Time4Learning has been a homeschool staple for years — but its per-child pricing still adds up fast for families with multiple kids. Here's an honest comparison for 2026.
💡 Time4Learning charges $24.95/month for the first child plus $14.95/month per sibling. A family with 3 kids pays ~$54.85/month. Lumi covers up to 8 kids for $9.99/month flat — with adaptive lessons, weekly parent reports, attendance tracking, and printable workbooks included.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Lumi Academy vs Time4Learning — every major feature, head to head.
Feature
🌟 Lumi Academy
📚 Time4Learning
Monthly Price
$9.99/mo — all kids
$24.95/mo first child + $14.95/mo per sibling (3 kids = ~$54.85/mo)
Lowest Price
$50 once with Lumi Forever — all kids, no renewals
~30% off monthly rate if paid annually
Kids Included
✓ Up to 8 kids, flat price
Per-child — each additional child billed separately
Free Trial
✓ free 48-hour trial,
✗ No free trial
Grade Range
Pre-K – 12th grade (Lumi High included free)
PreK – 12th grade
Subjects Covered
24+ subjects incl. Coding, Art, Music, Debate, Life Skills
Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies + electives
Adaptive Lessons
✓ Auto-adapts to each child's level daily
Parent sets grade level manually
Weekly Parent Reports
✓ Weekly email digest per child
Dashboard only — must log in manually
Attendance Tracker
✓ Built-in homeschool attendance log
Activity planner available
Printable Report Cards
✓ Included, print-ready
Progress reports via dashboard
Printable Workbooks
✓ 6 grade-level workbooks included
Printable worksheets available
Game Engagement Layer
✓ Lumi Bucks, streaks, world map, reward store
✗ Not included
Devices Supported
iOS, Android, Fire Tablet, Chromebook, Smart TV, Web
Browser only (Chrome/Firefox recommended)
Cancel Anytime
✓
✓
What Time4Learning Does Well
Time4Learning has been around since 2004 and has a solid reputation in the homeschool community. It covers PreK through 12th grade, and so does Lumi: Lumi Academy covers Pre-K through 8th grade and Lumi High covers grades 9–12, with Lumi High included free with every Lumi Academy plan. Time4Learning's curriculum is well-structured and recognized by many state homeschool associations. If you have high schoolers and younger children, Time4Learning is one of the few platforms that handles everything in one subscription — though at a per-child cost that adds up quickly.
✅ Time4Learning Strengths
Covers all grades from PreK through 12th — good for high school families
Long track record and recognized curriculum in the homeschool community
Detailed parent portal with lesson plans and activity scheduling
Printable worksheets and portfolio tools included
Strong Language Arts and Math scope and sequence
Where Time4Learning Falls Short for Most Families
The biggest issue with Time4Learning is the math. Not the curriculum math — the money math. At $24.95/month for the first child plus $14.95/month per sibling, a homeschool family with three kids is paying $54.85/month or about $658/year. That's before adding anything else to their learning budget. And that price doesn't include the game layer, the reward system, or the adaptive pacing that Lumi provides automatically. Many parents in the homeschool community also report that kids find Time4Learning's interface dated compared to modern apps — which makes motivation a constant challenge.
❌ Time4Learning Weaknesses
Per-child pricing — 3 kids costs 3x as much as 1 kid
No free trial — you pay to find out if your kids like it
No game or engagement layer — kids don't inherently want to use it
Browser-only — doesn't work on Fire tablets or Smart TVs natively
No adaptive pacing — parent must manually set and adjust grade levels
Who Should Choose Each Platform
Choose Time4Learning if…
You only have one child and cost isn't the main factor
You want a heavily structured parent-controlled lesson plan
Your state requires a recognized curriculum provider for compliance
Choose Lumi if…
You have 2 or more kids — Lumi's flat price saves you hundreds a year
Your kids need motivation to actually want to learn
You want the platform to adapt automatically without manual setup
You want it to work on Fire tablets, phones, and TV
You want attendance records and report cards built in
Why Families Are Switching from Time4Learning to Lumi
Time4Learning's per-child pricing adds up fast — 3 kids costs about $55/month. Lumi is $9.99 flat for your whole family.
Lumi adapts to each child automatically — no manual grade or level setup required by the parent.
Weekly digest emails keep parents informed without logging into a separate dashboard every day.
Lumi works natively on Android, Fire tablet, and Smart TV — Time4Learning is browser-only.
Kids actually want to open Lumi — Lumi Bucks, streaks, and a world map adventure make learning feel like a game they choose, not a chore they endure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lumi cheaper than Time4Learning for a family with multiple kids?
Yes — Time4Learning charges $24.95/month for the first child plus $14.95/month per additional sibling. A family with 3 kids pays about $54.85/month or $658/year. Lumi charges $9.99/month or $50 once with Lumi Forever for up to 8 kids. For a 3-kid family, Lumi saves roughly $540 or more per year compared to Time4Learning ($658 minus $119.88 on the monthly plan, or $608 on the annual plan) — and the gap widens with every additional child.
Does Time4Learning cover the same subjects as Lumi?
Time4Learning focuses on Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies, plus some electives at the middle school level. Lumi covers all of those plus Coding, Art, Music, Debate, Life Skills, and more — 24+ subjects total, all included at every grade level with no add-on fees.
Can I try Lumi before switching from Time4Learning?
Yes. Lumi offers a free 48-hour trial. You get full access for all your kids during the trial so you can compare directly before canceling your Time4Learning subscription.
Does Lumi work on the same devices as Time4Learning?
Lumi works on more devices. Time4Learning is primarily browser-based and recommends a 10-inch screen minimum. Lumi works on iOS, Android phones and tablets, Amazon Fire tablets, Chromebooks, Smart TVs, and any web browser. If your kids use Fire tablets, Lumi is the better choice.
Does Lumi go up to 12th grade like Time4Learning?
Lumi Academy covers Pre-K through 8th grade. For grades 9–12, Lumi High (real GPA, credits and a printable transcript) is included free with every Lumi Academy plan, so one $9.99/month plan covers Pre-K through 12th grade for your whole household.
Does Lumi provide attendance records and report cards like Time4Learning?
Yes — Lumi's attendance tracker and printable report cards are built into every plan at no extra cost. These are generated automatically based on your child's actual lesson completion, scores, and daily activity. You can print them anytime for homeschool compliance records or portfolio use.
Try Lumi Academy Free for 48 Hours
. Up to 8 kids on one account. Works on any device including Fire tablets and Smart TVs.