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Best Online Writing Classes for Kids in 2026

The best online writing classes for kids in 2026 include Brighterly, Outschool, WriteShop, Brave Writer, Essentials in Writing, Athena’s Advanced Academy, Writing Wonders, and 826 Digital.

They range from personalized 1:1 tutoring to live group classes and self-paced curricula, giving families options for different ages, writing goals, schedules, and budgets. 

Top Online Writing Courses for Kids: Comparison

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Brighterly Online Writing Classes

Best for: Aspiring writers across K-12 who look for personalized writing help and feedback

Cost: From $17.70 per lesson*

*Discounted price for a 1-year subscription, for a package of 2 classes per week, billed monthly. Shorter subscriptions, including monthly, are available. You can pause the subscription anytime. A free trial class is available.

Your child learns to write best with a real teacher who adapts to them, and we developed our live 1:1 online writing classes with that idea in mind. In every class, your kid will work with an experienced tutor who will focus on exactly what they need.

Whether they need help with building sentences, structuring an essay, or finding their creative voice, the tutor will adapt the lessons to their grade level and pace. 

Courses align with US standards and span the full K-12 range, from early writing to more complex high school essays. The timing of writing classes is flexible, so you can schedule the classes around school. We also offer comprehensive progress reports, so you’ll be in the loop about how your little writer is doing.

You can book a free demo to see if the Brighterly approach is a fit for you.

Outschool Online Writing Courses

Best for: Families who want live, teacher-led classes with a range of topics and schedules to choose from

Cost: Varies by class (set per session or course)

Outschool is the next on our list of best writing courses for kids.

You can think of it as an online marketplace of live classes, where you can find independent teachers offering individual classes, as well as group courses and self-paced learning material.

You can choose the format that fits your needs and budget best, and filter the courses by age, level, and time slot, giving you full learning flexibility.

Each course comes with a description and reviews, so it’s worth paying attention to them before you book.

WriteShop Homeschool Writing Curriculum

Best for: Homeschooling families looking for a parent-led writing curriculum

Cost: Around $10-$151 as of August 2026, depending on the materials

WriteShop is a homeschool writing curriculum rather than an online writing program for kids. It will give you the materials, including books, parental guides, activities and exercises, which you can then use to teach your kid writing at home.

The curriculum is fully self-paced and parent-led, and you get access to clear lesson plans and schedules that can walk you through each step. It does rely on parents willing to lead the writing skills practice for kids and give them feedback. 

The curriculum is also a good choice if your kid is at school, and you want to give them an additional writing practice after classes. The program might be less useful if you want to have a professional input on your kid’s writing. 

Brave Writer Online Classes

Best for: Families who want author-led classes and a creative, low-pressure approach

Cost: Roughly $149-$249 per class as of August 2026

Brave Writer offers writing classes for kids, which typically last a few weeks. According to Brave Writer, classes are taught by coaches who are themselves published authors. Your child will receive instructions, assignments, and individual feedback in an online classroom.

However, keep in mind that the courses are group-based rather than private, and the focus is more on creativity and storytelling than on learning the mechanics of writing. You can choose from a wide selection of classes covering poetry, historical writing, fiction and nonfiction, story writing, research and referencing, and much more.

On the logistical side, as the workshops are live and author-led, they are usually scheduled on fixed dates. You need to register your child for each workshop in advance so as not to miss the course. Because of the strict schedule, you often need to plan, and the flexibility is somewhat limited. 

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Essentials in Writing (EIW)

Best for: Families who are looking for a structured, self-paced writing curriculum across grades K-12

Cost: Starting at $90 for video lessons per grade level, $109 for video lessons + assessments ( as of August 2026)

Essentials in Writing (EIW) offers online writing courses for kids that come in the form of pre-recorded videos and are entirely self-paced. The courses come with videos, a writing workbook for your child, and a teacher workbook for you. As the teacher delivers the lesson on-screen, your child follows along in a workbook. 

The courses are divided by grade and follow a step-by-step approach, in which your kid gets small daily assignments. The classes cover grammar, essays, story elements, and creativity writing for all K-12 grades. The teacher handbook can help you stay on track with the curriculum and know which skills your child needs to develop at their grade. The courses also come with alternative instructional strategies for struggling students, as well as additional assessments that you can purchase.

The platform also offers an optional paid scoring service, where the staff grades your child’s writing. The grading service can partially balance out the lack of professional feedback.

Athena’s Advanced Academy Writing Classes

Best for: Advanced learners who want live, challenging classes

Cost: Varies by course

As the name suggests, Athena’s Advanced Academy offers more advanced writing courses (among others). They are offered as workshops, where your child can attend courses of their choice with a tutor. You can find high school and middle school writing tutors, but no courses for elementary students.

Each course targets a specific topic or skill and has a limited duration. The courses run at set times each week, and your teen will join a group of other students in a virtual classroom with a shared chat and a whiteboard. You can expect them to cover topics beyond their grade level.

Athena’s Advanced Academy can be a great choice for you if your child is already writing comfortably, and your goal is to improve a specific skill over a short period of time instead of finding a long-term writing tutor for kids. 

Writing Wonders Online Classes

Best for: K-12 students who want small live classes in English or Spanish

Cost: $30/class (subscription of 4 classes)

Writing Wonders offers online writing classes for children aged 5 to 18, both in English and Spanish. The classes are in small groups of up to four, and your child will cover phonics, grammar, and creative writing with their tutor.

The classes are divided by levels, and there is something for both young and older writers. The live format of the classes will make writing feel social and engaging, and the learning process includes writing essays and reading and writing stories. 

As the sessions are live, your child has access to direct homework, and the tutors try to personalize the classes to match the level and the needs of each student. With that said, group classes are still less personalized than individual classes. 

The platform offers a free trial, so you can see if it’s a good fit before you subscribe.

826 Digital Free Writing Resources

Best for: Budget-conscious families looking for free creative writing courses 

Cost: Free

826 Digital is a free resource library with lessons, projects, and prompts for all K-12 grades. Some of the classes contain video recordings, while others come in the form of detailed instructions and different reading worksheets your child needs to complete. So, the learning is self-paced, and there are no live tutors available.

The writing courses include poetry, fantasy and sci-fi, essay writing, and kids learn to develop complex characters and narratives. The activities are a great way to improve writing skills for kids as an additional learning material.

However, they might not be enough if your kid needs more in-depth tutoring in writing with an ELA tutor for kids.

Which Online Writing Class Is Best by Grade Level?

The best online writing class changes with a student’s grade because writing expectations become progressively more complex. Elementary students generally need support with sentences, grammar, and early storytelling; middle school students move toward structured paragraphs and essays; and high school students need stronger academic, analytical, and research writing skills.

Best for Elementary School Writers (Grades K- 5)

Younger writers need patience, encouragement, and a lot of interaction. Live options like Brighterly or Writing Wonders suit this age well. 826 Digital can be a great addition of story prompts for kids to practice. Knowing the types of writing for kids can also help you choose the right course.

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Best for Middle School Writers (Grades 6-8)

Middle schoolers are ready, and often need, more structure. Writing gets more complex at this stage, and their learning material should reflect that. Teacher-supported writing classes online, like Brighterly, Brave Writer, or Outschool, can work well here. 

Best for High School Writers (Grades 9-12)

For high school students in Grades 9–12, Brighterly, Outschool, Essentials in Writing, Brave Writer, and Athena’s Advanced Academy provide suitable options at different levels of teacher involvement. Students who need individualized help with essay organization or academic writing may benefit more from 1:1 tutoring, while self-paced curricula and specialized group courses can work well for independent learners or students targeting a specific skill.

How to Choose the Right Online Writing Class for Your Child

To choose an online writing class, first identify the skill your child needs to develop and the amount of teacher support they need. A child struggling with essay structure may benefit from live feedback, while a student who mainly needs additional practice may do well with a self-paced curriculum or free writing resources.

Consider four factors:

• Teaching format: Choose between live 1:1 tutoring, live group classes, or self-paced learning.
• Writing goal: Look for a program that matches the skills your child needs, such as grammar, creative writing, essay writing, or academic writing.
• Grade level: Make sure the course content matches your child’s current writing expectations and ability.
• Budget: Free resources and self-paced curricula generally cost less than ongoing live instruction.

Getting kids writing has rarely mattered more. Recent research by National Literacy Trust (2025) showed that only 2 in 5 (38.7%) of surveyed children enjoyed writing at school. If you notice that your child doesn’t enjoy writing, the right writing course can turn this around. 

Conclusion

The best online writing class for a child depends on how much support they need and what type of writing they want to improve. Brighterly is best suited to students who need personalized 1:1 instruction and regular feedback, while Outschool works well for families wanting a broad selection of live and self-paced courses. WriteShop and Essentials in Writing are stronger choices for self-paced curriculum-based learning, and 826 Digital stands out as a free source of writing practice.

For students who prefer live group learning, Brave Writer, Athena’s Advanced Academy, and Writing Wonders provide alternatives for different ages and skill levels. Comparing the teaching format, grade range, writing focus, and cost can help families choose the program that best matches their child’s needs.

Frequently Asked Questions  

How Do Online Writing Classes for Kids Work?

Online writing classes are usually live 1:1 or in a group, or self-paced. Your kid will learn through live lessons, video lessons, assignments, writing prompts, and, in the case of live classes, also receive detailed teacher feedback. 

What Age Should a Child Start Online Writing Classes?

Some online classes are available for kids as young as 5 years old that focus on early writing and grammar, and phonics. Structured essay work usually begins later, around elementary or middle school.

Are Online Writing Classes Worth It for Kids?

For most kids, yes. They can give your child clear instructions, regular practice, and detailed feedback, which improves faster than writing alone. However, it also depends on whether your child needs live coaching or just structural practice. In case of the latter, more costly live classes may not be worth the investment.

How Much Do Online Writing Classes for Kids Cost?

Prices vary widely. You can get free resources like 826 Digital, purchase self-paced courses for $90 per level for materials, while live 1:1 tutoring is often billed per lesson, starting around $17.70.

Can Online Writing Classes Improve School Writing Grades?

Yes. Online writing classes can make your child a better, more confident, and more attentive writer, which will reflect on their grades as well. Better understanding of grammar, editing, paragraph structure, and essay planning are all skills your child needs in school. Many of the courses in this list also follow the US standards.