IXL® Curriculum Pros and Cons

Once you’ve read about the program features and costs associated with athe IXL® curriculum, you should get to know the pros and cons of all programs to make an informed decision.

If you’re comparing IXL® with Time4Learning, you may want to know what some of the common challenges are with IXL®, how teaching with IXL® can benefit your child, and the pros and cons of using IXL®.

The Tricky Business of Homeschool Pros and Cons

Navigating through the IXL® pros and cons varies by family, and it helps to start by taking into consideration your child’s educational needs, goals, and learning style. A few other things to keep in mind when comparing Time4Learning vs IXL® are your family’s budget, worldview, and homeschool style.

Teaching with IXL® vs Time4Learning

To make your homeschool curriculum research easier, we’ve laid out some of the pros and cons of using either Time4Learning or IXL®. Browse the chart below to discover which curriculum meets the majority of your student’s and your family’s needs.

Homeschool Use

IXL® Families can purchase a single subject, combo package or 4 core subjects. Lessons plans are not available for parents
Online curriculum requires internet connection and computer or tablet
Time4Learning Can be used as core or supplemental homeschool program for grades PreK-12.
Access to all 4 core subjects for one low monthly price.
Online curriculum requires internet connection and computer or tablet

Pricing Structure

IXL®  Multiple pricing options, including the ability to choose individual subjects, core subjects, or combinations. Recurring payments mean budgeting long term instead of once a year.
Time4Learning  No large up front purchase; cancel at any time. All core subjects are included for one affordable price. Recurring payments mean budgeting long term instead of once a year.

Lesson Style

IXL®  Online lessons with unlimited access to activities and interactive questions. Must have computer or device with internet connection to view lessons.
Time4Learning  Access to entire curriculum. Interactive lesson approach is helpful to keep children engaged. Online curriculum requires computer or device with internet connection.

Recordkeeping

IXL®  Saves time by providing insight and analytics on child’s progress even after canceling account. Reports are highly detailed, requiring analysis to determine child’s progress.
Time4Learning  Automated grading and recordkeeping saves time and gives parents concrete information for homeschool portfolios and review. Account must be kept active to access records (although they can be downloaded and saved for future reference).

Worldview

IXL®  Can be used by almost any homeschooling family, regardless of worldview. Families may skip any content they find objectionable. Does not include dedicated religious curriculum content, so families would need to supplement this subject.
Time4Learning  Parents have option to skip any content they find objectionable, making it a good fit for all families regardless of worldview. Does not include dedicated religious curriculum content, so families would need to supplement this subject.

Finding it hard to choose?

As you may already know, choosing a homeschool curriculum isn’t easy. Now that you have a better idea of how IXL® works and the IXL® pros and cons compared with those of Time4Learning, you might be ready to decide on one. But what if you like both? Many families find that mixing and matching two different homeschool programs work best for their children.

Using Time4Learning and IXL® as part of your homeschool plan may be your best option. Visit our page on how to use Time4Learning with IXL® for more information.

Want to know more about how Time4learning compares with IXL® for homeschooling? You might be interested in:

*Time4Learning is not affiliated with IXL®. Time4Learning’s purpose with this article is to provide information to families who are considering an eclectic approach to homeschooling or who wish to compare the benefits of using both curricula. Time4Learning’s products and services are not endorsed or sponsored by IXL®.


FAQs

Time4Learning is a trusted online curriculum provider serving PreK-12th grade students. We provide student-paced lessons and activities in subjects like language arts, math, science, social studies, and electives. Our parent support features include planning and reporting tools to simplify scheduling and progress monitoring.Time4Learning lets parents control their child's learning schedule and approach. It's favored by homeschoolers as a main curriculum or a supplement and is also used for after school or summer learning to address learning gaps or maintain skills.

Our comprehensive preschool curriculum gives students a solid foundation in all core areas through fun stories, characters, and interactive activities in math, language arts, science, and social studies.

The elementary K-5th grade curriculum consists of standards-based language arts and math, and social studies and science for most grade levels. Time4MathFacts, our elementary-level math learning game collection, is also included for free!

Our standards-based middle school curriculum covers math and language arts, as well as options to personalize science and social studies coursework. You can select up to 3 middle school electives for students in grades 6-8. Additional electives can be purchased for $5.00 per course, per month.

Time4Learning’s standards-aligned high school curriculum consists of the primary subjects of language arts, math, science, and social studies. To meet individual needs and academic requirements, we offer a variety of options for math, science, and social studies coursework, as well as 15 elective courses.

Pricing depends on the grade level of your students:

Preschool to 5th Grade

  • $29.95 / month
  • Includes four courses
  • Access to Time4MathFacts

6th - 12th Grade:

  • $39.95 / month
  • Includes seven courses
  • Additional courses can be added for $5 each per month per student

Plus:

30% off each additional student*

10% off annual memberships with code ANNUAL10

Your billing cycle begins on the day of registration and members are billed every 30 days. Time4Learning has no hidden fees, offers a 14-day money-back guarantee for new members, and allows members to start, stop, or pause anytime. Parents must cancel through their Parent Dashboard. Once an account is canceled, members will only have access to the program and student reports until the end of their billing cycle.

*Discount applied to the student(s) of equal or lesser value.