SchoolhouseTeachers vs Time4Learning: family membership against per-student billing

SchoolhouseTeachers vs Time4Learning: the main difference

Both services sell online homeschool curriculum from Pre-K through Grade 12, and each says on its FAQ that it is a curriculum provider and not an accredited school. They differ in how lessons are delivered and in whether you pay per child. SchoolhouseTeachers.com is parent-led, built on printable lessons with media added, and sold as one family membership. Time4Learning's FAQ describes lessons delivered mainly online through recorded instructors and interactive activities, with an automated system that tracks scores, and its cart adds a charge for each student. Both vendors' pages were read on November 6, 2026, and each statement below is that vendor's own.

Side by side, from each vendor's pages

• Grades: SchoolhouseTeachers lists preschool through Grade 12. Time4Learning's FAQ says Pre-K through 12th grade.
• Teaching style: SchoolhouseTeachers says courses are text-anchored with printable lesson plans, audio, video and some interactive features. Time4Learning says instruction is mainly online, with videos of pre-recorded instructors, interactive lessons and reading tasks, and some offline activities.
• Who teaches: SchoolhouseTeachers describes itself as parent-led by design. Time4Learning says it offers no live teachers and that parents act as the teacher, with teaching guides available in the parent dashboard.
• Billing unit: SchoolhouseTeachers bills one price for the immediate family. Time4Learning's cart adds each student by grade, with monthly billing or an annual option.
• Several children: SchoolhouseTeachers says there is no additional cost per student. Time4Learning's home page shows reductions of 10 percent for two students, 20 percent for three to five and 25 percent for six or more, and its FAQ says the reduction applies to the student of equal or lesser value.
• Subjects: Time4Learning's FAQ lists language arts, math, science, social studies and electives. SchoolhouseTeachers lists core subjects plus electives across hundreds of courses.
• Worldview: SchoolhouseTeachers states a Christian worldview in its FAQ. Compare the content of each course against your own preferences.
• Accreditation: both say a curriculum provider is not accredited. Time4Learning's site also lists a separate accredited virtual school enrollment path, which is a different product from the curriculum.

Which one fits which family

• Pick SchoolhouseTeachers when you have several children, you want one predictable price, you like printable lessons you can adapt and you are comfortable with a Christian worldview.
• Pick Time4Learning when you want lessons to run on screen with recorded instruction and tracked scores, and your number of students is small enough that per-student billing stays reasonable.
• Either may suit one child. With one student the billing gap narrows, and style decides.

Questions to ask before paying either

• How many children will use it this year, and in which grades?
• How much teaching time can you give each day? Time4Learning's FAQ lists parent time by age, from one to two hours a day for the youngest children to less for high school, as the vendor's own estimate.
• What are the renewal and cancellation terms for the exact plan you pick?
• Does the course list for your child's grade cover the subjects your state requires?

State rules come first

Neither service replaces your state's rules on notice, subjects, testing and records. HSLDA keeps a directory of homeschool laws by state at hslda.org/legal, and your state's own rules are the final word. Check your state before choosing a curriculum, then read the best online homeschool curriculum guide for more options or the cost guide to price the family plan.