Art of Problem Solving vs Saxon Math
The sharpest difference is approach: Art of Problem Solving is Mastery, Saxon Math is Spiral. Four more separate them, so this is not a close pairing.
At a glance
Art of Problem Solving
Grades 5-12
Owners report it suits
Advanced/giftedSaxon Math
Grades K-12
Both are reported to suit Independent workers.
Skip to who fitsWhere they differ
| Attribute | Art of Problem Solving | Saxon Math |
|---|---|---|
Rigor
?How demanding the material is versus grade level. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
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Parent involvement
?How much the parent is present and teaching. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
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Screen time
?How much daily work is on a device. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
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Independence
?How much the child can do alone. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
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| Approach | Mastery | Spiral |
| Best for Tags show where owners consistently report a good fit. They are not exclusions. | Advanced/giftedIndependent workers | Independent workers |
| Method | EclecticProblem-solving/Socratic | TraditionalTraditional textbook |
| Grades | 5-12 | K-12 |
Solid tags are unique to that program. Muted tags are carried by both.
Where they match
- Prep loadboth minimal
- Time commitmentboth 40 to 60 min
- Faith contentboth None
- Formatboth Textbook
- Used asboth Spine
How each one plays by grade
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.
Saxon Math
Grades K-12
Parent-led and scripted in K-3, mostly independent from 5/4 up.
Cost
| Cost item | Art of Problem Solving | Saxon Math |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $25-85/subject, classes extra | $90-140/kit |
| Consumable | No | Partial |
| Per child / year | ~$60-85/course, more with live classes | ~$100 |
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
Saxon Math
Consistently praised
- Thorough review builds retention
- Strong for computation and test prep
- Upper levels work independently
- Incremental steps rarely leave gaps
Reported as challenges
- Lessons run long
- Repetitive daily mixed review
- Topic-jumping spiral frustrates some kids
- Layout looks dated
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 Saxon Math fits
Built for kids who do well with daily review and repetition, in families that want a thorough offline program with a long runway. Short lessons, a mastery track that stays on one topic, and a colorful open-and-go page are three things Saxon doesn't offer.
Read the full Saxon Math entry Check price Rainbow ResourceSome 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
Saxon Math compared with
See all 17 Saxon Math comparisonsDescriptions 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 August 2026.