Singapore Math vs Russian Math vs Brighterly: Which to Choose for Your Kid?
reviewed by Jo-ann Caballes
Updated on December 1, 2025
Are you comparing Singapore Math vs Russian Math vs Brighterly? Choosing the right platform can be quite difficult — I’ve got you! I’m an experienced tutor, and today I will help you explore what each platform has to offer and what would be the best choice for your little one.
Key points
- Singapore Math is a curriculum-based math program originally developed in Singapore, offering teaching materials for schools and tutors. Singapore Math LIVE offers video-based learning based on the Singapore Math learning method.
- Russian School of Math offers structured math support for advanced learners in grades 1–12 through a learning method developed in the USSR.
- Brighterly is a one-on-one math and reading platform for students in grades 1–9. Blends a structured US school-aligned curriculum with gamified learning.
Exploring alternatives?
Russian Math vs Singapore Math vs Brighterly: Detailed comparison
The main difference between Singapore Math vs Russian Math vs Brighterly is that Singapore Math is a method offering various materials for math tutors and schools, while Russian Math focuses on structured problem solving and theoretical math. Alternatively, Brighterly is a 1-on-1 math and reading platform focusing on gamified learning and alignment to the US school standards.
Russian School of Math |
Brighterly |
Singapore Math |
|
| Programs | Structured math curriculum for K–12 | 1-on-1 math curriculum for K9 | Curriculum-based math program for schools and tutoring centers for children in PK–5 |
| Instructional formats | Online & offline classrooms | Fully online | Offline/online classes based on the provider |
| Subject | Math (doesn’t cover trigonometry) | Math and reading | Math |
| Pricing (2025 US) | From $51.69 per week to $101.54 per week | From $17.3 per lesson (applies to the longest plan with the max. quantity of lessons) | Tutoring ranges $100-$200 per month |
| Minimum purchase | Certain programs may charge registration fees, typically around $50 to $100. | Subscription on package purchase | None |
| Free trial | Doesn’t offer a free trial | Free demo lesson | Depends on the provider |
| Rating | Reviews vary by provider | Trustpilot score is Excellent (4.4 stars) based on 437 reviews | Reviews vary by provider |
| Pros (summary) |
– Advanced math – Structured math support – Small-group classes – Covers higher grades |
– School-aligned – Private instruction – Free reading worksheets and reading tests – Custom pace and homework – Highly vetted tutors |
– Strong focus on problem-solving – Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract approach |
Russian School of Math vs Singapore Math vs Brighterly cost: Comparing options
Russian Math vs Singapore Math vs Brighterly pricing models are very different.
With Singapore Math Live, you’ll pay a monthly fee based on grade.
Brighterly is a little more flexible with scalable pricing. Longer plans = affordable lessons, so the pricing depends on how committed you are.
Russian Math is on the higher end of the pricing spectrum with a traditional tuition model.
Singapore Math cost |
|
Brighterly cost |
|
Russian Math cost |
|
In short, Brighterly is the most cost-effective option, with pricing starting at $17.3 per 1-on-1 lesson, compared to the higher fixed monthly tuition of the Russian School of Math and the fees of Singapore Math.
Singapore vs Russian math vs Brighterly: Which learning program is better?
Which program is better depends heavily on your child’s preferences, learning style, goals, and learning gaps. Your specific budget is also a key factor.
When comparing Russian School of Math vs Singapore Math vs Brighterly, the first thing that comes to mind is the platform’s adaptivity. If you’re looking for a highly adaptive platform that takes into account your child’s unique needs and learning goals, then Brighterly is among the top platforms for you.
If your kid is advanced in math and wants to improve their math skills even further, the Russian School of Math can be an option. Bear in mind that its approach can be quite rigid for most kids.
Looking for a curriculum that builds conceptual understanding from the ground up? Singapore Math is great, especially for visual learners, who thrive on a step-by-step approach.
What is Brighterly?
Brighterly math and reading platform is an online 1-on-1 learning platform for K9 students that focuses on math and reading. Brighterly blends gamified learning with a US school-aligned curriculum to ensure that at-home tutoring and school classes go hand in hand.
On top of that, Brighterly has an excellent overall rating on Trustpilot. More and more parents choose this platform as their main source of supplemental learning, thanks to its affordable pricing and real, measurable results.
Brighterly: Key features
- Professional tutors with e-learning expertise
- School-aligned program adapted to each child’s needs
- Free worksheets and other resources
Professional tutors with e-learning expertise
Brighterly’s team of experts specializes in online education. They are specifically trained to work with children in 1-on-1 settings through gamified, interactive approaches. Each potential candidate is carefully selected — the platform performs background checks to ensure tutors are qualified and ready to help kids achieve better results in math and reading.
According to the Brighterly reviews, the platform’s reading and math tutors show patience and build a positive atmosphere. They take time to understand the specific challenges of each child and adapt their learning methods so that children feel comfortable and relaxed while learning.
School-aligned program adapted to each child’s needs
Most of the platforms I have experience with use their proprietary methods and plans for teaching, which is not always effective since they may not align with the school standards. Brighterly’s math program is definitely an exception.
With Brighterly, each student gets a custom-designed program based on their unique needs, learning habits, and preferences. Additionally, the platform’s curriculum is regularly updated by the top educators who use research-based study resources and STEM learning techniques.
When it comes to progress reports, parents get detailed feedback each week with an in-depth overview of what their child is learning, how they are improving, and which skills still need attention during reading and math classes.
Note: Brighterly uses a school-aligned curriculum that follows the same standards and learning goals provided by the Common Core (or state-specific benchmarks). That means that children are on the same page with their classes in school, which is an optimal way to balance at-home tutoring and school classes.
Free worksheets and other resources
Looking for free reading and math worksheets? Brighterly can work great. Their team has created hundreds plus worksheets for different levels and grades with engaging visuals and explanations. They are free of charge and can be downloaded without signing up or providing credit card information.
Math tests are also one of the best features of Brighterly. With them, you can assess a kid’s current level of skills in under 2 minutes. This is a great solution for a busy parent looking for a nice all-rounder.
Brighterly cost
- 12-month plan: starting at $17.30 per lesson
- 6-month plan: starting at $19.40 per lesson
- 3-month plan: starting at $20.20 per lesson
- 1-month plan: starting at $20.70 per lesson
How affordable is Brighterly? A brief description
The average tutoring rate in the United States is between $40 and $80, and one session a week could cost parents up to $300/month.
Singapore Math charges from $120–$180/month for in-center classes, depending on grade.
The RSM charges upwards of $102 per week.
My take: While RSM and Singapore Math only offer math, Brighterly focuses on both math and reading, and the price is quite economical with personalized plans, progress reports, and professional tutors.
What is Singapore Math?
Singapore Math stands for:
- A proprietary teaching method based on the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract (CPA) model
- Problem-solving focus
- It’s not a company, brand, or traditional learning program
How does Singapore Math work?
Singapore Math is a method used by schools and tutors to help kids understand math better. Many schools worldwide use Singapore Math textbooks and workbooks.
If we compare Russian vs Singapore Math vs Brighterly, Singapore Math focuses more on exploring concepts using physical objects and visual representations. The curriculum is mastery-based and follows a structured approach of mastering each mathematics topic before progressing to a new one.
Long story short, Singapore Math works by a familiar principle – building skills layer by layer. It goes from hands-on to abstract, allowing students to learn in a natural and intuitive pattern.
However, what many parents don’t realize is that Singapore Math is not a school but a teaching approach used in schools, by tutors, or parents at home. So, if you’re comparing Singapore vs Russian Math vs Brighterly, Singapore Math is not a single organization where you can find online classes.
Singapore Math cost
- If you’re homeschooling or self-teaching at home, expect to pay around $100 per grade for the curriculum (books + workbooks).
- Online support + curriculum will cost you upwards of $215 for a full grade + year.
- For in-person classes, the cost varies depending on the provider, with prices ranging from $45 per lesson.
Singapore Math packages include textbooks, workbooks, online support, and curriculum.
What is RSM best at?
- Structured curriculum for advanced students
- Mixing US standards with Soviet math school
- Strong problem-solving
How does RSM work?
Russian School of Math is an online and in-center after-school tutoring provider. Their method is based on a math educational system from the Soviet Union. RSM is known for putting a strong focus on problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, though some students may struggle with the system.
When researching Singapore Math vs Russian Math Reddit comments, many students highlighted how the Russian Math teachers can be quite pushy and demanding. The program doesn’t have many gamified elements for teaching, even in younger groups, which can hinder math learning. Some students said that homework can be overwhelming, especially for those kids whose main goal is to just close their learning gaps.
How much is RSM?
When talking about the RSM cost, it’s worth noting that the yearly cost can be upwards to $3500. Naturally, the price depends heavily on location, as each center is individually operated.
RSM pricing: Details
| Kindergarten + 1st grade | On average $223 / month |
| Elementary school | On average $267 / month |
| 6th grade (geometry + algebra) |
On average $343 / month |
| 7th to 12th grade (geometry + algebra) | On average $439 / month |
Singapore Math vs Russian Math vs Brighterly Reddit & Trustpilot reviews
Singapore Math reviews
Singapore Math gets mixed reviews. While some parents praise the CPA approach, others say they’re not particularly happy with the repetitiveness of the worksheets.
- “I LOVE Singapore Math. We’ve used Dimensions for the last three years and don’t plan on changing it anytime in the future.” – Reddit review
- “So all I had was the student text and workbooks. It was easy to teach but very slow, repetitive, worksheet-heavy, and lacking in critical thinking. We used the textbook once, as it just mirrored the workbooks with the numbers changed. The amount of work in the workbooks was already mind-numbing!” – Reddit review
- “Singapore math is good, but the work is overloaded for my son and is way ahead of the school curriculum.” – Reddit review
In short, Singapore Math curriculum reviews speak about how the curriculum can be beneficial, but the cognitive overload may be too much for children.
Brighterly reviews
Brighterly reviews are predominantly positive. Reviewers on Trustpilot have had a great experience with the company – parents praise how tutors are knowledgeable and patient, which helps kids achieve the results they’re looking for.
- “Exceptional teachers! My 7 year old son is autistic. His teachers have given him so much confidence. He is reading at a higher level as well as love for Math.” – Claudia Rovira, Trustpilot
- “What a relief to find such a program. My daughter is actually enjoying math for a change. Her tutor is so sweet and effective.” – Angela Capilli, Trustpilot
- “Brighterly.com has been a great resource and overall great experience for my 8 year old son. He loves to attend his tutoring sessions and has improved significantly with his confidence in his math skills.” – Ijeoma Orji, Trustpilot
Russian School of Math reviews
With the Russian School of Math, some of the reviewers actually report significant skills gains. However, some parents show concerns over the cost vs. value ratio, since the platform doesn’t offer much flexibility or personalized support.
- “Many of my friends kids are taking or have taken classes in the past. RSM does math the old russian way. That means not only the material is quite advanced for kids age, but also many of the teachers are from that part of the world. Those teachers are quite knowledgeable in math and demand that the students learn the math.” – Avilma, Well-Trained Mind
- “Not a fan. I know several people who went took classes at RSM, and they almost universally disliked the classes. The ones who have taken classes with Art of Problem Solving vastly preferred those. I’ve taken AoPS classes myself and really liked them.” – scholarlyobsidian, Reddit
- “I have been a student at RSM for a few years and haven’t really liked the classes that much. I mainly dislike them because of the teachers and the way they teach.” – jrtech1, Reddit
Even though in terms of Singapore Math vs Russian Math review, RSM reviews show more promise, there are still some obvious red flags, like intensity and pace, and misunderstandings between students and teachers.
What’s the main difference between Singapore Math, Russian Math, and Brighterly?
The main differences between Singapore Math, Russian Math, and Brighterly are in the teaching approach and the structure. Singapore Math mainly offers teaching materials for schools and tutors. Russian School of Math offers structured math support for advanced learners in grades 1–12 through a learning method developed in the USSR. Brighterly is a one-on-one math and reading platform for students in grades 1–9 which blends a structured US school-aligned curriculum with gamified learning.
Which is better: Russian Math vs Singapore Math vs Brightly?
It’s hard to say which platform is better since it heavily depends on factors like your kid’s skills, preferences, and pace.
Singapore Math can help if you’re ready to tutor your kids at home with cohesive tutoring materials.
Russian Math is great for advanced math learners and more complex problems.
And, if you’re looking for 1-on-1 math and reading lessons at an affordable price – choose Brighterly – book free lesson now!
Other comparison articles
In need of more useful comparisons? This list is what you need:
- IXL vs Time4learning vs Brighterly
- Kumon Reviews in 2025: Is It Worth Your Time?
- IXL vs Kumon vs Brighterly?
- Eye Level vs Kumon vs Brighterly
Does your child spend a whole minute reading one sentence? Do they stop every time they see a new word, only to lose the meaning of the text? First of all, this is okay. It is still something you should work on, though. One skill can really help with this – automaticity in reading. I […]
Dec 01, 2025
Superprof is one of the most popular online tutoring platforms across the US, but is it still worth it in 2025? In this article, I’ll break down real Superprof reviews from families, explore its pros and cons, and help you decide whether this platform is the right choice for personalized learning. Key points Range of […]
Dec 03, 2025
Math & reading from 1st to 9th grade
Exploring alternatives?
Take a short quiz!
Choose kid's grade
