small kids.

How much does ABCmouse cost?

• 1-month plan: $14.99
• 6-month plan: $29.99
• 12-month plan: $45

Between IXL vs ABCmouse vs Brighterly, this is the most budget-friendly learning platform.

💡The ABCmouse cost is less than Brighterly, but you simply cannot compare the benefits of 1:1, personalized, teacher-led instruction with self-paced, pre-recorded videos and online learning games.

IXL vs ABC mouse vs Brighterly Reddit & Trustpilot reviews

• IXL reviews
• ABCmouse reviews
• Brighterly reviews

As a next step in my comparison of the three learning platforms, I’ll take a look at IXL vs ABCmouse vs Brighterly Reddit and Trustpilot reviews to see what users see as the biggest advantages and disadvantages of each.

IXL reviews by families

As I check out IXL reviews on Reddit and Trustpilot, I see both pros and cons highlighted by parents.

IXL reviews: What students and parents like

On Reddit, some families comment on the easy-to-follow curriculum that doesn’t overwhelm children. Meanwhile, the short video lessons prove effective enough.

Other parents share on Reddit that the IXL lessons develop topics gradually, so students can transition from topic to topic effortlessly. Despite the heavy on-screen focus, the platform manages to provide children with real knowledge.

IXL reviews: Why don’t people like IXL?

To begin with, both students and parents complain on Trustpilot that IXL brings zero progress. In addition, it feels like torture and has a very inefficient grading system.

A word I see often when going through IXL Learning reviews on Trustpilot is “boring”. It seems that the entirely online platform and the complete lack of human interaction have a serious negative impact on children’s experience.

So, is IXL good? Based on reviews, IXL works for some children, but it fails for others, usually those who need more structure and supervision.

ABCmouse reviews by families

ABCmouse reviews also reveal both positives and negatives. So, what are the pros and cons of ABCmouse according to what parents say on Trustpilot and Reddit?

ABCmouse reviews: What parents like

Satisfied parents explain on Reddit that the gamified approach of ABCmouse really works. Kids not only enjoy the fun avatars but also manage to learn a good amount with the app.

It’s important to note that ABCmouse generally tends to work better for younger kids. According to reviews on Reddit, it’s basically good for kindergarten but not school.

ABCmouse reviews: What parents don’t like

On Reddit, parents who use ABCmouse dislike the lack of real-time communication leading to the absence of feedback. Kids have no way of knowing what they’re doing wrong and how to correct it.

On Trustpilot, many parents mention scammy practices, such as unexpected charges by ABCMouse, inability to cancel subscriptions, and lack of customer support. This is a red flag you should keep in mind when deciding between the ABC mouse vs IXL vs Brighterly math and reading programs.

Brighterly reviews by families

Unlike IXL and ABC mouse, Brighterly reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with an impressive average Trustpilot score of 4.4.

Brighterly reviews: What parents love

Based on Trustpilot reviews, parents appreciate the 1:1, individualized tutoring for the value it provides to children.

I see a lot of parents describing on Trustpilot how professional, patient, considerate, and caring Brighterly tutors are and how they always go above and beyond.

As a result of the adaptive teaching and diligent tutors, parents’ reviews on Trustpilot are filled with testimonies to the fast improvements observed in children’s test scores and overall academic performance.

The bottom line is: ABCmouse vs IXL vs Brighterly Reddit and Trustpilot reviews show that ABCmouse can be helpful for really young learners, IXL can work for well-organized students who progress better independently, and Brighterly boosts the knowledge, skills, and confidence of kids with diverse learning styles and needs.

What’s the main difference between IXL vs ABCmouse vs Brighterly?

The main difference between IXL and ABCmouse, on the one hand, and Brighterly, on the other hand, is that the first two platforms offer self-paced online learning, while the last one provides real-time, teacher-led support for math and reading excellence.

While IXL and ABCmouse might seem like more cost-efficient options, they lack the level of personalization and emotional intelligence that Brighterly brings to the table.

IXL vs ABCmouse vs Brighterly: What’s the best for your child?

My IXL vs ABCmouse vs Brighterly review reveals the potential of all three websites to add value to the educational process. However, they meet different requirements through different features. When deciding between “ABCmouse vs IXL vs Brighterly – which is better?” for your child, keep this in mind:

• If you’re on the search for an independent learning source focused on mastery but lacking teacher intervention, IXL might be your best bet.
• If you need a gamified approach to teaching your little one’s basic skills, ABCmouse could help.
• If you want your child to become a skillful and confident math and reading wizard, Brighterly can help you achieve this.

With Brighterly math and reading tutoring, you get:

✅ 1:1, personalized learning and emotional support

✅ Access to the best math and reading teachers

✅ Affordable rates to be able to take as many sessions as needed

Ready to give your child the chance it deserves? Book free lesson now to unlock the power of teacher-led learning.

More comparisons of popular online learning platforms

If you don’t want to limit yourself to these platforms only and are eager to explore more learning options, here are other articles to read:

• Kumon vs Huntington vs Brighterly: Which One Is Better? (2025)
• Mathnasium vs Sylvan vs Brighterly: Pros, Cons & Best Pick (2025)
• Wyzant vs Varsity Tutors vs Brighterly: Which Math Tutoring Service is Better? (2025)