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• IXL vs Kumon vs Brighterly: Which One Is Better for 2025?

IXL vs Kumon vs Brighterly: Which One Is Better for 2025?

Are you the parent searching for the best match in the Brighterly vs IXL vs Kumon trio? You’re in the right place! For this review, I’ve spent many days testing and comparing these options. Now, I’m ready to present this in-depth discussion to help you discover the best choice for your kid.

Key Points

• Brighterly is a math-focused tutoring platform with a 1:1 studying mode and a personalized approach towards each child. It will suit those who want the teacher to focus exclusively on them.
• IXL is based on a subscription model and includes step-by-step lessons with constant progress tracking and analysis. It’s a great supplementary resource for math learning.
• Kumon offers strict worksheet-based studying. It will appeal to well-organized, motivated students who can track and manage their time.

Brighterly vs IXL vs Kumon: Comparison

The main difference between Kumon vs IXL vs Brighterly is that the latter two options work best as additional learning resources and demand much of a child’s organizational and planning skills. Brighterly, by contrast, offers a guided learning process with professional tutors who provide regular feedback and alter schedules based on progress reports.

Wondering which is better: Brighterly, IXL or Kumon? Here’s some key data to know before making the final decision:

	Brighterly	IXL	Kumon
Cost	The starting monthly price is $161 for two lessons/week	The minimum monthly charge is $9.95	$150 per month and above
Common Core Principles Aligned	✅	✅	✅
Learning Method	A tutor guides the learning process	A collection of pre-recorded lessons	Learning is based on worksheets and is located in online and offline settings
Subjects to Learn	Only math	Math, language studies, special studies, science	Math + reading
Personalized Learning Plan	✅	✅	✅
Knowledge Diagnostics	✅	✅	✅
Tracking of Student Progress	✅	✅	✅
Trial Options	A free demo lessons	A free trial period of 30 days	No
Rating at Trustpilot	4.6	1.7	4.0

What is Brighterly?

Brighterly is a math-centric learning platform known for its personalized approach, guided learning process, and a team of highly skilled Brighterly math tutors. The service offers 1:1 study sessions and caters to the needs of elementary, middle, and high school students. 

Why do parents choose Brighterly math tutoring platform over IXL & Kumon?

Parents choose Brighterly over IXL or Kumon because our math tutoring platform fits each child’s special needs. Our targeted approach uses assessments to identify strengths and weaknesses, focusing explicitly on areas for improvement to enhance math proficiency.

That’s the core difference. But this service offers many other outstanding features on top of that.

Brighterly features

These are the core features that make Brighterly a noteworthy competitor to giants like IXL or Kumon:

1. A team of professional math tutors
2. Adaptive learning curriculum centered around your kid’s needs
3. Detailed personalized feedback from tutors
4. A pool of learning resources available charge-free

1. A team of professional math tutors

With over 200,000 parents using the platform, Brighterly has a word to say when selecting the best tutors. With a rigorous testing process, this platform guarantees that only top professionals passionate about their work can join. 

Besides, the resource ensures that all of its staff obtain well-developed soft skills with the urge to keep digging into kids’ needs.

But let me refer to parents’ reviews at this point. Here’s what they highlight about Brighterly tutors:

• Not just teaching math but also helping with the case. The specificity of Brighterly staff is that they deeply explore each situation to highlight any issues of fear, bullying, or discomfort. Once spotting these, they work directly with the core reason to build trust, happy outlook, and love towards the subject.
• Targeting academic success. 9 out of 10 parents working with the Brighterly math tutoring platform note a steep rise in their children’s academic performance. Stories about kids advancing from Fs to As aren’t fictional here.
• Understanding instead of blind memorization. It’s the core principle of Brighterly learning — people here firmly believe that half of math learning issues are caused by subject misunderstanding. That’s why tutors aim to base whole learning on real-life examples for better context and practical application cases.
• Teachers as friends. All tutors at Brighterly aim to build firm, intimate connections with young brains. What for? That’s how they help children become more courageous in expressing their needs and fears — just what’s needed for a productive learning process.

2. Adaptive learning curriculum centered around your kid’s needs

 

Wondering what is the difference between Brighterly, IXL and Kumon? Well, that’s the level of personalization offered by the first one. The learning curriculum here is highly adaptive, conveniently fitting each child’s needs.

• Before getting a personalized curriculum, your child must take a qualifications test to outline their current knowledge level. However, the process doesn’t stop there. Tutors keep a keen eye on your kid’s learning style and preferences to react immediately by adjusting the schedule.
• All lessons at Brighterly are held 1:1. Folks here believe that creating a stress-free environment is half a battle in the chase for math mastery. Thus, all tutor’s attention is devoted to your kid without any exceptions.
• The Brighterly math program adheres to Common Core standards. Such programs are ideal for exam preparation as they cover all the necessary topics.
• Practice over memorization — the principle of STEM and also Brighterly. Tutors here know that creating real-world connections is the best way to help kids memorize complex topics.

3. Detailed personalized feedback from tutors

As a parent, you surely want to keep track of your kids’ progress. That’s where Brighterly caters. Furthermore, this platform goes further by including customized tutor-written feedback. Yes, they do it for each kid!

No matter which subscription plan you choose, those reports are included in any option with an average of 2 monthly reports. But how does it look in practice? Well, you can see the example above. Information on covered topics, achieved progress, improvement areas, and plans — that’s what they’ll cover.

4. A pool of learning resources available charge-free

One of the tips for choosing between Brighterly, IXL vs Kumon is this one: if you’re looking for a place with lots of free stuff, you should undoubtedly opt for the former. Here’s what they offer.

• Theoretical sections that can be used to comprehend any given math topic autonomously.
• Free Brighterly math worksheets — colorful and printable math tasks covering almost all grades 1 to 8 topics. They are built in an easy-to-hard format and are convenient for home learning. Answers are also included so no worries about that!
• Brighterly math practice tests are commonly listed at the end of theoretical sections. They aim to verify your kid’s grasp of the specific topics. The child just needs to click the answer they think is correct, and that’s it — the right option will be highlighted in green. Convenient, fast, and effective — that’s how it is. Here’s just one example of similar tasks:

Brighterly math reviews from parents: pros and cons

Brighterly boasts an excellent 4.6 score at Trustpilot. But what are the benefits and potential drawbacks that parents commonly highlight? Let me unveil this a bit.

Brighterly math tutoring platform benefits	Cons of the Brighterly math tutoring platform
Brighterly tutor reviews are the most complimented component on Trustpilot. For example, Juan Rafael Rodriguez Aybar mentions, “The teachers are very understanding, knowledgeable on their subject, always on time and making sure my son knows what they are talking about.”	The company can be reached only by email, which may seem strenuous to some parents. For example, Tiffany Childress mentions, “There is no way to contact the company, no phone number.”
Inclusivity is the strong side of this platform. No matter your kid’s conditions or fears, teachers here know how to help them excel. Check out this review by Ligia Mejia, “Maria Angela is excellent with our son. He has an intellectual disability, learning disability, and ADHD… despite all his challenges, she still manages to keep his attention to help him learn.”	Lessons last 45 minutes or an academic hour, not 60 minutes, which is smaller than some parents expect. Luca complained, “Classes are only 45 min, not one hour as advertised.”
Of course, the Brighterly math program chases academic mastery (eventually, that’s its primary purpose). And indeed, most students succeed with the site’s help. Sandra Garcia writes, “My daughter has improved tremendously, is more confident, and understands math better. Teacher has noticed her progress.”

Brighterly cost per month

Another strength of Brighterly learning is that the platform is flexible regarding subscription plans. Generally, the prices range from $105 to $234 per month. Want to budget? Opt for more extended plans such as those for 6 months or one year. It allows you to cut the price substantially. You can also choose between 1, 2, or 3 weekly lessons, but more on that later.

Now, let’s get into the details and discuss four broad groups of Brighterly cost per month depending on the plan’s duration.

1-month plan

Just as expected, it’s the least budget-friendly option. But it will appeal to those who want to test how things work. With this one, you’ll have to pay: 

• $124 for 1 lesson per week, 
• $211 for 2 lessons, 
• and $298 for 3 lessons. 

Remember the tutor feedback we discussed above? This plan will include two of those reports.

3-months plan

Here, the monthly fee will be: 

• $118 for 1 lesson/week, 
• $198 for 2 lessons/week, 
• $279 for 3 lessons/week. 

Unlike the former, this and the following plans will include advanced options like 24/7 support and optional lesson recording.

6-months plan

This option saves you up to 28% of the initial price. Here’s the fee to expect per month:

• $112 for 1 lesson/week,
• $186 for 2 lessons/week,
• $268 for 3 lessons/week.

12-months plan

Indeed, it is the most cost-effective option for you! With this, you can save up to 37% which is huge. These are the prices to plan:

• $105 for 1 lesson/week,
• $161 for 2 lessons/week,
• $234 for 3 lessons/week.

Note that unused lessons will always remain on your balance, whichever package you choose. It means your money is protected and won’t just burn.

Key features of IXL

Best for: those seeking an extra learning practice.

IXL – worth getting or pass? Let me dig deeper into its features to help you find out:

• This site stands out in IXL vs other platforms’ opposition, as the whole learning program here is built on multiple pre-recorded lessons. Depending on how well they progress, these lessons are added to your child’s schedule.
• All IXL reviews mention that the service encourages practicing several knowledge areas simultaneously. Just to remind you of what subjects does IXL offer, these include math, language studies, special studies, and science.
• Their learning resources are mostly reading-centered with little to no interactive tasks, which may disappoint some learners.

How does IXL work? Pros and cons

Based on my testing, IXL has proven to be a good supplementary resource for math learning. However, it isn’t without its pitfalls. These are some pros and cons of IXL I’d like to highlight.

Pros of IXL	What are the disadvantages of IXL?
✅ A convenient diagnostics test that allows to compile a tailored program	❌ The resource is focused on memorizing the material rather than understanding it
✅ Personalized recommendations on subject learning	❌ Pre-recorded lessons are built in a way to fit the vast mass of learners, which means little to no personalization. Based on that, is there something better than IXL? Definitely, there are options to explore.
✅ Several free resources, including IXL worksheets, diagnostic trackers, and goal posters. Plus, flexible and affordable IXL pricing is also a huge pro.	❌ The feedback usually contains general recommendations and is compiled by a machine rather than a human

How much is an IXL subscription?

When comparing Brighterly vs IXL vs Kumon cost, IXL proves to be the cheapest of the three. However, does it mean any quality sacrifices? Let me clarify that IXL won’t include that much-deserved human element you’ll find at Brighterly and Kumon — all the learning happens in the online setting with pre-define theory-and-practice materials. 

Soooo… how much is IXL per month?

• $9.95 if you plan for your kid to learn only math on this platform.
• $15.95 for a combo package that allows them to practice math and language arts.
• $19.95 for full access to IXL learning materials, including math, science, language arts, and social studies lessons.

At this point, I also have to highlight how much is IXL for a school. The subscription can be purchased for one year, and the final price will depend on the number of students and the variety of subjects. For your orientation, a math-only plan for a classroom of 25 kids (a minimal pack) will cost $349.

So, is IXL worth it? To determine its usefulness, you can take the 30-day IXL trial, available for individual and classroom use.

What’s Kumon’s main difference from its competitors?

The main difference is Kumon’s rigid approach. Learning is based on a sequence of worksheets, which are the only resources here. The entire process is aimed at memorization and repetition. Now, more on its features.

Why is Kumon good? Key features

Best for: self-organized students with a strong focus on current problem tasks.

For some, the approach advertised by this platform can seem too rigid and restrictive especially when viewing it from Kumon vs other sites’ perspective. However, is it that way? These Kumon features will help you decide:

• As mentioned, the whole learning here is based on worksheets. What does it mean in practice? Your child will have to go through a good testing of their discipline and self-organization. If these are the features you aim to improve (while slightly sacrificing the learning itself), Kumon can work for you!
• Before proceeding with learning, Kumon reviews children’s current skills to determine the appropriate complexity level. 
• Kumon includes a team of instructors who carefully monitor your child’s progress and how well they tackle tasks. Like Brighterly, this service encapsulates a human element and provides in-depth support and guidance whenever needed.
• Kumon is the only resource on my list that offers online and offline learning opportunities.

How does Kumon work? Pros and cons

Now, let’s summarize this a bit. Here’s a closer look into the Kumon benefits and disadvantages:

Benefits of Kumon	What are the disadvantages of Kumon?
✅ Kumon strongly emphasizes your kid’s ability to work independently and effectively improves this skill.	❌ Repetitive worksheets solving tasks aren’t the best fits for any learner.
✅ This platform offers a non-traditional yet rigid learning setting, which has proven effective for many learners.	❌ Kumon strongly focuses on memorization instead of understanding.
✅ It’s perfect for increasing concentration and attentiveness levels.	❌ It’s more of a practice-based resource, which won’t provide in-depth explanations.

Is Kumon free?

No, just like the other two, Kumon is a paid learning resource. The monthly cost here will usually fluctuate between $150-$200. However, take note of the hidden fees. You’ll be asked to pay extra for registration (applicable to offline locations) and learning materials. 

So, is Kumon worth it? Unlike with IXL vs Brighterly, you’ll have to pay the full fee to find out — Kumon doesn’t include a free trial option.

Brighterly, IXL vs Kumon: which is best for your child?

As I’ve highlighted in this review, each of the three services has distinct benefits and some downsides. So, how do you make the final choice between IXL vs Kumon vs Brighterly? These are some clues:

• If you’re searching for an extra resource to boost your kid’s learning, try IXL or Kumon.
• If you’re looking for a way to boost a child’s concentration and critical thinking, choose Kumon or IXL.
• But if you want them to be guided by a human tutor who provides constant feedback and guarantees a personalized approach based on their preferences, then the Brighterly math tutoring platform is there for you. 

Book a free demo lesson here and test the things without obligations!

Other platforms comparison

Want to search for opportunities beyond Brighterly, IXL or Kumon? Or are you wondering about another option which is better than Kumon or IXL? There are even more math learning opportunities to explore. For further information, check out these handy reviews:

• Best 5 Alternatives for Khan Academy
• Top Platforms for Learning in 2025
• Brighterly vs Varsity Tutors
• Top 10 Tutoring Platforms for Kids