Art of Problem Solving vs Beast Academy
The sharpest difference is parent involvement: Art of Problem Solving is light, Beast Academy is leading. Two others separate them as well.
At a glance
Art of Problem Solving
Grades 5-12
Owners report it suits
Independent workersBeast Academy
Grades 1-5
Both are reported to suit Advanced/gifted.
Skip to who fitsWhere they differ
| Attribute | Art of Problem Solving | Beast Academy |
|---|---|---|
Parent involvement
?How much the parent is present and teaching. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
|
|
|
Prep load
?How much the parent prepares before a lesson. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
|
|
|
Independence
?How much the child can do alone. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
|
|
|
| Best for Tags show where owners consistently report a good fit. They are not exclusions. | Advanced/giftedIndependent workers | Advanced/gifted |
| Method | EclecticProblem-solving/Socratic | Problem-solving/Socratic |
| Grades | 5-12 | 1-5 |
Solid tags are unique to that program. Muted tags are carried by both.
Where they match
- Rigorboth advanced
- Screen timeboth blended
- Time commitmentboth 40 to 60 min
- Faith contentboth None
- Approachboth Mastery
- Formatboth Textbook
- Used asboth Spine
How each one plays by grade
Art of Problem Solving runs 7 grades further than Beast Academy. If you want one program to carry the subject for the long haul, plan on leaving Beast Academy around grade 5 and choosing again.
Art of Problem Solving
Grades 5-12
Capable 5th and 6th graders often start with Prealgebra. The live online classes move very fast, with Algebra 1 packed into roughly 16 weeks, while the textbooks are self-paced.
Beast Academy
Grades 1-5
Level 1 combines the guide and practice into one book. Owners and the publisher both flag the shapes chapter in 3A as a wall worth skipping and returning to. After Level 5 students move to AoPS Prealgebra, usually around ages 11 to 13.
Cost
| Cost item | Art of Problem Solving | Beast Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $25-85/subject, classes extra | ~$99/yr online, ~$135/level print |
| Consumable | No | Partial |
| Per child / year | ~$60-85/course, more with live classes | ~$99 online, ~$135 print |
What parents report
Art of Problem Solving
Consistently praised
- Builds deep conceptual understanding
- Teaches real problem solving, not just procedures
- The videos are engaging and clear
- Free Alcumus is excellent adaptive practice
- Strong prep for competitions and top STEM tracks
Reported as challenges
- It is hard, and kids get overwhelmed fast
- Quick pace with little hand-holding
- Jumps to tough problems before many worked examples
- Wrong fit for a kid at grade level
Beast Academy
Consistently praised
- Problems that force real thinking
- Comics kids reread for fun
- Builds visible perseverance
- Guide books reuse across siblings
- Clean handoff into AoPS Prealgebra
Reported as challenges
- Overwhelms kids working at grade level
- Reading load sits above the math level
- Standard algorithms never get taught
- Less independent than parents expect
Who Art of Problem Solving fits
Mathematically strong, self-driven kids who enjoy struggling with a problem and want depth well past grade level. Kids working at grade level, kids who need worked examples first, and kids who get frustrated without direct teaching will have a hard time.
Read the full Art of Problem Solving entry Check price Art of Problem SolvingWho Beast Academy fits
Made for mathematically strong kids who read well and enjoy being stuck on a puzzle for fifteen minutes, often the ones headed toward competition math later. Kids working at grade level, kids with math anxiety, and kids who need the steps demonstrated first tend to bounce off it hard.
Read the full Beast Academy entry Check price Art of Problem SolvingSome links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes how a curriculum is described or scored.
Still deciding?
Art of Problem Solving compared with
Beast Academy compared with
Descriptions aggregate what homeschool parents consistently report across public community sources together with each publisher's own materials. Prices and editions change over time. Both entries last reviewed July 2026.