Are you tired of seeing your child struggle with homework? Do you find it difficult to help them with their homework because you can’t understand the concepts yourself? You’re not alone.
Many parents find themselves in this frustrating situation, which is why they turn to tutoring services, like IXL and Time4Learning for help. Both services aims to improve students’ skills using different teaching approaches and methods.
The main difference between IXL and Time4Learning is that IXL is a subscription-based platform that offers a variety of activities, while Time4Learning is a comprehensive online curriculum that covers all subjects from pre-K to 12th grade.
In this article, we’ll compare IXL vs Time4Learning and help you make an informed decision on which tutoring center is the right fit for your child.
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Introduction to the Debate: IXL vs Time4Learning
If you are considering online tutoring, the most important step is to carefully compare all your options for top online tutoring services and make an informed decision on which tutoring service is the right fit for your child.
We have analyzed the two programs IXL and Time4Learning on the following parameters:
- Subjects offered
- Teaching methodology
- Tutor matching process
- Pricing and plans offered
- Customer reviews
IXL vs Time4Learning: Comparison
The following table can help in easily determining which platform will be a good choice for you based on different parameters.
| Parameters | IXL | Time4Learning |
| Company type | Homeschool program-Short Video Lessons | Homeschool program- Short Video Lessons |
| Subjects Offered | IXL is an online, subscription-based learning program for PreK-12 students.IXL offers math, language arts, science, social studies, and Spanish. | Time4Learning offers subjects such as math, language arts, science and social studies |
| Mode of teaching | Online video lessons | Online video lessons |
| Cost of tutoring | You have to purchase a minimum package of $9.90 per month for a single subject. | Time4Learning is a monthly subscription plan. You can choose your plan according to what is best for you. The lowest pack is the PreK-8th which cost$24.95. and ranges up to $39.95 which is for 9th -12th grade. |
| Minimum purchase | You have to purchase a minimum package of $9.90 per month for a single subject. | The minimum purchase is of $24.95 per month for one kid. |
| Help in Tutor selection(Tutor Match) | IXL offers multimedia online lessons | Time4Learning is an online homeschool curriculum that teaches students via student-paced multimedia lessons. |
| Offers free trial | No, IXL doesn’t offer a free trial. Although IXL does have a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.If you find that IXL doesn’t meet your needs, you can cancel and receive a full refund. | No, Time4Learning doesn’t offer a free trial. Although Time4Learning offers a 14-day money-back guarantee. |
| Cancellation policy | If in the first 30 days, IXL doesn’t meet your needs, you can cancel and receive a full refund. | You can cancel your subscription anytime you want. |
| Rating | Trustpilot score: 1.3/5 | Trustpilot score: 4.5 |
Understanding IXL
What is IXL?
IXL is a subscription-based homeschool learning website for Pre-K – 12 students. IXL uses advanced learning technology for online video lessons. IXL offers analytics and recommendations which help parents to support teaching and learning for their kids with a clear focus on outcomes.
IXL offers math, language arts, science, social studies, and Spanish which is tailored according to the student’s age group. Math and language arts is covered from pre-K right up to 12th grade.
How does IXL work?
IXL is an online video lesson platform. It has built-in step-by-step lessons for each subject that helps students.
IXL offers practice tests for students. One interesting feature is that students earn points when they get a question right. Students are awarded a stamp in their virtual book once they collect 100 points for a subject. Students can earn other virtual rewards as they keep on practicing multiple subjects.
IXL’s SmartScore is a unique scoring system designed to give the best possible information on students’ true understanding of a skill. SmartScore is a flagship feature of IXL and is based on IXL’s proprietary algorithm.
SmartScore is an adaptive platform that tailors the difficulty level of practice questions based on how a student performs. This approach helps students stay focused and reach their learning goals.
Subjects covered by IXL
IXL is aligned with the educational standards, including the Common Core State Standards, the Next Generation Science Standards, and all U.S. state standards.
| Subject | Grade Levels |
|---|---|
| Math | Pre-K to Calculus |
| English Language Arts | Pre-K to 12th Grade |
| Science | 3rd to 8th Grade |
| Social Studies | 4th to 8th Grade |
| Languages | Spanish |
IXL has integrated its standards alignment with its analytics and progress tracking, so parents and teachers can track a student’s progress in relation to state standards across different subjects.
What is the cost of IXL?
The cost of IXL starts from $79 to $159 per year. IXL offers multiple monthly and yearly options for families.
| Package | Single subject package | Combo package | Core subjects package |
| Package Desc | Select from Math: Pre-K to 12 or Language Arts: Prek-K to 12 | IncludesMath: Pre-K to 12 and Language arts: Pre-K to 12 | Includes Math: Pre-K to 12 Language arts: Pre-K to 12 Science: Grade K to 8th Social studies: Grade K to 8th |
| Monthly | $9.95 | $15.95 | $19.95 |
| Yearly | $79 | $129 | $159 |
The prices are for one child. Enrolment for each additional child is charged at $4 more per month or $40 per year.
*Pricing info retrieved from the IXL website in November 2023
Evaluating IXL: Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| IXL offers multiple packages. Families can purchase a single subject, a combo package, or 4 core subjects. | The IXL online curriculum requires a computer or device with an internet connection. The curriculum cannot be accessed offline. |
| IXL is aligned with the educational standards, including the Common Core State Standards, the Next Generation Science Standards, and all U.S. state standards. | IXL offers online video lessons. It is not suitable for students looking for online 1-on-1 tutoring. |
Understanding Time4Learning
What is Time4Learning?
Time4Learning is a Pre-K through 12th-grade online education program that uses lessons, activities, videos, interactive assessments, and printables to teach a standards-based curriculum.
It is available 24/7 and includes subjects such as math, language arts, science, and social studies.
Time4Learning also offers electives which include 10 foreign languages, personal finance, art, and health.
How does Time4Learning work?
Time4Learning is a membership program, so you create an account for yourself.
Once you sign up and are logged in. You will be able to select the grade-level courses appropriate for you. You can also customize lessons and assignments as needed, right from the start.
Subjects offered by Time4learning
Time4Learning offers subjects such as math, language arts, science, and social studies.
| Grade | Subject offered |
| Elementary and Middle School | Language Arts Math Science Social Studies (from Grade 2) |
| High School | Apart from the core subjects. 15 elective subjects are offered Environmental Science Sociology Intro to Communications and Speech Art History Psychology Concepts in Probability and Statistics Intro to Art Computer Applications – Office 2019 Contemporary Health Foundations of Personal Wellness Lifetime Fitness Strategies for Academic Success Healthy Living Economics Personal Finance |
What is the cost of Time4Learning?
Time4Learning offers monthly subscription plans.
Core Subjects: Math, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies.
| Pre-K to 8th grade [Includes core subjects] | High School[Includes 4 core subjects] | |
| One child | $24.95 per month | $34.95 per month |
| Each additional child | $14.95 per month | $34.95 per month |
Evaluating Time4Learning: Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| All core subjects are available under one package at an affordable price. | Time4Learning does not offer 1-on-1 online tutoring. It focuses on online video lessons, interactive assessments, and printables to teach the curriculum |
| No large upfront purchase and you can cancel at any time. | The online curriculum requires a computer or device with an internet connection. |
| Time4Learning offers automated grading and record-keeping which saves time. Parents receive concrete information on the students’ homeschool performance. | Account must be kept active to access records. Although the records can be downloaded and saved for future reference. |
IXL vs Time4Learning: which is right for your child?
IXL and Time4Learning are both excellent online tutoring companies that can help students improve their skills in a variety of subjects. However, there are some key differences between the two platforms that may make one a better fit for you than the other.
IXL is a good option if you are looking for:
- A subscription-based platform with a variety of activities to keep you engaged and motivated
- A platform that offers personalized learning paths and adaptive technology
- A platform that can help you improve your scores on standardized tests
Time4Learning is a good option if you are looking for:
- A self-paced program that offers a variety of subjects
- A program that uses videos, interactive lessons, and practice problems to help you learn new concepts
- A program that is affordable and accessible to students of all ages
IXL vs Time4Learning – the best platform for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. If you are not sure which platform is right for you, you may want to try both of them out and see which one you prefer.
IXL vs Time4Learning cost
Although the pricing of both the programs varies by location but here is an overview of the IXL vs Time4Learning cost comparison.
| IXL | Time4Learning |
| Single subject – $9.95 per month Combo subject – $15.95 per month Package -$19.95 per month | Pre-K to 8th grade [Includes core subjects]One child – $24.95 per monthEach additional child – $14.95 per month |
| Single subject – $79 per yearCombo subject – $129 per yearPackage – $159n per year | High School[Includes 4 core subjects]One child – $34.95 per monthEach additional child – $34.95 per month |
Why you should consider Wiingy for 1-on-1 online tutoring instead?
So far, we have compared IXL and Time4Learniing and explored their unique tutoring programs. However, before deciding on a tutoring service for yourself or your child, there is another better and affordable option to consider Wiingy.
The Wiingy platform offers 1-on-1 online tutoring to school, college, and adult students through its network of 1,000+ expert-vetted tutors for coding, math, science, computer science, AP, and 100+ subjects.
Over 20,000 students have used Wiingy for private tutoring, homework help, assignment help, language learning, homeschool tutoring, and test prep. Students and parents have consistently rated the Wiingy experience as 4.8 out of 5.
Unlike tutor marketplaces, each Wiingy tutor is vetted individually and undergoes an extensive assessment that includes interviews, mock lessons, and coding tests.
Less than 3% of applicants are selected to become tutors on Wiingy’s platform. This means that you work only with top verified, qualified, and experienced tutors.
An experienced tutor will be able to create a structured lesson plan customized to your pace and learning style. You will also get access to study materials, notes, practice materials, and exam strategies to help accelerate your learning.
We know that sometimes you don’t want to pay for private tutoring because it is too expensive. Tutoring costs anywhere from $100 to $150 per hour which isn’t reasonable at all.
However, Wiingy’s rates are affordable, starting from just $28 per hour, much lower than the average tutoring offered by other platforms.
We don’t require you to sign up for packages or subscriptions, so you can pay for lessons as you need them. We also offer a free trial lesson so you can try out our service before you commit.
While we try to match you with the perfect tutor per your needs, we understand that sometimes, even the best tutors might not be the right fit for you.
This is why we offer you the Perfect Match Guarantee. If you are not satisfied with your tutor for any reason, you can request a replacement tutor at no additional cost.
Lastly, if you do not wish to continue our services, we offer you a no-questions-asked full refund for your unused lessons with us.
In addition, we have 24/7 instant support from a personal student success advisor. You can contact your advisor via chat or phone if you have any questions, whether it’s about your lessons, your tutor, payments, or if you are looking to explore any other subject.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does a Time4Learning membership cost?
Pricing depends on the grade level of your students:
PreK to 8th grade: Monthly membership cost is $24.95 for the first student and $14.95 for each additional student.
Additional courses may be purchased for middle school students (6-8) for an extra $5 per month per course.
High school: Monthly membership cost is $34.95 per student and includes 4 courses.
Additional courses may be purchased for an extra $5 per month, per course.
Is Time4Learning an online school?
Time4Learning is a Pre-K through 12th-grade online education program that uses lessons, activities, videos, interactive assessments, and printables to teach a standards-based curriculum.
It is available 24/7 and includes subjects such as math, language arts, science, and social studies.
Time4Learning also offers electives which include 10 foreign languages, personal finance, art, and health.
How much does IXL cost?
Pricing for a single-subject family membership starts at just $9.95/month or $79/year for one child. Enrolment for each additional child is charged at $4 more per month or $40 per year.
There is no need to purchase more than one membership. You can purchase access for multiple children within your family membership.
