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AoPS vs RSM: Which Math Program Fits Your Child in 2026?

If you’re looking for an after school math program but can’t decide, have a look at our guide to AoPS vs RSM vs Brighterly. All three programs can help your kid excel at math, but the best option for your child will depend on your kid’s learning style, budget, and time. 

AoPS vs RSM: Comparison 

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RSM vs AoPS: Cost Comparison 

The exact cost at both RSM and AoPS depends on the course you’ve chosen. As of October 2026, AoPS course prices start from $415 per 12-week course, while RSM Online prices are $166-$444 per month, or $830-$2,220 per term. While AoPS price structure is divided into 12-week courses to choose from, RSM offers math courses that have different prices based on location, grade level, and duration of a class.

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What Is AoPS (Art of Problem Solving)?

Art of Problem Solving is an out-of-school learning platform that offers advanced online and in-person math programs. Courses are designed for advanced and gifted students who want to deepen their math knowledge or compete in math competitions. AoPS has 3 divisions, with AoPS Online being the most frequently used.

Best for: Advanced and gifted math students who love math and want to deepen their knowledge and understanding of math. Also great for kids looking to enter competitive math. 

AoPS Key Features

Three AoPS divisions 

Art of Problem Solving consists of three different divisions, each catering to a different age, ability, or need.

• AoPS Online: Rigorous online courses (12-25 weeks) for middle and high school students. Designed for advanced students to deepen their learning. Mostly live online classes, but some self-paced options.
• AoPS Academy: Small group classes for Grades 1-12 in person or online, lasting up to 36 weeks. Also offers summer programs.
• AoPS Beast Academy: Self-paced challenges and live online classes with fun textbooks aimed at elementary-aged kids.  

Advanced and rigorous 

AoPS Online offers math training programs for middle and high school students that cover topics beyond what most schools cover. AoPS Beast Academy is designed for elementary-aged kids, and it also offers rigorous, fast-paced courses to help younger children build foundations and deepen their math understanding. 

Live online courses or in-person lessons

Courses typically last between 12 and 24 weeks and cover a wide range of math topics (e.g algebra, geometry). Before starting a course, your kid needs to take a free, at-home diagnostic test to check that it’s the right level for them. 

Dedicated Olympiad and math competition course

AoPS offers dedicated competition courses, including an online Olympiad training course. This course lasts 7 months, and students train with former Olympiad medalists. Students can take competition courses in math, physics, chemistry, and computer science to prepare them for key competitions.

Summer math courses

AoPS Academy offers virtual and in-person summer courses so your kid can build their math skills over the vacation. There’s a wide range of courses available, lasting between 2 and 4 weeks, for grades 3-10.

AoPS Pricing

AoPS Online is priced by course, ranging from 415-495 for 12-week courses. 

AoPS Pros and Cons

*Based on 2025-2026 Trustpilot, Reddit, and Yelp reviews.

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What Is RSM (Russian School of Math)?

Russian School of Math is an after-school math program for all ages. It offers three levels of classes at each age to suit children of all abilities. It’s known for a rigorous curriculum that accelerates children through the foundations and then deepens their knowledge.  

Best for: Parents looking for an accelerated, traditional math course to get their child ahead in math and improve critical-thinking and analysis skills.

RSM Key Features

Inspired by elite mathematical schools in the former Soviet Union

Russian School of Math teaching is rigorous, traditional, and uses a structured approach. The course moves quickly, and students develop their abstract and critical thinking and mental flexibility. Some parents report that the pace and structure feel too rigid for their child. 

Different levels for all abilities, including advanced students

RSM offers three different levels for each course, from beginner to competition level. New to the program, students can start at level 1 and then move up upon completion, and advanced or gifted students can join level 3, where the curriculum goes into great depth and pushes students’ abilities.

Online and in-person courses across the US

Both online and in-person courses are available at RSM, although the availability of in-person classes varies greatly by area.

Small-group classes

Classes are around 2 hours a week and consist of a 1:12 teacher/student ratio. This can be good for children who prefer a small-group approach.

Free evaluation

Each child undergoes a free evaluation before starting to ensure they’re placed in the appropriate level where the pace and depth are right for them.

Summer programs online and in-person

Russian School of Math summer programs help kids prepare for the next year of school and prevent summer learning loss. RSM offers full and half-day summer programs as well as a 3-week intensive course.

RSM Pricing

RSM pricing ranges from 166-444/month, depending on grade and hours. You can also pay per term or year.

RSM Pros and Cons

*Based on 2025-2026 Trustpilot, Reddit, and Yelp reviews.

Why Go for Brighterly as an RSM and AoPS Alternative?

Brighterly offers personalized 1:1 support in math and reading compared to standardized curricula at AoPS and RSM. 1-10 students can enroll in our math and reading programs to access a personalized learning environment that works at the speed of the individual child. As an alternative to RSM and AoPS, we dedicate attention to all the students, including those with gaps in their learning or who need to build their math confidence.

Here is what your kid can get by choosing Brighterly over RSM or AoPS:

• 1:1 online tutoring: We offer 1:1 after school tutoring with highly experienced teachers who can address the specific needs of each learner. For example, if your child struggles with algebra or geometry, then an algebra tutor or a geometry tutor can find the gaps and fill them. We also offer high school math tutors who can help prepare your child for exams and college-level math.
• Personalized learning plans: Our tutors develop a personalized enrichment plan based on the child’s ability, needs, and goals, with weekly lesson feedback and regular progress tracking. Each tutoring session is adapted to the individual child’s needs. 
• Homework help: Our tutors can provide homework support to help kids work through school homework in a stress-free, tear-free environment, relieving the burden on parents. Tutors can also help spot any learning gaps and fill them.

Our learning program is aligned with US state standards, and our prices start from $17.70 per 45-minute lesson (annual package, 2 lessons a week, 20% discount applied).

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What’s the Main Difference Between AoPS, RSM, and Brighterly?

The key difference between AoPS, RSM, and Brighterly is the number of subjects they cover:

• RSM concentrates on math only,
• AoPS helps with math, ELA, science, and programming,
• Brighterly offers tutoring in math, reading, writing, and ELA.

Another important difference is the learning format: 

• RSM instructors teach in small groups of up to 12 students, both offline and online 
• AoPS offers 12-week online courses or in virtual/in-person AoPS Academy centers
• Brighterly offers 1:1 personalized tutoring under customized learning plans

Which Program Is the Right Fit for Your Child?

The right program for your child will depend on their goals, needs, and current math understanding. To try to understand which program suits your kid best and help you decide between Brighterly vs RSM vs AoPS math, answer these questions.

• Does your child have strong math foundations? 
  • Yes: AoPS or RSM
  • No: Brighterly 
• Does your child want to compete in math competitions?
  • Yes: AoPS or RSM competition courses, or Brighterly personalized lessons
  • No: Brighterly or RSM or AoPS general courses
• Does your child prefer a 1:1 personalized approach?
  • Yes: Brighterly
  • No: RSM or AoPS

In general, both AoPS and RSM offer in-depth math study, but RSM offers different levels for all abilities, while AoPS is generally considered the most rigorous program for advanced or gifted students. There are also several other alternatives to RSM and AoPS that are popular with parents.

Brighterly, with its 1:1 tutoring, is suitable for any level, especially those looking to strengthen the foundations and improve confidence.   

AoPS vs RSM Reviews (Reddit, Trustpilot, Parent Forums)

Looking at reviews from real parents who use the service can give a more balanced picture of the pros and cons of each platform. 

Other RSM reviews across Reddit also praise the depth they teach children and comment on the challenging and fast-paced nature that helps keep kids ahead of normal grade-level math, like this Reddit review from 2025:

Looking at reviews to try to answer: AoPS vs RSM, which is better? You can also use parent forums and facebook groups where parents often compare the two. Like this Facebook group review from June 2026:

Ultimately, it often comes down to the type of environment your child thrives best in. You need to consider whether a personalized, small-group, or large-group class is better for your child, how much homework they can cope with, and whether in-person learning is important to you and your kid.

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Conclusion

When looking for the right math program for your child, it’s important to understand their needs and what they want to gain from out-of-school math tuition. 

For children looking to build the foundations, build their confidence, or who like to work at their own pace, our 1:1 tutoring could be the right fit. If your kid is already excelling at math, then they might enjoy the accelerated or competition programs offered by RSM and AoPS, either in-person or online.

If you need a more personalized approach and more information to decide what’s best for your kid, book free lesson from Brighterly! You can ask all your questions and see how online tutoring works for you before committing to a long-term subscription.

Related articles: 

If you want to see how RSM and AoPS compare to alternatives, check out these articles:

• Singapore Math vs Russian Math vs Brighterly 
• Mathnasium vs Russian Math
• Russian Math vs Kumon vs Brighterly.
• Beast Academy vs Khan Academy vs Brighterly

Frequently Asked Questions 

Is AoPS Harder Than RSM?

Yes, AoPS is generally considered to be harder than RSM. However, both programs offer accelerated math courses designed for advanced and gifted students, but RSM also provides courses for children of all ability levels. Neither program focuses on teaching foundational math skills or reinforcing what students have already learned in school. Instead, both are designed to challenge students with concepts beyond their current grade level.

Can a Student Do Both AoPS and RSM?

Your kid can take as many math classes as you (and they) want to. However, both AoPS and RSM require multiple hours a week of class as well as homework on top. Many parents find that trialing one program first and then switching to the second is a better method than running them side-by-side. You can also purchase the textbooks or course material from each program before starting to see which one you and your child align with.

Which Is Better for Math Competitions, AoPS Academy vs RSM?

Both AoPS Academy and RSM offer specific math competition courses where children are prepared to compete in math olympiads and other national and international competitions. Art of Problem Solving boasts significant success in math competitions. According to their website (as of August 2026), all members of Team USA who won the International Math Olympiad 2024 were AoPS alumni. Russian School of Math also offers special prep courses for a wide variety of national and international competitions and has a highly competitive team.

Is RSM or AoPS Better for Elementary-Age Kids?

Both programs run courses for elementary-aged kids. RSM offers live classes designed for K-5, both online and in-person, with a 1:12 teacher/student ratio and provides weekly homework. AoPS runs the Beast Academy, which is for elementary-age kids. It’s a mix of self-paced online challenges, books, worksheets, puzzles, and live online classes. Before starting any of these programs, your child has to be evaluated to see which grade and level are currently best suited to their knowledge.

How Much Do AoPS and RSM Cost Compared to Each Other?

AoPS and RSM both require a significant financial commitment, but their pricing structure and overall costs differ. RSM uses a monthly or term-based subscription, and costs vary depending on the grade and hours. AoPS charges per course, with each course typically lasting around 16 weeks and the cost varying between the grades. Both also charge additional enrollment and registration fees. 

Is AoPS Recognized by Colleges?

AoPS courses are accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, but it is up to the individual school whether or not their courses will be accepted by the school. AoPS online also mentions that many of their students go on to study at prestigious universities.