Time4Learning vs Acellus: Homeschool Curriculum or Accredited School?
Updated · By Edulist · 8 sources
Acellus Academy vs Time4Learning: side by side
| Acellus Academy | Time4Learning | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Accredited online private school | Online homeschool curriculum (not a school) |
| Grades | K to 12 | PreK to 12 |
| Diploma and transcript | Yes; 24 credits, at least 6 from Acellus incl. all of 12th grade | No; parents create transcript and diploma |
| Lesson style | Short Acellus teacher videos, auto-graded questions | Animations and videos, practice, printables, quizzes |
| Flexibility | Fixed order; can't skip ahead | Parent sets plan; grade level by subject |
| Teacher contact | Limited on Basic; more on Enhanced and Premium | None; parent-led |
| AP and special courses | AP and NCAA-approved core courses; no UC A-G courses | No AP; math ends around precalculus and trig |
| Price (Oct 2026) | $249/month Basic; $79 with Roger Billings Scholarship; Enhanced $299, Premium $499 | $39.95/month per student; 10–25% sibling discounts |
| Other fees | $100 graduation application fee | $5/month per extra middle or high school course |
| Refunds and trials | No trial; payments non-refundable | No trial listed; free lesson demos |
| Scholarship/ESA fit | Says Arizona ESA can pay full tuition; each program decides | Used with several ESAs; each program decides |
| Type | School, Course | Curriculum, Course |
| Scholarship programs on Edulist | None yet | None yet |
Who should choose which
Choose Acellus Academy if…
Acellus Academy fits teens who need an accredited diploma and transcript, steady independent workers, and families who qualify for the $79-a-month scholarship rate or Arizona ESA funding.
Choose Time4Learning if…
Time4Learning fits homeschool families who want control over the lesson plan, younger kids who like animated lessons, and siblings sharing a budget at $39.95 a month each with discounts.
Not sure yet? Save both and decide later. Your wishlist shows which scholarships can pay for each.
Time4Learning vs Acellus: the short answer
These two are often compared because both are secular, online, self-paced and auto-graded. But they are different kinds of programs.
Acellus Academy is a school. It's an accredited online private school for K–12, and high schoolers can earn a diploma. Tuition is $249 a month, or $79 with the Roger Billings Scholarship.
Time4Learning is a curriculum. You are the homeschool. You set the plan, keep the records and issue the transcript. It costs $39.95 a month per student, with sibling discounts.
If your teen needs an accredited diploma, Acellus is the one that can give it. If you're homeschooling and want flexibility and a lower price, Time4Learning is the better fit.
Teaching approach
Acellus Academy teaches through short teacher videos. After each video, your child answers questions and moves on once they show understanding. Courses must be done in order, which prevents gaps but frustrates kids who already know the material. High school includes core courses, electives, AP courses and NCAA-approved core courses.
Time4Learning mixes animations and videos with practice, printables and quizzes. In pre-K to 5th, that covers math, language arts, science and social studies; grades 6–12 add electives. Parents can change grade level by subject. Reviewers find middle school math demanding and elementary science light, and elementary animations can feel young for older kids.
What a lesson looks like
Acellus: Your child signs in, watches a short video, answers questions, and keeps going at their own pace. You watch attendance and scores in the parent account and keep your child moving. There are no textbooks.
Time4Learning: Your child opens the day's lessons for each subject. You set the plan, view scores and time spent, and print records. In elementary, you grade writing with scoring guides; high school compositions can be system- or parent-graded.
Price and value
As of October 2026, Acellus Academy Basic tuition is $249 a month, or $79 a month with the Roger Billings Scholarship, which has ongoing effort and login requirements. Enhanced is $299 and Premium $499 a month. A $100 graduation application fee is due at graduation. Payments are non-refundable.
Time4Learning is $39.95 a month per student for any grade, with 10–25% sibling discounts and $5 a month for each extra middle or high school course.
At the scholarship rate, Acellus costs about twice Time4Learning. You're paying for the accredited record. If you don't need it, Time4Learning or Acellus's own non-accredited Power Homeschool may be enough.
Who should choose Acellus
- High schoolers who need an accredited transcript and diploma
- Students who plan to return to a traditional school and need records
- Steady, independent workers who like short videos
- Arizona families using ESA funds, which Acellus says can cover full tuition
Who should choose Time4Learning
- Homeschool families who want to set the pace and plan
- Elementary and middle school kids who don't need a school record
- Families with siblings on one budget
- Parents who want a low-cost way to start homeschooling
Alternatives to both
- Power Homeschool: Acellus courses without accreditation. See Power Homeschool vs Time4Learning.
- Miacademy: engaging K–8 courses. See Acellus vs Miacademy.
- K12 and Connections Academy: tuition-free online public schools in many states.
- Bridgeway Academy and Enlightium Academy: other accredited options.
See the best accredited online homeschool programs and accredited online schools.
Can you use a scholarship for either?
Often, yes. Acellus Academy says Arizona families can have full tuition paid through the Arizona ESA, and accredited private online school tuition may be allowable in other programs. Time4Learning says families use funds from programs including the Arizona ESA, Florida's PEP and FES-UA, Utah Fits All and Texas Education Freedom Accounts. Each program decides what it covers. See states with ESA programs, save your pick to your wishlist, and apply once to the scholarships your family may qualify for.
Alternatives to Acellus Academy and Time4Learning
Neither one feels right? These cover similar ground.
Sources
Questions
Is Time4Learning accredited?
No. Time4Learning is a curriculum, so it doesn't issue diplomas or official transcripts. It gives you records you can use to build your own homeschool transcript, which is how most homeschool graduates apply to college.
Is an Acellus diploma accepted by colleges?
Acellus Academy is accredited, and many colleges accept accredited online school diplomas. Acellus does not offer University of California A-G approved courses, which matters if your teen is aiming at UC schools. Check admission rules for the specific colleges your student is considering.
What is the difference between Acellus and Power Homeschool?
They use the same Acellus video courses. Acellus Academy is the accredited private school with transcripts and a diploma. Power Homeschool is the non-accredited homeschool version at $99 a month. See our Power Homeschool vs Time4Learning comparison.
Do Acellus students take state tests?
Acellus is a private school, so students don't take state tests through it. Time4Learning families follow their state's homeschool rules, which in some states include testing or portfolio reviews.
Can I switch midyear?
Yes, both have open enrollment. Acellus students can start any day, but can't skip ahead inside a course. If your teen needs a diploma, switching to Acellus earlier helps, since at least a year of enrollment and all of 12th grade must be with Acellus.
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