Frustrated with Kumon or Mathnasium? Try 1-on-1 tutoring built for mastery.
Abugida Education is a 1-on-1 online alternative to Kumon and Mathnasium for grades 3–12. Your child works with one seasoned mentor who teaches for mastery instead of repeating worksheets, and 1-on-1 STEM lessons start at $80 a month.
- From $80 a month
- Always 1-on-1, never a group room
- No worksheet drills
- SAT: +100 points or your money back*
What parents tell us after Kumon and Mathnasium
Tired of the same worksheets every night?
Kumon is built on repeating worksheets until speed improves. Abugida mentors teach the idea behind each problem and change the approach when your child is stuck, so practice never turns into busywork.
Want an educator, not a part-time student?
Kumon worksheets are often graded by part-time center assistants, many of them high school students, and Mathnasium hires instructors from age 16. Abugida mentors are seasoned professionals and career educators, each with deep expertise in the subject they teach.
Covering topics isn’t mastering them
Moving up a worksheet level or ticking off a topic isn’t the same as understanding it. Abugida teaches mastery first: your child explains the idea back and solves a new problem before moving on.
Paying $200+ a month for shared time?
Families typically report paying about $150–$200 per subject per month at Kumon and $200–$400 at Mathnasium, for time shared with other students. Abugida’s 1-on-1 STEM lessons start at $80 a month, with 5% off for each sibling.
No guarantee your money works?
Neither Kumon nor Mathnasium publishes a money-back guarantee. Abugida’s SAT classes come with a 100-point SAT score improvement or your money back.*
Done with the drive to the center?
Classes are live online from home, scheduled after school, evenings or weekends in your time zone, and recorded so your child can rewatch them for 7 days.
Abugida vs. Kumon vs. Mathnasium
| Feature | Abugida Education | Kumon | Mathnasium |
|---|---|---|---|
| How your child learns | Live 1-on-1 lessons with one mentor | Worksheets done at the center and at home | Small groups at the center, several students per instructor |
| Who teaches | Seasoned professionals and career educators with expertise in the subject | A center instructor; worksheets often graded by part-time assistants, many of them high school students | Instructors hired from age 16, often high school and college students |
| Approach | Mastery first: move on once your child can explain it | Repetition through a fixed sequence of worksheet levels | A center learning plan worked through in sessions |
| Same teacher every time | Yes, about 2 years on average | Varies | Varies by session |
| Typical monthly cost | 1-on-1 STEM lessons from $80 a month | About $150–$200 per subject, plus registration | About $200–$400, plus an enrollment fee |
| Guarantee | SAT: +100 points or your money back* | No published money-back guarantee | No published money-back guarantee; refund terms vary by center |
| Where | Online from home, in your time zone | At a local center | At a local center |
| Subjects | Math, science, coding, SAT/ACT, heritage languages, admissions | Math and reading | Math |
Kumon and Mathnasium don’t publish national prices; the ranges are typical figures reported by parents and in published comparisons as of November 2026, and they vary by center. Staffing descriptions come from the companies’ public job listings, and each center is independently owned, so check with your local center. Kumon and Mathnasium are trademarks of their respective owners, and Abugida Education is not affiliated with either. *Ask for the full SAT guarantee terms in your free consultation.
From your last worksheet to your first 1-on-1 class
Free consultation
Tell us what isn’t working. Bring your child’s latest worksheets or progress report.
Find the real gaps
The first class checks what your child has mastered and what was only covered.
Match a mentor
A career educator matched to your child’s personality, subject and schedule.
Weekly 1-on-1 classes
Homework with feedback, a monthly quiz and a monthly report for you.
See everything we teach in math, science and coding · SAT prep and admissions
Questions from Kumon and Mathnasium families
Is Abugida Education a good alternative to Kumon?
Yes, for families who want 1-on-1 teaching instead of worksheet repetition. Abugida mentors teach each concept live and one-on-one, move on only once your child has mastered it, and 1-on-1 STEM lessons start at $80 a month. Kumon can suit children who enjoy routine drills; Abugida suits children who need explanation, encouragement and a teacher who knows them.
What is the difference between Abugida and Mathnasium?
Mathnasium teaches math in small groups at a local center, with several students per instructor, and instructors can be as young as 16. Abugida teaches live 1-on-1 online with seasoned mentors who stay with your child for about two years, covers science, coding and heritage languages as well, and starts at $80 a month.
Is Abugida cheaper than Kumon and Mathnasium?
Usually, yes. Abugida’s 1-on-1 STEM lessons start at $80 a month, while families typically report paying about $150–$200 per subject per month at Kumon and $200–$400 a month at Mathnasium, plus enrollment fees. Prices at those centers vary by location.
Does Abugida use repetitive worksheets like Kumon?
No. Practice at Abugida is short and targeted: mentors set homework that builds on that week’s lesson and give written feedback, instead of long daily worksheet packets.
What is Abugida’s SAT money-back guarantee?
Abugida’s SAT classes come with a 100-point SAT score improvement or your money back. Ask for the full terms in your free consultation.
Can my child switch from Kumon or Mathnasium in the middle of the school year?
Yes. Classes can start any week. Bring your child’s latest worksheets or progress report to the free consultation, and the first class starts from what your child has actually mastered.
Give your child a teacher, not a worksheet
Book a free consultation. We’ll find what your child hasn’t mastered yet and match a mentor, with 1-on-1 STEM lessons from $80 a month.