They're video libraries. Pre-recorded lessons your child watches alone. Auto-graded quizzes. No teacher to ask when something doesn't make sense. No peers to learn alongside. And too often — content that feels three years behind what international curricula actually require.
Parents repeatedly report that mainstream US homeschool curricula (Acellus, Time4Learning, even BJU) pace below international standards. Students who later attempt SAT/ACT or IGCSE feel under-prepared.
Pre-recorded videos. Auto-graded quizzes. No live teacher. No classmates. Particularly hard on younger students and students who learn through discussion.
Most US homeschool platforms hand off transcripts and walk away. UCAS, Common App, SAT prep, university interviews — figure it out yourself.
BBB complaints about deleted records, altered grades, refusal to refund, and frequent unannounced price hikes plague the largest US providers.
BJU, Abeka, Veritas — all explicitly Christian. Wonderful for families who want that. A non-starter for families who don't.
Globally-mobile American families need credentials that travel. IGCSE and A-Level are recognised by every major university worldwide. Most US providers don't offer them.
Information sourced from each provider's public website and the BBB. Pricing as of June 2026. All providers offer K-12 unless noted.
| Feature | Smartious ★ THIS PAGE | Acellus Academy | BJU Press DLO | K12 Stride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live teachers (1-on-1 + group) | ✓ Every student | ✗ Pre-recorded only | ✗ Pre-recorded only | ◐ Mixed |
| International curriculum (IGCSE/A-Level/IB) | ✓ All three | ✗ US Common Core | ✗ US Christian | ✗ US state-aligned |
| Cambridge / Edexcel prepared | ✓ Specialist tutors | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Religious neutrality | ✓ Secular default | ◐ Some objections | ✗ Explicitly Christian | ✓ Secular |
| College application support included | ✓ UCAS + Common App | ✗ Not included | ◐ Transcript only | ◐ Limited |
| AI tutor 24/7 | ✓ Mshauri AI Pro | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Starting price (per month) | $180 (Basic Online) | $99-249 | $150-300 | Free (state-funded) - $300 |
| Sibling discount | ✓ 15-25% off | ✗ | ◐ Curriculum sharing | ✗ |
| Need-based bursary | ✓ Up to 50% off | ◐ Roger Billings only | ✗ | State-dependent |
| Customer service track record | Direct founder access | BBB complaints filed | Established 50+ years | Mixed state-by-state |
| Time-zone friendly for US East/Central/Mountain/Pacific | ✓ Afternoon Nairobi = morning Eastern | N/A (self-paced) | N/A (self-paced) | ✓ US-based |
| Free trial / consultation | ✓ 30-min free call | ✗ | ✓ Sample lessons | ✓ State assessments |
✓ = fully delivered · ◐ = partial / limited · ✗ = not offered
Every Smartious lesson has a real human teacher on the other end of the camera. 1-on-1 or small-group (3-6 students). Lessons are recorded for review, but the teaching itself is live, interactive, in real time.
IGCSE, A-Level, IB Diploma. The qualifications top US universities (Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale) recognise as evidence of internationally-elite preparation. Often weighted as advanced beyond AP.
Free for every enrolled family. UCAS for UK universities. Common App for US universities. OUAC for Canada. We help with personal statements, recommendation coordination, interview prep. No extra invoice.
The first AI homework helper trained on Cambridge, Edexcel, IB and American curricula. Voice, text, image — your child can photo a math problem and get guidance. Free in Premium Online tier.
Every fee published. No surprise increases. External examination fees are pass-through at the published Cambridge/Edexcel rate — Smartious adds only a $25 admin fee. 12% discount for annual payment. 15-25% sibling discount.
Smartious is founder-led. Alfred Ouko personally interviews every family who joins. If something breaks, you can WhatsApp the founder. No call centres. No outsourced support.
Most American families start school between 8am and noon local time. That maps perfectly to Smartious afternoon classes in Nairobi (EAT). We run dedicated US-family sessions Monday-Friday.
Sweet spot for most US families: Smartious 5pm-9pm EAT = 9am-1pm Eastern / 6am-10am Pacific. Perfect for morning school sessions. 1-on-1 tutoring can be scheduled anytime by mutual agreement.
The Online tier is fully accessible to American families. All fees in USD. Pay monthly, termly (save 5%) or annually (save 12%).
Self-paced curriculum + Mshauri AI Pro + digital library. Best for older self-driven students.
Everything in Basic + weekly live group classes + bi-weekly 1-on-1 tutor consultations. Best for most families.
Daily live classes + dedicated IGCSE exam preparation. Year 9-11 students aiming for top universities.
Submit the request via our online form. Our Head of Admissions reviews within three business days and responds regardless of decision.
A 60-minute diagnostic to determine the right grade, curriculum and tutor match. $40 (waived if you have recent transcripts).
$120 one-time registration. We set up the LMS account, student ID, family portal, initial materials. You meet your child's teacher.
Within 7-14 days. Your child joins their first live class. We check in after week 1, week 4, and monthly thereafter.
Every state has different homeschool laws, voucher programmes, and university pathways. Tap your state for a dedicated guide with pricing, schedule, and legal framework.
Showing top 10 US states by homeschool population. More states added quarterly.