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• Mathnasium Vs. Kumon in 2024-2025: What Math Program for Kids is Better

Mathnasium Vs. Kumon in 2024-2025: What Math Program for Kids is Better

Like every parent, you probably spend countless hours looking for ways to improve your child’s math, especially if they’re not particularly successful academically in this area. Naturally, you can teach your kid yourself, using familiar techniques and your own skills to provide them with the necessary knowledge. Another way, which could be much more convenient, is choosing a math tutoring platform, either online or in-person. For these purposes, we’ve prepared an in-depth expert review of two popular platforms so you can make an informed decision on Mathnasium vs Kumon. 

Our comprehensive analysis will provide you with valuable insights, like Kumon prices and Mathnasium prices, key strengths and weaknesses of each, and more. You’ll also explore a detailed and factual analysis of Mathnasium and Kumon with easy-to-follow infographics. 

Kumon vs Mathnasium: Comparison

Kumon and Mathnasium are two of the most popular math-focused tutoring programs that aim to make math accessible and coherent for children. While they both are designed to improve children’s math skills and academic ability, they are different in their methodologies, approaches, and focus. So, if you’re tired of googling ‘Kumon vs Mathnasium Reddit’, keep reading to discover Kumon and Mathnasium pros and cons with our complete guide on the two math tutoring platforms. 

Programs	Mathnasium	Kumon
Instructional formats	Online & offline classroom services are available	Only offline classroom service is available
Subject	Math, including trigonometry	Math & Reading
Cost of programs	The Mathnasium cost is as follows: Kindergarten & 1st grade: $50/class on average Grade 2 to 5: $60/class on average Grade 6: The average price ranges from $40 to $80/class Grade 7 to 12: The average price ranges from $50 to $100/class	Kumon prices per month: you usually pay from $150 to $200 per subject monthly.
Minimum purchase	An annual registration fee of $100 is mandatory and non-refundable. For mid-year joiners, you pay a reduced fee of $80 from January through March. If you join in April or later, you will pay $40. The enrollment is finalized only when the annual registration fee is received.	An enrollment fee of $50 is mandatory and serves as a minimal purchase.
Company Type	Both remote and in-center tutoring options are available.	Kumon is part of a franchise system, so centers are individually owned and operated.
Free trial	Thirty minutes of a trial session is available.	You can get a free assessment test but not a free trial session.
Cancellation policy	6 hours (or less) notice is not accepted. Mathnasium tuition doesn’t offer refunds in such cases. In addition, sessions are non-rollover; in case they are not used within the month, they are forfeited.	A 1-month notice is mandatory to stop tuition payments for the next months.
Rating	Trustpilot’s rating is 3.8/5 based on 47 reviews.	Trustpilot’s rating is 4/5 based on 199 reviews.

This table should give you a general understanding of the two math services and whether you should enroll your kids in Mathnasium or Kumon.

What is Mathnasium?

Mathnasium is a math learning platform for students in K-12. It aims to help students gain the necessary math skills and a solid foundation for college. Mathnasium provides personalized learning plans for its students and focuses solely on math while aiming to make learning enjoyable. The Mathnasium age range spans children from the age of 4 to 18. 

The Mathnasium Center fosters independent learning through consistent practice and is designed to help students build confidence and develop a deep understanding of math concepts. Additionally, they prioritize working with children at their own pace, making them ask questions and amend instructions to meet their unique needs and abilities.  

The Mathnasium has its own method of teaching math while following these three main components: assessment, customized learning plans, and ongoing support. Their math programs allow teachers to identify students’ strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in their math knowledge so they are able to create a personalized learning plan and achieve better academic results in the future. 

Is Mathnasium better than Kumon? First and foremost, it depends on your child’s characteristics, goals, and math skills. Let’s explore Mathnasium further to see if the pros and cons align with your expectations. 

Mathnasium pros and cons

To figure out if Mathnasium is better than Kumon, check out this comprehensive Mathnasium pros and cons table below.

Cons	Pros
Cost Mathnasium can be expensive for some families. Depending on your area, monthly fees range from $200 to $400. This makes Mathnasium an unavailable option for most, especially when having more affordable options like Brighterly.	Personalized Learning Plans When we’re talking about Kumon vs Mathnasium, it’s important to note that Mathnasium provides personalized learning plans rather than equipping students with a unified one. Every student has a tailored learning plan based on the initial assessment. This way, all of the knowledge gaps and weaknesses will be addressed.
Limited Math Focus Mathnasium can seem like a rather relaxed platform that doesn’t involve pushing kids to excellence. You can definitely expect basic math knowledge, but if your goal is more profound, it’s best to look into other schools.	Supportive Environment Mathnasium is famous for its supportive environment for students. Students who deal with anxiety find this especially beneficial. Emotional support from the tutors is making the math experience more enjoyable.
Not aligned with Common Core The biggest disadvantage of Mathnasium is that it can be mismatched with the School Curriculum, as the Mathnasium program is traditionally independent of specific school systems or state standards.	Flexible Attendance Mathnasium allows students to attend up to a certain number of times per week, which offers more flexible scheduling for busy families.

Mathnasium reviews and cost

Is Mathnasium expensive? Mathnasium prices vary by location, as each and every center evaluates its price based on factors like services offered, the experience of the specific tutor, and the average local price. So is Mathnasium expensive and how much does it cost per month? You can see the average price per hour below.

Service	Pricing
Enrollment fees and assessment	On average, $100 to $150
Mathnasium cost per hour	On average, $25 to $75
Monthly cost	On average, $250 to $400
Summer programs (8+ sessions)	Expect to pay between $395 and $1,000 for summer programs

When you’re asking about Mathnasium reviews and cost, you can expect to hear this: while the reviews of Mathnasium are generally positive, the price tends to be on the higher side. Yes, positive reviews from parents and students are essential to most. Yet, the above-average price might be a big disadvantage for some families. 

To sum it all up, the Mathnasium price depends on factors like services offered, location, program chosen, and tutor’s experience, so it’s hard to say how much exactly you will pay in your specific location. The reviews again tend to be positive, highlighting Mathnasium’s supportive and welcoming environment. 

Reviews on the Mathnasium tutoring platform

Mathnasium gains mostly positive reviews from the parents despite the high price. Here is the summary of the feedback parents usually leave on Trustpilot and other review platforms.

Mathnasium strengths:

1. Qualified and friendly instructors
   Reviews frequently compliment Mathnasium’s friendly and encouraging tutors, who are always ready to support students with any questions they have. Knowledge, good qualifications, and patience give Mathnasium instructors a big advantage.
2. Qualified and friendly instructors
   Reviews frequently compliment Mathnasium’s friendly and encouraging tutors, who are always ready to support students with any questions they have. Knowledge, good qualifications, and patience give Mathnasium instructors a big advantage. 
3. Customized learning plan
   Parents tend to praise Mathnasium’s individualized plans. These personalized plans offer students a unique possibility to target their weaknesses and strengths, helping them grasp concepts at their own pace.
4. Student confidence and performance
   When we compare Mathnasium vs Kumon, parents highlight higher confidence levels after consistently attending Mathnasium classes. Some students even showed significant grade improvements and better comprehension of challenging topics.

Areas of consideration:

1. Cost
   Mathnasium rates can be pretty high, with hourly rates ranging from $35 to $80, depending on where you study and the session type. You can expect to pay at least $125 per month, which can be expensive for some populations of students.
2. Unsatisfactory results
   Some kids’ parents report bad academic results in math. The pace and instructional style can unalign with some students, which causes a bad understanding of some math concepts.

To summarize, Mathnasium gains predominantly good reviews, especially from parents whose children need targeted math support. Yet, you can expect to stumble upon bad reviews due to the high tuition cost and bad academic results. 

How much does Mathnasium cost? 

The average price of Mathnasium starts at $200–$300 per month. Generally, Mathnasium cost depends on the location, the type of tutoring plan, and whether sessions are online or in-person.

Mathnasium cost per month

Mathnasium membership often starts at $125 per month for one session per week. 

How much does Mathnasium cost per hour?

Mathnasium offers online and in-person sessions, with online sessions averaging $35–$50 per hour, while in-person sessions cost around $60–$80 per hour, depending on location and specific programs.

Why Brighterly Math tutoring platform is better?

Brighterly Math tutoring platform stands out as an excellent platform for learning math online for several reasons. 

Here is a list of factors that make the Brighterly Math tutoring platform a better option if you’re looking for alternatives to Kumon or Mathnasium. 

• Comprehensive math program
• Expert-driven tutors
• Free worksheets 
• Brighterly cost
• Progress monitoring
• Flexible schedule

Comprehensive math program 

Brighterly Math program is fully aligned with the US Common Core Math Standards for children in grades 1-8. Brighterly has created its math curriculum using the best resources and teaching techniques available. This compelling, engaging, and adaptive STEM-focused curriculum is curated and built for children who struggle with math and/or have math anxiety. This ensures effective and easy-to-follow math lessons that are perfectly tailored to each kid’s needs. 

Expert-driven tutors

With Brighterly math tutors, you can expect to have an expert-driven tutor with at least several years of experience. Brighterly is not a place for amateurs. So, only experienced and professional tutors can join the platform. Tutors who are unfamiliar with the best practices and teaching techniques aren’t the best fit here. 

Free worksheets

Brighterly’s math worksheets are what sets Brighterly apart from other online math platforms. Brighterly will provide you with free printable worksheets on math topics to assist students in achieving their learning goals. All math worksheets include a wide range of activities for various goals. They are accompanied by interactive visuals demonstrating how to solve math problems through comprehensive examples. 

Brighterly cost

Brighterly has a pretty affordable cost, unlike most of the math tutoring platforms. Let’s break down Brighterly cost with examples. A basic 3-month Brighterly plan with two weekly lessons will cost you $198/month (additional registration and enrollment fees already included).
With the basic plan, you will get five progress reports, recordings of the lessons, and 24/7 support. Additionally, the unused lessons aren’t forfeited if you plan your sessions accordingly, which makes Brighterly a perfect choice for the price-quality ratio compared to other math tutoring platforms.

Progress monitoring 

Every Brighterly plan offers you progress reports of your kid’s advances. Depending on your plan, you will get access to a comprehensive review of your child’s learning every couple of sessions. These progress reports will keep you in the loop of everything you should know about how well your kid absorbs math: topics covered, progress gained, areas for improvement, and more. This will ensure a clear understanding of how well your child comprehends the material.

Flexible schedule 

As parenting becomes more and more challenging economically, you can’t escape having a busy schedule. This makes it really hard to find enough time to drive your kid around for extracurricular activities, like math tutoring. For such busy families, in-person tutoring or a strict schedule can make math help unavailable. Brighterly math tutoring platform is a great option for busy moms and dads as it offers remote-only math tutoring. And it’s not all — with Brighterly, you can work around your schedule to set up meetings, and not the other way around. 

Brighterly reviews

Brighterly math tutoring platform is well-regarded for its student-focused and gamified approach to teaching math. This tutoring platform is also especially praised for its well-structured program and innovative approach to teaching.
According to parents’ reviews (with a 4.7/5 rating on Trustpilot), Brighterly is perfect for 5-14-year-old kids who need extra support or want to build a stronger foundation in math. Parents also appreciate the platform’s interactive teaching methods, tailored program, and flexibility  (particularly appealing to busy parents​). 

What is Kumon math tutoring?

Kumon is a widely popular after-school tutoring program that follows the Kumon Method, which was developed in Japan in the 1950s. This method focuses on the fundamental understanding of math topics before progressing to more complex concepts. This platform is designed for K-12 students of all ages and offers the development of both math and reading skills through a structured approach. When we are comparing Kumon vs. Mathnasium, we have to remember that Kumon helps students achieve their academic goals by developing vital skills like critical thinking, confidence, and independence.
Problem-solving skills and calculations are essential pillars of Kumon school, as it mainly focuses on helping kids with algebra and algebra-related concepts. For children who need an additional push in this area, and you’re hesitating between Kumon vs Mathnasium, then you might find it more appropriate to look into Kumon, as it might be a perfect option for children who need a more profound understanding of math. 

Additionally, Kumon also offers a reading program to help kids develop better reading skills,  starting with the basics, like understanding basic sentences.

Pros and cons of Kumon

To determine if Mathnasium is better than Kumon, we’ve developed an easy-to-follow chart with Kumon’s pros and cons.

Cons	Pros
The program is not stimulating The Kumon program presents to be unstimulating and challenging enough for most students. Parents report that children get demotivated to further pursue math.	Adaptive to the child’s pace Kumon doesn’t rush kids to gain a conceptual understanding of math in a short period of time. It helps children develop strong analytical and critical thinking skills without stress and math anxiety.
Repetitive nature Kumon’s program involves repetitive assignments, so the overall program seems dull. If your kids prefer variety in learning, they will most likely find the program boring and repetitive, so it’s best to look for alternatives to Kumon, like Brighterly.	Skill building  Kumon’s classes rely heavily on building fundamental skills in math and reading. Naturally, this will boost students’ academic performance in school and in their daily lives.
Cost Kumon costs vary depending on the location, so the Kumon online cost can be quite pricey in your specific area. Additionally, the need for long-term enrollment can negatively affect families’ budgets, as you cannot just alter this commitment mid-year.	Personalized learning If you’re thinking about Kumon vs other schools, keep in mind that Kumon School provides a personalized learning plan for each child depending on their needs, goals, learning gaps, and current level of knowledge. With this opportunity, students can work towards their own objectives rather than trying to adapt to a standardized learning plan.
Lack of personal interaction Kumon is an online classroom service only. As a result, many students find this format difficult as it doesn’t allow much personal interaction between the tutors and the students. Students, especially the young ones, can’t establish proper connections.	Soft skills development  With the necessity of completing daily worksheets, students develop strong organization, time management, and concentration skills. This way, they also build strong study habits. When comparing Mathnasium vs Kumon in this regard, Kumon has the upper hand.
Loss of interest Over time, children can lose interest when they’re not adequately stimulated. Kumon follows the same worksheet approach until the students fully understand the concept. This leads to a loss of interest and a lack of motivation to study math.	Mastering concepts Children master foundational skills more efficiently while doing daily worksheet assignments. Doing them consistently positively affects math understanding and maximizes the chances of fully mastering complex concepts.

How much does Kumon cost?

Kumon pricing ranges from location to location, as every center is individually owned and operated (franchise system). To put it in other words, Kumon price varies, and you’d have to contact a specific center to find out how much the Kumon tuition fee is at that particular location.

What can affect the price of Kumon? Things like location, the subject of study (math or reading), and additional fees of a specific center can all affect the overall cost. However, the most critical factor is whether you enroll your kid in math, reading, or both.

Generally, if you ask “Is Kumon expensive?”, you’ll have to keep in mind that you will have to pay between $150 and $200 per subject. Also, high school and college students may have to pay a higher fee. This is calculated individually, even when all of the sessions are of the same duration. 

Reviews on Kumon prices and the platform’s features

Kumon is a well-known online math platform designed to help students improve their math and reading skills. However, some parents report that the price and some features might be a subject of debate. 

Firstly, Kumon pricing typically ranges up to $200 per subject per month, which does not include enrollment and additional fees. This can seem like a big financial burden for many families despite the program’s structure and materials being praised for fostering independence and critical thinking.

Next, parents noted Kumon’s methodology and independent learning as definite advantages of the program. By developing independent study habits and focusing on mastery, kids have the potential to improve their grades and understanding of math concepts.

Lastly, Kumon’s program also presents challenges for kids due to its rigid structure, repetitiveness, and overwhelming workload. In addition, teachers’ professionalism may vary depending on location. 

Which is better, Kumon or Mathnasium?

To determine which is better, Kumon vs Mathnasium, you’ll have to study several factors like teaching approach, cost, and subject focus. Let’s review them.

Teaching approach

Kumon	Mathnasium
Kumon’s teaching approach involves repetitive practice and self-learning through worksheet work. This method encourages kids to develop strong organization, time management, and concentration skills.	Mathnasium focuses solely on math while providing personalized learning and a tailored approach. Every student is equipped with a customized learning plan based on initial assessment.

Cost

Kumon	Mathnasium
Kumon pricing ranges between $100 and $200 per month, not including enrollment and additional fees.	Mathnasium ranges from $250–$400 per month, making it a pricier option. A deeper understanding of math may justify the price. However, it may still be unavailable to low-income families.

Subject focus 

Kumon	Mathnasium
Kumon covers math and reading without a particular emphasis on either one. This is an ideal situation for younger kids who need practice in both disciplines.	Mathnasium teaches math exclusively and is more suitable for children who seek support in this particular area.

To recap, which is better between the two, you have to determine your specific goal:

• Choose Kumon if your child likes independent practice and needs practice in both reading and math. 
• Choose Mathnasium if your child needs a more profound understanding of math and personalized learning to target their specific weaknesses and strengths. 

Mathnasium vs Kumon: Reddit reviews

When it comes to Reddit reviews, parents often report that both schools work for a certain population of students. For example, Mathnasium is better for students who struggle with math confidence and want a more profound understanding of math. Kumon is more suitable for fostering strong discipline skills and self-learning, but it may feel rigid to some learners.
To summarize, most parents suggest choosing between Mathnasium vs Kumon based on the child’s personality, goals, and the specific subject they need help with. However, if both schools seem like they might not be a good fit, Brighterly is another great option with excellent reviews on Reddit.

Mathnasium or Kumon: Conclusion

To sum up, Kumon and Mathnasium are two of the widely popular math-focused tutoring programs designed to improve children’s math skills and academic ability. However, they are different programs in terms of their methodologies, approaches, and focus. In short, when choosing between the two, pay attention to these factors:  Kumon is better for independent practice in math and reading, while Mathnasium aims for a more profound understanding of math through personalized learning.

Do both schools not seem to meet your expectations? Brighterly combines all the best features of Kumon and Mathnasium while making math fun and stress-free. To start, book a demo session today and see how Brighterly is better than other schools!