Head-to-head · Homeschool Curriculum
Discovery K12 vs Sonlight
Discovery K12 leads on 1 check, Sonlight on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreDiscovery K12 · 7.7/10
- Free planonly Discovery K12
- Most featuresSonlight · 4 of 4
Discovery K12 scores higher on our rubric for homeschool curriculum: 7.7 against 7.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #6.
Discovery K12 offers free plan; Sonlight doesn't. On curriculum format, Sonlight gives you Hybrid where Discovery K12 offers Digital.
Discovery K12 is the better fit for families wanting a free digital K–12 course library. Sonlight is the better fit for families wanting complete book-rich packages.
- Discovery K12 fits best
Families wanting a free digital K–12 course library
- Sonlight fits best
Families wanting complete book-rich packages
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Side by side
| Feature | Discovery K12 7.7/10 Visit ↗ | Sonlight 7.6/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 7.7 | 7.6 |
| Ranking | #5 in Homeschool Curriculum | #6 in Homeschool Curriculum |
| Best for | Families wanting a free digital K–12 course library | Families wanting complete book-rich packages |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Paid |
| Starting price | — | $1,060.40/yr |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Money-back guarantee | 14 days | 365 days |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Support | Email, Docs · 24/7 | Email, Live chat, Phone |
| Built for | Solo, Small business | Solo, Small business |
| Features Discovery K12 3/4 · Sonlight 4/4 | ||
| Lesson plans | ✓ | ✓ |
| Assessments included | ✓ | ✓ |
| Parent guidance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Offline access | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Specs | ||
| Subjects included | 7 | Not checked yet |
| Curriculum format | Digital | Hybrid |
| Grade range | Pre-K through 12th grade | Preschool through high school |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Discovery K12 offers an online homeschool curriculum for families teaching children from Pre-K through 12th grade. The free Student Account includes 180 days of digital curriculum and daily assignments across seven main subjects, with… Read the review → |
Sonlight is a Christian, literature-based homeschool curriculum for families teaching children from preschool through high school. Its All-Subjects Packages combine history, geography, Bible, literature, language arts, spelling, phonics,… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Discovery K12 — where it wins
- Free account includes 180 days of daily assignments
- More than 20,000 resources across seven main subjects
- Paid account adds grades, attendance, reports, and transcripts
Where it doesn't
- Curriculum is digital and available on the web
- Parent/Teacher tools cost $99 per family per year
- Families must manage pacing and teaching around the course schedule
Sonlight — where it wins
- Full-year packages include books, guides, activities, and answer keys
- Daily lesson plans support four- or five-day schedules
- Covers preschool through high school with multi-child customization
Where it doesn't
- Annual packages start at $1,060.40
- Christian curriculum may not fit every family's approach
- Package prices vary by schedule and resource configuration
- Discovery K127.7/10 · Free plan
A free K–12 digital course library, with paid tools for parent records and reporting.
Visit Discovery K12Full verdict → - Sonlight7.6/10 · Paid
Complete, book-rich homeschool packages with strong parent guidance and a high annual starting price.
Visit SonlightFull verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update





