Free and Low-Cost Homeschool Curricula That Actually Work

Free and Low-Cost Homeschool Curricula That Actually Work

That all-in-one curriculum you've been eyeing costs $800. Per child. And you have three kids. You're doing the math, and the math isn't mathing.

Here's what experienced homeschoolers know: you can provide an excellent education for very little money—sometimes nothing at all. Free and low-cost curriculum options have exploded in quality over the past decade. Libraries remain the greatest free educational resource ever invented. And used curriculum holds its value remarkably well, meaning what you buy today can often be resold for half or more when you're done.

Budget constraints don't have to mean compromised education. They just require knowing where to look.

Completely Free Full Curriculum Options

These aren't "free samples" or "trial versions." These are complete, K-12 capable programs that cost nothing.

Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool

What it is: A full, free curriculum covering all subjects from preschool through high school. Christian-based with some secular alternatives available.

How it works: Daily lessons are laid out online. Students click through reading assignments, videos, worksheets, and activities. Parent involvement varies by age.

Best for: Families wanting structure without cost. Computer-comfortable students. Parents who want a clear daily plan without creating one themselves.

Considerations: Screen-heavy. Relies significantly on external links (YouTube, online readings), which occasionally break. Quality varies by subject.

Website: allinonehomeschool.com

Khan Academy

What it is: Free video-based instruction and practice for math (pre-K through college level), plus courses in science, history, economics, and more.

How it works: Students watch short video lessons, then complete practice problems. The system adapts to their level and tracks mastery.

Best for: Math instruction especially—Khan's math sequence is comprehensive and well-designed. Self-motivated students who work well independently. Supplementing other curricula.

Considerations: Video-based instruction doesn't work for every learning style. Parent involvement is minimal, which is either a feature or a bug depending on your goals.

Website: khanacademy.org

Ambleside Online

What it is: A free Charlotte Mason curriculum with detailed book lists, schedules, and guidance from Year 1 through Year 12.

How it works: The curriculum is essentially a carefully curated reading list with scheduling. You acquire the books (many are free public domain texts or available at libraries) and follow the plan.

Best for: Families committed to the Charlotte Mason method. Those who love literature-based learning. Parents willing to read aloud extensively.

Considerations: Requires significant parent involvement. You still need to obtain the books (though many are free online or at libraries). Less structured than boxed curricula.

Website: amblesideonline.org

Core Knowledge Foundation / CK-12

What it is: Free, standards-aligned resources including digital textbooks (CK-12) and the Core Knowledge Sequence materials.

How it works: CK-12 offers free "flexbooks"—customizable digital textbooks covering math and science. Core Knowledge provides scope and sequence guides plus some free resources aligned to their content-rich approach.

Best for: Families wanting rigorous, content-rich education. Those comfortable with digital resources. Supplementing a pieced-together curriculum.

Websites: ck12.org, coreknowledge.org

GCF Global / GCFGlobal.org

What it is: Free courses in computer skills, reading, math, career development, and life skills.

Best for: Technology education, practical life skills, older students preparing for work or college.

Website: gcfglobal.org

Free Resources by Subject

Math

  • Khan Academy: Complete K-12 math curriculum, adaptive practice, free.
  • IXL (limited free): Practice problems with immediate feedback. Free tier limits daily questions; paid version is reasonable.
  • Math Mammoth samples: Free samples of this popular curriculum at mathmammoth.com.
  • MEP (Mathematics Enhancement Programme): Free, rigorous UK math curriculum. Requires adaptation to US conventions but high quality. cimt.org.uk/projects/mep/
  • Prodigy: Game-based math practice. Free core game; optional paid upgrades.

Language Arts & Reading

  • Starfall: Free phonics and early reading instruction. starfall.com
  • Reading Eggs (free trial): Comprehensive reading program with extended free trial.
  • Progressive Phonics: Completely free downloadable phonics books. progressivephonics.com
  • Project Gutenberg: Free public domain books—literature, history, science. gutenberg.org
  • Librivox: Free audiobooks of public domain texts, read by volunteers. librivox.org
  • Your public library: Unlimited free books, audiobooks via Libby app, and often access to premium resources like Encyclopedia Britannica.

Science

  • Mystery Science: Free tier includes engaging, well-produced science lessons with minimal materials. Complete curriculum requires subscription, but free tier is substantial. mysteryscience.com
  • NASA STEM Engagement: Free lessons, activities, and resources from NASA. nasa.gov/stem
  • PBS LearningMedia: Free videos, interactives, and lesson plans across all subjects. pbslearningmedia.org
  • CK-12 Science: Free digital textbooks covering biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science.
  • NaturExplorers (some free): Nature study units; some free, others paid. naturexplorers.com

History & Social Studies

  • Core Knowledge History & Geography: Free downloadable units. coreknowledge.org
  • Heritage History: Free historical texts organized by era and reading level. heritage-history.com
  • Library of Congress: Primary sources, photographs, maps, and teacher resources. loc.gov
  • iCivics: Free civics and government games and curriculum. icivics.org
  • Crash Course (YouTube): Engaging video series on world history, US history, and more. Free on YouTube.

Art & Music

  • Art for Kids Hub (YouTube): Hundreds of free directed drawing tutorials.
  • Deep Space Sparkle (some free): Art lesson plans; many free resources. deepspacesparkle.com
  • Classics for Kids: Free composer resources and listening guides. classicsforkids.com
  • Chrome Music Lab: Free interactive music experiments from Google. musiclab.chromeexperiments.com
  • YouTube: Art history documentaries, museum virtual tours, music theory lessons—all free.

Low-Cost Quality Options

These aren't free, but they're significantly cheaper than typical boxed curriculum while maintaining quality.

The Good and the Beautiful

Language arts, math, and history curriculum with a Charlotte Mason influence. PDF versions are free; printed versions are sold at cost (no profit markup). One of the best values in homeschool curriculum.

Cost: Free PDFs, printed books ~$25-50 per level

Math Mammoth

Comprehensive, mastery-based math curriculum available as affordable digital downloads. Full grade level sets under $40.

Cost: ~$35-40 per grade level (digital)

Teaching Textbooks

Self-teaching math program with video instruction. App-based subscription model is more affordable than previous versions.

Cost: ~$55/year per level (app subscription)

Notgrass History

Complete history curriculum with literature integration. Not cheap, but comprehensive and reusable across multiple children.

Cost: ~$100-170 per level (reusable)

Homeschool Buyers Co-op

Group buying site offering significant discounts (often 50%+) on popular curriculum through group buys. Membership is free; you just buy when sales happen.

Website: homeschoolbuyersco-op.org

The Used Curriculum Strategy

The homeschool used market is robust and active. Buying used and reselling when finished often means your net curriculum cost approaches zero.

Where to Buy Used

  • Homeschool Classifieds: homeschoolclassifieds.com—the largest online marketplace
  • Facebook groups: Search "[your state] homeschool curriculum" or "[curriculum name] buy/sell/trade"
  • Local co-op sales: Many groups host annual used curriculum fairs
  • eBay: Often has curriculum lots and individual items
  • Thrift stores: Hit or miss, but occasionally you find gems
  • Rainbow Resource Center (clearance): New overstock at reduced prices

What Holds Value

  • Hardcover books: Literature, teacher manuals, reference books
  • Non-consumable curriculum: Programs where the student book isn't written in
  • Popular programs: Math-U-See, Sonlight, All About Reading—high demand means high resale
  • Complete sets: Full grade level packages sell faster than individual pieces

What Doesn't Hold Value

  • Workbooks and consumables: Once written in, value drops dramatically
  • Outdated editions: When publishers release new versions, old ones lose value quickly
  • CD-ROM based programs: Technology moves on; these age poorly

Pro tip: When buying new, choose non-consumable formats when available. Buying a reusable student text plus cheap notebooks for written work costs less over time than buying new workbooks annually—and you can resell the text when done.

Common Questions

Are free programs lower quality than paid ones?

Not necessarily. Khan Academy's math instruction rivals or exceeds many paid programs. Ambleside Online is used by devoted Charlotte Mason families who could afford anything. Quality depends on the program and how well it fits your child—not the price tag. That said, some free programs have more inconsistency than polished paid options. Read reviews before committing.

Can I mix free and paid curriculum?

Absolutely—and most budget-conscious homeschoolers do exactly this. A common approach: invest in one or two quality paid programs for core subjects (usually math and language arts), then use free resources for everything else. There's no rule requiring consistency. Use what works.

What's the minimum I could realistically spend?

For a library-card-and-internet approach using free curricula, printables, and public domain books: effectively $0 beyond supplies and internet access. For a more structured approach with some affordable purchased curriculum: $100-300 per child annually is achievable. According to HSLDA surveys, the average homeschool family spends around $600 per child per year on curriculum—but this average includes families spending $2,000+ and families spending almost nothing.

Your Next Move

Before buying anything at full price, check if a free or low-cost alternative exists. Use this post as a reference. Search "[subject] free homeschool curriculum" for anything not listed here. Check the used market for programs you want.

Your curriculum is selected. Your supplies are gathered. Now it's time to find your people—the local groups, co-ops, and communities that will support your homeschool journey and give your kids connection outside your home.