Quick answer
The best homeschool supplements fill the gaps in your main curriculum. Beast Academy or CTCMath for math, All About Reading for phonics, IEW for writing, Mystery Science for science and Code.org for coding are the standouts, and 4 of our 21 picks are free.
- Most loved on Reddit: Beast Academy, All About Reading, IEW, Mystery Science.
- Free picks: Prodigy, Duolingo, Code.org and Typing.com.
- Best for Acellus Academy: add Essentials in Writing for writing and grammar, plus All About Reading for phonics.
- Best for book based programs like Sonlight: add Teaching Textbooks for hands off math.
No single homeschool program does everything well. Many families pick a core curriculum, then add a few supplements where their child needs more practice, challenge or fun. We picked 21 supplements that pair well with the programs in our best homeschool programs guide, checked current prices, and read what Reddit parents say about each one.
Which supplement goes with your core program?
| If you use | Add | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Time4Learning | Beast Academy, IEW, Mystery Science | Adds challenge in math and stronger writing |
| Acellus Academy | Essentials in Writing, All About Reading, Generation Genius | Adds reading, writing and hands on science |
| Sonlight | Teaching Textbooks, Brave Writer, KiwiCo | Adds independent math and hands on projects |
| Abeka Academy | Prodigy, Code.org, Outschool | Adds fun practice and modern electives |
| Oak Meadow | CTCMath, Teaching Textbooks | Shores up math, which Reddit calls its weak spot |
| The Good and the Beautiful | All About Reading, Mystery Science | Adds deeper phonics and secular science |
| Easy Peasy | All About Reading, Mystery Science, Outschool | Adds systematic phonics and live classes |
| Khan Academy | Reading Eggs, Story of the World, Outschool | Fills in reading, history and live discussion |
| BJU Press | Prodigy, Typing.com, Code.org | Adds practice and computer skills |
| Monarch | IEW, Typing.com | Adds a writing method and keyboarding |
| K12 | IXL, Generation Genius | Fills gaps and reinforces lessons |
How much do homeschool supplements cost?
You do not need to buy many. Two or three well chosen supplements usually cost $100 to $400 a year, and you can cover math practice, coding, typing and a language for $0 with Prodigy, Code.org, Typing.com and Duolingo.
What are the best math supplements for homeschool?
1. Beast Academy
Comic style math from Art of Problem Solving that teaches kids to think through hard puzzles. It is the go to pick for math loving or advanced kids.
- Price: $15.99 per month or $99.99 per year; siblings $64.99 per year
- Ages or grades: Ages 6 to 13
- Free trial: No trial; 14 day refund
- Pairs well with: Time4Learning, Easy Peasy, Khan Academy
- Website: Beast Academy
What Reddit says (mostly positive): Parents call it rigorous and engaging, and many say it is the best math they have used. It can frustrate kids who are not naturally persistent in math. Read the thread.
2. Teaching Textbooks
An app that teaches, grades and explains every math problem with video, so kids can work almost entirely on their own.
- Price: $48.95 to $83.95 per course for 12 months; family cap $239.95
- Ages or grades: Grades 3 to 12
- Free trial: First 15 lessons free
- Pairs well with: Sonlight, Oak Meadow, The Good and the Beautiful
- Website: Teaching Textbooks
What Reddit says (mixed): Parents love that it takes math off their plate. Critics say it runs a little below grade level and can leave gaps before higher math. Read the thread.
3. CTCMath
Short video lessons for every grade from K to 12 on one membership, with placement tests and weekly progress emails.
- Price: $257 per year for one student; $397 per year for a family
- Ages or grades: K to 12
- Free trial: Free trial
- Pairs well with: Oak Meadow, Acellus Academy, Easy Peasy
- Website: CTCMath
What Reddit says (mostly positive): Parents praise the short, clear videos and say it is great for catching up. Some find the multiple choice worksheets dry. Read the thread.
4. IXL
Adaptive practice across more than 20,000 skills, with diagnostics that show exactly where a child has gaps.
- Price: $79 per year for one subject; $40 per year per added child
- Ages or grades: PreK to 12
- Free trial: No family trial stated
- Pairs well with: Acellus Academy, K12, Time4Learning
- Website: IXL
What Reddit says (mixed): Parents value it for finding and filling gaps. Many say it is drill rather than teaching, and the SmartScore penalty frustrates some kids. Read the thread.
5. Prodigy Math
A fantasy role playing game where kids answer math questions to win battles. All math questions are free.
- Price: Free; memberships from $58.95 per year add game perks
- Ages or grades: Grades 1 to 8
- Free trial: Free tier
- Pairs well with: Time4Learning, Khan Academy
- Website: Prodigy Math
What Reddit says (mixed): Kids love the game and will practice daily. Critics say kids can spend more time playing than doing math, and the upsells are pushy. Read the thread.
What are the best reading and phonics supplements?
6. All About Reading
A scripted, multisensory phonics program with letter tiles and decodable readers in about 20 minutes a day.
- Price: $119.95 to $159.95 per level kit, reusable for siblings
- Ages or grades: PreK to about grade 4
- Free trial: No trial; 1 year guarantee
- Pairs well with: Acellus Academy, Easy Peasy, The Good and the Beautiful
- Website: All About Reading
What Reddit says (mostly positive): Parents say it works, even for struggling readers, and the scripts make it easy to teach. The main complaint is the price per level. Read the thread.
7. Reading Eggs
Game style reading lessons for young kids, with Mathseeds math included, on one plan for up to 4 children.
- Price: $99.99 per year for up to 4 kids
- Ages or grades: Ages 2 to 13
- Free trial: 30 days
- Pairs well with: Time4Learning, Khan Academy
- Website: Reading Eggs
What Reddit says (mixed): Parents say it works like a second teacher for early readers. Others say the novelty wears off and it should not be the main reading program. Read the thread.
8. Hooked on Phonics
A long running early reading app with monthly print workbooks and storybooks for up to 3 learners.
- Price: $23.96 per month
- Ages or grades: PreK to grade 2
- Free trial: 30 day money back
- Pairs well with: Khan Academy, Abeka Academy
- Website: Hooked on Phonics
What Reddit says (mixed): Some parents say it clicked quickly for their child. Others prefer stricter phonics programs like All About Reading. Read the thread.
What are the best writing supplements?
9. Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW)
A video writing course taught by Andrew Pudewa that gives kids a step by step structure for paragraphs, essays and style.
- Price: $169 to $289 one time per level
- Ages or grades: Grades 3 to 12
- Free trial: First 3 weeks free
- Pairs well with: Acellus Academy, Time4Learning, Monarch
- Website: IEW
What Reddit says (mostly positive): Parents call it one of the most solid writing programs and say Pudewa keeps kids engaged. Critics find it formulaic. Read the thread.
10. Brave Writer
A gentle, literature based writing approach from Julie Bogart, with year long guides and live online classes.
- Price: $177 to $347 per year long bundle
- Ages or grades: Ages 5 to 18
- Free trial: Free 7 day writing guide
- Pairs well with: Sonlight, Oak Meadow
- Website: Brave Writer
What Reddit says (mixed): Parents love the philosophy and literature guides. Some say the materials feel pricey and grammar is light. Read the thread.
11. Night Zookeeper
A creative writing game where real tutors give feedback on what kids write. It is popular with reluctant writers.
- Price: $119.90 per year for up to 3 kids
- Ages or grades: Ages 6 to 12
- Free trial: 7 days
- Pairs well with: Time4Learning, Acellus Academy
- Website: Night Zookeeper
What Reddit says (mixed): Parents say reluctant writers enjoy it and the tutor feedback motivates them. A widely shared thread flags that its terms give the company copyright of children’s writing, so read them first. Read the thread.
12. Essentials in Writing
A video based writing and grammar program by Matthew Stephens for grades 1 to 12. Each short lesson is followed by worktext pages, and because it teaches grammar too, it can replace a separate grammar book. It is our top writing pick for Acellus Academy families: both are video led, and it fills the writing gap parents mention most with Acellus.
- Price: $99 to $139 per level with 18 months of video access; DVDs $25 to $50 extra
- Ages or grades: Grades 1 to 12
- Free trial: Free demo lessons
- Pairs well with: Acellus Academy, Time4Learning, Easy Peasy, Monarch
- Website: Essentials in Writing
- Our full review: Essentials in Writing review with prices by level, pros and cons
What reviewers say: We found few Reddit threads on Essentials in Writing, so we checked other homeschool reviews. Cathy Duffy Reviews praises the energetic video teacher, writing taught in small steps, and the rubrics and checklists, and calls it secular but Christian friendly. It notes younger kids need a parent nearby and some upper level workbooks are heavy. Read the review.
What are the best science supplements?
13. Mystery Science
Open and go elementary science videos with simple hands on activities. One price covers every child in the family.
- Price: $199 per family per year
- Ages or grades: K to 5
- Free trial: No homeschool trial
- Pairs well with: Time4Learning, Easy Peasy, The Good and the Beautiful
- Website: Mystery Science
What Reddit says (mostly positive): Parents say kids love the videos and activities. Some say it is too light to be a full year of science on its own. Read the thread.
14. Generation Genius
Science and math video lessons with worksheets and DIY activities that cover K to 8 standards.
- Price: $250 per year for science; $325 for science, math and ELA
- Ages or grades: K to 8
- Free trial: 5 free videos
- Pairs well with: Acellus Academy, K12, Khan Academy
- Website: Generation Genius
What Reddit says (mostly positive): Parents call the science videos excellent. The math explains concepts more than it drills them, so most use it as a supplement. Read the thread.
15. KiwiCo
Monthly hands on STEAM project kits mailed to your door, from toddler crates to engineering builds.
- Price: From $24 per month
- Ages or grades: Ages 0 to adult
- Free trial: No; 40% off first crate
- Pairs well with: Oak Meadow, Sonlight, any screen heavy program
- Website: KiwiCo
What Reddit says (mixed): Kids adore the crates. Parents note the price adds up and finished projects pile up. Read the thread.
What is the best history supplement?
16. The Story of the World
A four volume read aloud world history series written as short stories, with an activity book and audiobook.
- Price: About $67 for the text, guide and workbook
- Ages or grades: Grades 1 to 4
- Free trial: No
- Pairs well with: Time4Learning, Khan Academy, Easy Peasy
- Website: Story of the World
What Reddit says (mostly positive): Parents say kids genuinely love it and it works for several ages at once. Critics note it is Western focused and some later volumes lean religious. Read the thread.
What is the best foreign language supplement?
17. Duolingo
The free language app with short daily lessons in more than 40 languages, plus math and music courses.
- Price: Free; paid Super and Family plans
- Ages or grades: Upper elementary to adult; Duolingo ABC ages 3 to 8
- Free trial: Core app is free
- Pairs well with: Any program on our top 11 list
- Website: Duolingo
What Reddit says (mixed): Parents like that kids stick with it daily. Many say it is not rigorous enough for a full language credit. Read the thread.
What are the best coding supplements?
18. Code.org
A free nonprofit computer science course from kindergarten to high school, built around fun coding puzzles.
- Price: Free
- Ages or grades: K to 12
- Free trial: Fully free
- Pairs well with: Any program on our top 11 list
- Website: Code.org
What Reddit says (mostly positive): Parents praise it as free and well structured. Advanced kids may outgrow it. Read the thread.
19. Tynker
A game based coding path that moves kids from blocks to Python, with one plan for up to 3 children.
- Price: $180 per year on sale (regularly $300) for up to 3 kids
- Ages or grades: Ages 5 to 18
- Free trial: Free starter content
- Pairs well with: Acellus Academy, Time4Learning
- Website: Tynker
What Reddit says (mixed): Parents say it is friendlier than Scratch for young kids. Some report surprise renewal charges, so set a reminder. Read the thread.
Where can homeschoolers take live online classes?
20. Outschool
Live small group online classes in almost any subject, from literature circles to Minecraft clubs. Average class size is 4.
- Price: Pay per class or from $40 per month
- Ages or grades: Ages 3 to 18
- Free trial: No; promo codes for first class
- Pairs well with: Easy Peasy, Khan Academy, Acellus Academy
- Website: Outschool
What Reddit says (mixed): Parents love the variety and finding great teachers. Quality varies by teacher, and many dislike recent price and credit changes. Read the thread.
What is the best typing program for homeschool?
21. Typing.com
Free grade based keyboarding lessons, tests and typing games, with a paid ad free edition.
- Price: Free with ads
- Ages or grades: K to 12
- Free trial: Free; 30 day PLUS trial
- Pairs well with: Acellus Academy, Monarch, Time4Learning
- Website: Typing.com
What Reddit says (mixed): Parents say it works and kids end up typing fast. The free version has a lot of ads. Read the thread.
How do all 21 supplements compare?
| # | Supplement | Subject | Ages or grades | Yearly cost | Reddit verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beast Academy | Math | Ages 6 to 13 | $100 | Mostly positive |
| 2 | Teaching Textbooks | Math | Grades 3 to 12 | $49 to $84 | Mixed |
| 3 | CTCMath | Math | K to 12 | $257 | Mostly positive |
| 4 | IXL | Math | PreK to 12 | $79 | Mixed |
| 5 | Prodigy Math | Math | Grades 1 to 8 | Free | Mixed |
| 6 | All About Reading | Reading | PreK to about grade 4 | $160 | Mostly positive |
| 7 | Reading Eggs | Reading | Ages 2 to 13 | $100 | Mixed |
| 8 | Hooked on Phonics | Reading | PreK to grade 2 | $288 | Mixed |
| 9 | IEW | Writing | Grades 3 to 12 | $169 | Mostly positive |
| 10 | Brave Writer | Writing | Ages 5 to 18 | $177 | Mixed |
| 11 | Night Zookeeper | Writing | Ages 6 to 12 | $120 | Mixed |
| 12 | Essentials in Writing | Writing | Grades 1 to 12 | $99 | Few threads |
| 13 | Mystery Science | Science | K to 5 | $199 | Mostly positive |
| 14 | Generation Genius | Science | K to 8 | $250 | Mostly positive |
| 15 | KiwiCo | Science | Ages 0 to adult | $288 | Mixed |
| 16 | The Story of the World | History | Grades 1 to 4 | $67 | Mostly positive |
| 17 | Duolingo | Language | Upper elementary to adult | Free | Mixed |
| 18 | Code.org | Coding | K to 12 | Free | Mostly positive |
| 19 | Tynker | Coding | Ages 5 to 18 | $180 | Mixed |
| 20 | Outschool | Live classes | Ages 3 to 18 | About $480 | Mixed |
| 21 | Typing.com | Typing | K to 12 | Free | Mixed |
How many supplements should you add?
Start with one or two where your core program is weakest, and give each one a few weeks before you add more. Too many supplements turn a homeschool day into a pile of screens and checklists. Use free trials first, and pick tools that cover several children on one plan if you have a bigger family.
A simple mix works for many families: a core program from our top 11 list, one math or reading add on, and one fun extra like coding, KiwiCo crates or an Outschool class. For more on homeschooling trends, see our homeschooling statistics.
How did we choose these supplements?
In October 2026 we checked each supplement’s official site for price, ages, trials and format, then read recent r/homeschool threads to summarize what parents praise and criticize. We picked supplements that fill common gaps in the 11 core programs we reviewed. Prices change often, so check before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
What is a homeschool supplement?
A homeschool supplement is a program or app that adds to your main curriculum, such as extra math practice, a phonics program, a writing course or a coding class.
What is the best math supplement for homeschool?
Beast Academy is the favorite for kids who like a challenge, while CTCMath and Teaching Textbooks suit kids who want short videos and independent work. IXL is best for finding and filling gaps.
What are the best free homeschool supplements?
Prodigy Math, Duolingo, Code.org, Typing.com and Khan Academy are all free to use.
What should I add to Acellus Academy?
Essentials in Writing is our top pick for writing and grammar, since it is video based like Acellus. All About Reading adds phonics and Generation Genius adds science videos.
Is Outschool worth it for homeschoolers?
Many parents love it for live discussion classes and niche electives, but quality varies by teacher, so read reviews and try one class first.
How many supplements should a homeschool family use?
Many families do well with one to three. Add them where your core program is weakest rather than buying a full set.
How we gathered this data: Prices, ages and trials come from each program’s official website, checked October 12, 2026. Reddit summaries reflect recent r/homeschool discussions and are our paraphrase.
