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Bhanzu vs Kumon vs Brighterly: What’s Best for Your Child

Comparing Bhanzu vs Kumon vs Brighterly may feel like quite a task. As a math tutor, I’m often asked which one of these platforms is best for children. Trust me, there’s no simple answer.

Let’s explore what each program offers, see how they can help with your kids’ needs, and analyze Kumon, Brighterly, and Bhanzu reviews.

Key points:

• Brighterly is a 1-1 math and reading tutoring platform with a focus on personalized learning, engagement, and interaction.
• Bhanzu is a math platform empowering mental math and gamified methods, making math learning stress-free; yet, it can be seen as overly promising by parents.
• Kumon is a well-known method used by franchise learning centers to build strong math habits via repetition and worksheet practice.

Kumon vs Bhanzu vs Brighterly: Comparison

The particular math programs differ significantly in focus, approach, and structure. If Banzu is about interaction and games, Kumon underlines structured learning, whereas Brigtherly can do both depending on the preferences and struggles of a kid.

	Bhanzu	Kumon	Brighterly
Subjects	Math	Math and reading	Math and reading (ELA)
Teaching approach	Interactions, mental math, speed calculation, games	Mastery via repetition and worksheet practice	Personalized sessions, focus on children’s needs, and an interactive experience
Class size and support	Small group up to 4 or private lessons	Self-learning or independent work backed by review	Customized one-to-one sessions
Goal	Build speed and love of math	Build strong calculation skills and discipline	Build understanding and confidence via interactive lessons
Reviews (Trustpilot/Reddit)	4.1	Mixed reviews	4.5

Bhanzu vs Kumon vs Brighterly cost: Comparing options

	Bhanzu	Kumon	Brighterly
Cost	From $22 to $33 per session (depending on the plan)	From $150 per subject per month.	From $17.3/lesson
Free session	Free trial/demo	Free placement test	Free first lesson
Extra fees	No	Registration fee and materials	No, tests and worksheets are free.

Which learning program is better?

Bhanzu or Kumon? Or Brighterly? It’s hard to tell which one, as many things depend on your child’s personality, needs, goals, and the support they require. From my perspective, it all comes to structure vs engagement and personalization. 

• Kumon is better for building math habits and foundational skills via repetition and self-learning.
• Bhanzu is better if you want your kid to overcome math phobia or develop mental math skills via engaging experience.
• Is Brighterly good? Yes, and often even better for students, as it strikes the middle ground, offering structure from the school curriculum and backing it with personalized plans.

What is Brighterly?

The Brighterly math and reading platform is a powerful tutoring solution that offers fun and engaging individual sessions for kids. Tutors first assess kids’ learning needs and then customize programs to match their learning styles.

What does it mean? Math classes won’t be solely about drilling. For Brighterly’s math tutors, finding the most effective strategy is a priority. Thus, kids’ engagement, participation, and math confidence are at the center of most math learning activities.

What’s included in Brighterly’s program?

Brighterly math program is a great choice if you want to help your kid with math struggles, closing gaps, or making math a likable experience. 

It all comes down to key components of the Brighterly math program:

• Interactive and adaptive lessons. Expert tutors use visuals, writing, games, and real-life examples. If a kid struggles, they adapt learning to the pace and specific obstacles.
• Reviews and feedback. Tutors start with math tests to assess the kids’ level. Later, they adjust the program according to the feedback and provide reports to the parents.
• STEM curriculum in compliance with standards. Brighterly builds its programs around new math concepts and US state standards, yet leaves room for flexibility.

Other than that, Brighterly provides a great number of resources to back the learning at home, including math worksheets and tests for grades from 1 to 9. 

How much is Brighterly math lessons?

The cost of Brighterly varies from $17.3 to $20.7 for each lesson, if you go month-to-month, and $25.8 if you pay for a single lesson only. 

On the whole, Brighterly’s pricing is pretty straightforward and flexible, as with longer plans, the price per session gets lower:

• On a 3-month plan, you will pay $20.2 per lesson. 
• Under the 6-month and 12-month plans, you will pay $19.4 and 17.3 per lesson, respectively.

Comparing Bhanzu vs Kumon vs Brighterly costs, the latter seems to be more affordable, being one of the most cost-effective tutoring platforms on the market.

What is Bhanzu?

Bhanzu is an online math education platform that aims to turn learning math into a fun, easy, and stress-free experience for kids. Bhanzu provides small group classes for kids from 5 to 16, where tutors teach math with a significant focus on mental calculation skills and speed in math. 

If we contrast Bhanzu vs Kumon, Bhanzu is quite innovative, offering a whole ecosystem for kids and their parents, with a separate student dashboard, an AI assistant to help you and your kid, and a separate app for quizzes and games.

What does Bhanzu stand for?

Bhanzu comes from the name of the platform’s founder, Neelakantha Bhanu, a well-known mathematician with the title of World’s Fastest Human Calculator. 

Its goal is to transform math education into an engaging and enjoyable experience, so that it inspires young students instead of giving them anxiety and stress. 

What age is Bhanzu best suited for? It fits great for younger students from 6 to 14 who are in elementary or middle school. 

As the traditional math feels like a dry and intimidating experience, Bhanzu’s approach is the opposite. It focuses on:

• Understanding the math to nurture the growth mindset
• Mental math and math speed to boost confidence 
• Incorporating storytelling and puzzles to make learning engaging.

As kids learn live online with trained instructors in small groups of up to 4 people, it can be personalized. There, the program turns into a math workshop that feels more like a game. 

Sure, their math has a structure. Yet, it also leaves room for individual guidance and advanced math techniques or shortcuts, especially if a kid goes above a certain academic performance.

How effective is Bhanzu’s teaching method? 

Comparing Bhanzu vs Kumon, Bhanzu’s is a pretty unique approach to teaching students who find math stressful. The platform positions itself as a solution that helps kids become 4 times quicker at math within the first 3-6 months. 

But is it true? Not quite. It is not effective for everyone, which is why Bhanzu is blamed for overpromising.

From what I’ve seen and heard in Bhanzu reviews, parents and students praise it for engaging lessons, games, and attention from tutors. Its effectiveness comes from Bhanzu’s mix of techniques, including arithmetic and mental math tricks for scenarios around problem solving. 

That way, kids develop the skill of thinking in math. On the other hand, Bhanzu doesn’t strictly follow school textbooks but focuses on number sense and logical thinking for elementary, middle, and high school kids. 

What are the consequences of such an approach?

• Kids can move faster, but it can be intense and overwhelming.
• It’s highly effective for boosting mental agility in math.
• The approach suits kids who are ready for a challenge.

How much Bhanzu cost?

The cost of Bhanzu varies by region and depends on the chosen plan, not the grade. On average, Bhanzu pricing is between $22 per session and $33 per session. It decreases if a parent takes a higher plan. 

The price remains unchanged for every grade, while each plan adds to the previous. 

Nevertheless, the topics may differ as well as the emphasis of the program, depending on the grade. Then, how much Bhanzu cost per month and per session?

• Math Star plan costs $990 for 4 months, $247.5 per month or $33 per session, with 30 sessions, focusing on arithmetic foundation and cognitive ability development. 
• Math Champion plan costs $2065 for 10 months, $206.5 per month or $28 per session, with 75 sessions, focusing on fundamentals, trying advanced math, supporting geometry and algebra, and developing logical and systematic solving.
• Math Wizard plan costs $3300 for 18 months, $183.3 per month or $22 per session, with 150 sessions, focusing on real-life application of math, even more advanced math, and cognitive skill mastery.

How does Bhanzu math compare to Kumon and Brighterly?

Based on my analysis of Kumon vs Bhanzu vs Brighterly pricing, I would say that Bhanzu’s math costs are similar to the ones that provide Kumon, especially if you take 10 or 18-month plans and consider the length of Kumon sessions. At the same time, Brighterly seems to be the most affordable solution with more flexible options. 

What is Kumon school?

Kumon school is a well-recognized after-school learning program, held by franchise learning centers, that delivers math and reading lessons within a specific approach. It’s a popular solution for kids in kindergarten through high school. 

In general, under it, kids’ education consists of two parts: 

• Extensive practice at home. They do most of the work at home, using worksheets and daily assignments. 
• Visiting a Kumon school or center for tutoring. What is Kumon tutoring, then? It implies short sessions with the instructor twice a week for the review of assignments.

That way, the daily practice and incremental progression allow your children to master math or reading skills and advance beyond grade level.

What is Kumon method?

The Kumon method is a learning methodology that revolves around self-paced, repetitive practice backed by reviews of instructors.

Comparing Bhanzu vs Kumon, the latter takes an unconventional teaching approach. Under it, each student works independently with worksheets tailored to their level. 

Importantly, the approach doesn’t involve a tutor to explain concepts; they mainly review the work and provide the instruction. 

What are other characteristics of the Kumon method, then? 

• Under it, children learn from a point below their current level to build a foundation and support motivation.
• The worksheets ensure small-step progression, focusing on certain types of problems.
• Repetition and routines allow practicing math skills and improving discipline.
• Self-learning is a major part of the Kumon method, developing independent learners. Even if children are stuck, an instructor will first try indirect intervention strategies.

Considering this, which one do you prefer now, Bhanzu or Kumon? 

The Kumon method definitely has its pros: strong calculation skills, focus, great procedural learning, perseverance, and discipline. 

Yet, with Kumon reviews in mind, it’s pretty monotonous, lacks explanations, and can be a source of significant boredom. 

How much is Kumon tutoring?

The thing about Kumon tutoring pricing is that it varies from center to center, while there’s anestablished range. Each center has its Kumon cost per subject that can be known after resorting to the support services. 

However, if you need an approximate answer to the question “How much is Kumon tutoring?”, here’s what I found after researching centers’ websites and reviews of users:

• The average cost is between $150 and $250 per subject per month. If you want a kid to learn under the method for a whole year, it may reach up to $2,000.
• If we look at Kumon’s prices per hour, they start at $35. 
• You will need to pay a registration fee of $80 at a local center and approximately $30 for materials.

Kumon vs Bhanzu vs Brighterly Reddit & Trustpilot

• Kumon tutoring reviews
• Bhanzu reviews
• Brighterly tutoring reviews 

I dug into “Bhanzu or Kumon which is better” (Reddit) discussion and looked through Truspilot reviews, and I can say for sure:

• Bhanzu takes a lot of blame for the aggressive marketing strategy, subscription policy, and underdelivering.
• Reviews on Kumon indicate that parents expect more participation and don’t always get the parts of the worksheets.
• Brighterly seems to be the most balanced option, with great tutors and engaging lessons as main strengths.

Kumon tutoring reviews from parents and students

As Kumon has been there for decades, there are plenty of opinions about it. One of the positive Kumon reviews on Reddit is that it helped a kid to count and read better, even though they struggled:

On the other hand, a former Kumon student says that it was really fun at the beginning, bringing results in the classroom if committed; however, it was extremely exhausting:

Lastly, another parent on Reddit answers the question “What is Kumon tutoring?” It’s mostly about drilling and memorizing, not understanding:

Bhanzu reviews: Feedback from parents

What about the Bhanzu platform? Well, there are a decent number of good Trustpilot     reviews praising its approach, interactivity, and quiz games. 

Yet, parents are also furious about its overpromising marketing. Parents say its effectiveness is not true, and the learning approach is basic. Here’s one of the Bhanzu Reddit comments:

This Trustpilot comment delves more into weaknesses, stating that it’s all a matter of overpromising and undelivering, criticizing support, and the quality of learning:

Brightery tutoring reviews

Compared to Bhanzu or Kumon, Brighterly reviews are far more positive. 

For instance, in this review, a parent sees it as a balanced solution that builds confidence:

Another Trustpilot review underlines how effective the strategies are, prioritizing the learning needs and building learning around them:

Moreover, in one of the Brighterly math reviews, the parent shares the role of Brighterly’s support and communication, highlighting how reports and reminders help to support a kid:

What’s the main difference between Bhanzu, Kumon, and Brighterly?

The main difference between Bhanzu, Kumon, and Brighterly is that Bhanzu puts significant emphasis on interaction, engaging experience, and mental math; Kumon puts repetition and worksheet practice at the center, applying the “drill to kill” approach; while Brighterly sticks to providing tutoring lessons tailored to the needs of kids and backing them with interaction.

Which is better: Bhanzu or Kumon or Brighterly?

So, Bhanzu or Kumon or Brighterly? It all depends on your child. However, if I must pick overall for most students, I would say Brighterly offers the all-around balance, especially for 1-9 students.

• If your child is highly-motivated and enjoys working independently, then the Kumon method would be the best.
• In contrast, if your child gets bored easily but loves technology, Bhanzu may be a solution to go, but remember about its cons – subscription policy and overpromises.

Within any program, learning needs are a priority. Thus, Brighterly can be the safest option or a great supplement, offering personalized attention, where tutors would adapt sessions to your kids’ style.

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