IXL vs. Brighterly – Complete Comparison
reviewed by Jo-ann Caballes
Updated on December 2, 2024
There are dozens of math tutoring platforms for children on the Internet. But which is the perfect one for your kid? Which one will definitely benefit your little one to improve their math skills? And which will reinforce knowledge or prepare for standardized tests?
Selecting a math tutoring platform is not easy. First, it’s essential to find out what kind of reputation each platform has, what services it provides, and whether math tutors are professional. Next, the curriculum and the teaching method have to be considered, as well as whether they will include a personalized approach to the student.
In this article, we will compare two online learning solutions: the Brighterly math tutoring platform and IXL Math. You’ll discover everything there is to know about these educational platforms, featuring methods, prices, and parental feedback.
IXL vs. Brighterly: Comparison Chart
If you’re tired of endless Internet searches and want a clear understanding of which one you should choose (IXL vs Brighterly), we’re here to help. To give you the most precise insights into these two math tutoring platforms, explore this comparison chart below.
Programs |
Brighterly math tutoring platform |
IXL |
Instructional formats | Online classrooms | IXL uses interactive, self-paced online practice |
Subject | Math | Subjects go beyond math: language arts, social studies, Spanish and science are available. |
Cost of programs |
The price is based on a month-to-month subscription model, and you can cancel anytime. Brighterly membership is quite flexible in terms of the number of sessions per week and Membership periods. These offerings give you the flexibility you need for your specific budgeting needs. Price per lesson starts at $19,5. This is a great price, as the average hourly rate for a math tutor in the US is $40. |
IXL membership cost is as follows: IXL group membership cost comes at approximately $19.95 per month or $159 annually. |
Educators qualifications | Bachelors and masters of 5 to 15 years of experience as math tutors. | IXL doesn’t offer tutoring, and you can only have interactive lessons and automated feedback. |
Company type | Online tutoring service. | Online educational service for solo learners. |
Free trial | Free trial session available. | IXL subscription offers a short free trial or access to a limited |
Cancellation policy | You can stop your subscription anytime. For more information, please visit the Brighterly Cancellation policy page. | IXL school subscription can be canceled anytime. |
Rating | Trustpilot 4.7/5 | Trustpilot 1.9/5 |
In short, if you are looking for live, personalized tutoring with expert-driven tutors and want a flexible, hands-on, and interactive approach for your child, the Brighterly math program is a better choice.
IXL can be a good option for self-paced solo learners thanks to its broader, interactive, self-study format.
Brighterly Math Tutors
Brighterly math tutors specialize in interactive, one-on-one online math sessions with an emphasis on a tailored curriculum for every student. Every Brighterly tutor holds a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, with 5 to 15 years of experience in math tutoring. They use interactive methods and gamified learning to make sessions engaging, fun, and accessible, which is beneficial for younger students. This expertise fosters a deeper understanding of math concepts without unnecessary stress and anxiety.
Brighterly Math Tutoring Platform: Benefits
Brighterly math program offers several benefits that cannot go unnoticed. Let’s begin with flexible and affordable pricing, starting at $19.50 per session. Brighterly also offers a month-to-month subscription with no long-term commitments, making it budget-friendly. Next, parents love it. Brighterly reviews are raving about how children become more and more confident in math.
Another great thing about Brighterly is that lessons are interactive and engaging and help students to really develop an interest in math and STEM-related fields. That allows tutors to focus on building foundational math skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities and not on constantly keeping kids interested.
Brighterly math worksheets are also great for self-learning: the platform has hundreds of age-appropriate worksheets focusing on various math skills.
Brighterly Math Program: Pros and Cons
Every online math tutoring platform has its pros and cons, and Brighterly is no exception. Let’s see what they are below.
Brighterly Math Program: Pros |
Brighterly Math Program: Cons |
High Customer Satisfaction Brighterly has an impressively high score and great reviews on Trustpilot, indicating positive experiences of children and parents. |
Requires Reliable Internet and Device Access You must have your device ready for the sessions, as well as a quiet place and a stable Internet connection. |
Personalized one-on-one instruction
Learners receive individualized and focused attention during one-on-one sessions, which helps them grasp math concepts more effectively. |
Limited to Math Tutoring Brighterly only offers math tutoring, which can be a disadvantage for parents who also want to include other subjects in the curricula. |
Experienced and Qualified Tutors Brighterly expert-driven tutors have vast experience in teaching kids math. |
Geared Toward Younger Students Brighterly offers math programs for kids aged 6 to 14 years old. |
Free Trial Session and Easy Cancellation Parents and children can try their first session free of charge to see if Brighterly is a good fit for their family. |
If you’re still deciding between IXL vs Brighterly, you can see that Brighterly offers quite a lot of pros.
How much does Brighterly cost?
Brighterly math tutoring platform offers a flexible subscription model, allowing parents to choose options based on their child’s needs, selecting between 1 to 3 lessons per week. The price per lesson starts at $19.50, which is quite convenient (the average hourly rate for traditional math tutors in the US is around $40).
IXL for Homeschool
IXL homeschooling is a popular choice for homeschoolers due to its broader, interactive, self-study format and self-paced learning environment across multiple subjects. IXL can also be beneficial for other reasons, like a wide range of subjects and grade levels, adaptive learning, personalized skill practice, plus detailed progress tracking and analytics. Programs like IXL are a good choice for homeschool settings if children and parents have excellent organization skills.
Benefits of IXL
Key benefits of IXL school subscription include:
- Multi-subject coverage
- Adaptive learning
- Real-time feedback and explanations
- Standards-aligned content
- In-depth progress tracking and analytics
- Accessible anywhere, anytime
This combination of factors makes it a great tool for reinforcing academic skills, especially for those who may not need a lot of control and structure in their learning.
Pros and Cons of IXL
Same as Brighterly, let’s explore IXL’s pros and cons to determine where it’s a right fit for you with a comprehensive chart below. These are based on the IXL reviews from parents.
Pros |
Cons |
Adaptive learning The platform adapts to each student’s level and needs. |
No interactive tutor support IXL is not a tutoring service, thus children won’t communicate with real people while learning. |
Multi-subject coverage IXL offers a broad range of subjects, making it a versatile tool for learners. |
Repetitive content for most learners Some children may find the content boring, as the tasks tend to repeat themselves after a certain time. |
In-depth progress tracking IXL provides insights on each skill, performance tracking, and improvement areas. |
Challenging for motivation Programs like IXL don’t really require students to have high motivation or parental support, so it can be challenging for some to find motivation for learning. |
Flexible and self-paced IXL allows much space for self-paced learning, which is perfect for individualized learning needs. |
It may require supplementary resources IXL may need to be supplemented with other materials or instruction for students. |
IXL price
IXL pricing is flexible and offers pricing with monthly and annual subscription options. Let’s explore the outline of their basic IXL annual subscription:
- Single subject: About $9.95 per month or $79 per year for access to a single subject (for example, math).
- All subjects: Around $19.95 per month or $159 per year for access to all subjects (math, language arts, science, social studies, and Spanish).
How much does IXL cost?
IXL’s pricing is based on a subscription model. IXL offers an IXL family subscription (aka IXL family membership), with access to subjects for several children at a discounted rate. Here’s the outline:
Two children for one subject comes at approximately $12.95 per month or $129 per year. For all subjects, it is around $29.95 per month or $199 per year.
Three or more children’s subscriptions go for about $15.95 per month or $159 per year for one subject. For all subjects, it is around $39.95 per month or $259 per year.
How much is IXL for a school?
IXL school subscription offers a customized quote based on the number of students, subjects, and specific features a school requires.
How much does IXL cost per student?
IXL cost per student is estimated from $8 to $20 per student and per subject annually.
IXL reviews from parents
IXL generally has bad reviews from parents due to repetitiveness and lack of motivation from students. With reviews coming at 1.9 stars out of 5, IXL is viewed negatively by parents.
What is better than IXL?
Brighterly math tutoring platform can potentially be a better online learning platform than IXL. There are several factors, such as personalized learning and attention, tailored curriculum, and experienced and qualified tutors. Naturally, the “best” platform depends on your child’s specific learning style, age, and attention. However, Brighterly checks all the boxes regarding making math accessible, fun, and exciting, and this is exactly where IXL fails.
Also, if you’re wondering if IXL is a curriculum, the answer is no. IXL is a practice tool rather than a complete standalone curriculum.
Conclusion
To sum it all up, two online learning solutions, the Brighterly math tutoring platform and IXL Math, can be beneficial for two different groups of learners. Those who prefer live interaction, personalized attention, and a tailored approach will benefit greatly from Brighterly. For self-learners who need a practice tool rather than a full-scale curriculum, IXL may be a better choice.
If you’re still unsure which platform will be perfect, book a free demo lesson with Brighterly to experience it firsthand!