Miacademy vs Acellus: Which Online Homeschool Option Is Right for You?
Updated · By Edulist · 10 sources
Acellus Academy vs Miacademy: side by side
| Acellus Academy | Miacademy | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Accredited online private school (ACS WASC) | Online homeschool curriculum, not a school |
| Grades | K–12 | K–8 (MiaPrep covers 7–12) |
| Diploma and transcripts | Yes; Standard or Honors diploma | No; parent keeps records |
| Lesson style | Short Acellus videos plus auto-graded problems | Short teaching videos, interactive practice, quizzes, printables |
| Pacing | Self-paced; can't skip ahead within a course | Self-paced; parent assigns lessons |
| Engagement | Plain and rigid by many reviews | Rewards, avatars, optional community |
| Courses | Up to 6 at once; AP and NCAA-approved core in high school | 80+ courses including Spanish and ASL |
| Parent role | Supervise; no grading | Assign lessons, set passing grades, keep records |
| Live teachers | Limited on Basic plan | None |
| Price | $249/mo Basic, $79/mo with Roger Billings Scholarship; $299 or $499 tiers | $48/mo; $480/yr; lifetime plans |
| Trial or refund | No trial; payments non-refundable | First month $1.99 |
| Scholarship/ESA fit | Says AZ ESA can pay full tuition; others decide | Lists AZ ESA, FL FES-UA/PEP, Utah Fits All, TX EFA and more |
| Type | School, Course | Curriculum, Course |
| Scholarship programs on Edulist | None yet | None yet |
Who should choose which
Choose Acellus Academy if…
Acellus Academy fits students who need an accredited K–12 school with transcripts and a diploma, families who want zero grading, and steady independent workers, especially at the $79 scholarship rate.
Choose Miacademy if…
Miacademy fits K–8 homeschoolers who want engaging video lessons, rewards and a moderated community, 80+ courses including languages, and full parent control over pace and records.
Not sure yet? Save both and decide later. Your wishlist shows which scholarships can pay for each.
Miacademy vs Acellus: the short answer
The biggest difference isn't the videos. It's what you're signing up for.
Acellus Academy is an accredited private school. Your child is enrolled, earns credits, gets transcripts and can graduate with a diploma. Miacademy is a homeschool curriculum. You're the teacher of record, you keep the records, and your child gets a fun, broad K–8 program.
If you need accreditation or a diploma, Acellus. If you're homeschooling a younger child and engagement matters most, Miacademy.
Teaching approach
Acellus builds every course from short video lessons followed by practice problems the system grades. Students move on once they show understanding, and they can't skip ahead or start partway through a course. That prevents gaps but frustrates kids who already know the material. High school includes AP courses and NCAA-approved core courses, but no University of California A-G approved courses.
Miacademy pairs short teaching videos with interactive practice, quizzes and printable activities across 80+ courses. Parents pick courses, set passing grades and choose how many lessons to assign. Rewards, avatars and an optional moderated community keep kids coming back.
What a lesson looks like
Acellus, 6th-grade math: your child signs in, watches a short instructor video on ratios, answers a set of problems, and moves to the next video once they get enough right. You see attendance and scores in the parent account. No textbooks, no grading for you.
Miacademy, 6th-grade math: your child opens the daily path, watches a short video on ratios, works through interactive practice and a quiz, then moves to science or Spanish. They earn rewards along the way. You adjust tomorrow's lesson count if today felt like too much.
Price and value
As of October 2026:
| Acellus Academy | Miacademy | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $249 Basic, or $79 with Roger Billings Scholarship | $48 |
| Higher tiers | Enhanced $299 (device, advising); Premium $499 (priority support) | None |
| Yearly | Monthly only | $480 |
| Lifetime | None | $1,120 (one child) or $2,520 (up to four) |
| Extra fees | $100 graduation fee | Printed workbooks optional |
| Trial | None; non-refundable | First month $1.99 |
At the $79 scholarship rate, Acellus is a low price for an accredited school with up to six courses. At $249, Miacademy is far cheaper. Acellus charges the same regardless of grade or course count.
Who should choose Acellus
- High schoolers who need an accredited transcript and diploma
- Families who need a school of record mid-year, for travel or health reasons
- Independent students who don't need flashy lessons
- Parents who don't want to grade anything
Who should choose Miacademy
- K–8 homeschoolers who want their child to enjoy learning online
- Families who want world languages and electives included
- Parents who want control over pace, courses and passing grades
- Families comfortable keeping their own homeschool records
Alternatives to both
- Power Homeschool: Acellus courses without enrolling in a school, $99 a month or $79 with the scholarship.
- Time4Learning: a cheaper curriculum that runs through 12th grade. See Time4Learning vs Miacademy.
- MiaPrep: Miacademy's program for grades 7–12.
- K12 and Connections Academy: tuition-free online public schools in many states. See Connections Academy vs K12.
- Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool: free online curriculum.
See the best online homeschool programs and accredited homeschool programs.
Can you use a scholarship for either?
Often. Acellus says Arizona ESA families can have full tuition paid by the program, and accredited online school tuition may be allowable in other programs. Miacademy says it qualifies for programs including Arizona ESA, Florida's FES-UA and PEP, Utah Fits All and Texas EFA. Each program decides what it covers. Learn how education savings accounts work, save your pick to your wishlist, and apply once to the scholarships for your state.
Alternatives to Acellus Academy and Miacademy
Neither one feels right? These cover similar ground.
Sources
Questions
Is Acellus the same as Power Homeschool?
They use the same Acellus video courses. Acellus Academy is an accredited private school that issues transcripts and diplomas. Power Homeschool is the homeschool version: $99 a month per student, or $79 with the Roger Billings Scholarship, and it is not accredited.
Is Miacademy accredited?
No. Miacademy is a curriculum, so the parent is the teacher of record. Accreditation matters most in high school, when colleges and other schools review transcripts.
What does the Acellus $79 scholarship require?
The Roger Billings Scholarship lowers Basic tuition from $249 to $79 a month. Acellus says it requires daily logins, minimum study hours and honest effort. Read the current terms before you enroll.
Which is better for a child who gets bored easily?
Miacademy, usually. Its rewards, avatars and varied courses are built to keep kids engaged. The most common complaint about Acellus is dry, repetitive video lessons.
Can I switch from Miacademy to Acellus for high school?
Yes. Many families use a homeschool curriculum in elementary and middle school, then enroll in an accredited school for high school. Acellus requires at least 6 credits earned with Acellus, including all of 12th grade, to graduate.
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