On this page
Short answer
For math, Best Brains is the lower-cost, lighter option: one weekly class with up to five students per teacher, a homework packet and about 10 minutes of daily practice, at $159 a month for one subject at one published center. Mathnasium is more intensive: two to three one-hour visits a week, a detailed assessment, instructor help at the table and no homework, at roughly $250 to $550 a month. Mathnasium suits bigger gaps; Best Brains suits steady progress.
Key takeaways
- Best Brains: one weekly math class, up to five students per teacher, light homework.
- Mathnasium: two to three visits a week, assessment-based plan, no homework.
- Best Brains costs much less per month; Mathnasium includes much more time.
- Bigger gaps point to Mathnasium or tutoring; steady progress fits Best Brains.
How TaleemSquare compares
- Format
- Live one-to-one math lessons online
- Price
- From $85 a month for 2 classes a week (about $10.63 a class)
- Fees and contract
- No registration fee, no contract, cancel any month
- First step
- Free 45-minute assessment, then a 4-class money-back promise
How we wrote this
TaleemSquare offers online one-to-one tutoring, so we compete with both centers named here. Details come from Best Brains' and Mathnasium's own pages and the sources listed at the end, checked in October 2026.
Best Brains and Mathnasium both teach math at local centers, both start by working out your child's level, and both use small groups rather than one-to-one lessons. The big differences are intensity and price. Best Brains is a weekly class with light homework at a modest monthly fee. Mathnasium is two or three visits a week, built around a detailed assessment, at a much higher monthly fee.
Choosing between them mostly comes down to how much help your child needs right now.
How does each program teach math?
Best Brains runs one math class a week. It says there are no more than five students per teacher at a math table and in online sessions, and a Best Brains center describes classes led by certified teachers who introduce new material each week. Children take home a homework packet, with about 10 minutes of practice a day, and teachers write weekly feedback in a progress book.
Mathnasium describes a four-step method: a verbal and written assessment, a customized learning plan, teaching for understanding, and goal achievement. Children attend sessions of about an hour, and Mathnasium recommends two to three visits a week. Instructors move between students at the table, and there is no program homework, although children can work on school homework during sessions.
| Best Brains | Mathnasium | |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly time at center | One class per week | 2 to 3 one-hour visits |
| Group | Up to 5 students per teacher | Instructors move between students at a table |
| Starting point | Placement test | Verbal and written assessment |
| Homework | Weekly packet, about 10 minutes a day | None from the program |
| Other subjects | English, abacus, coding and more | Math only |
| Example price | $159 a month for one subject (one center) | $449 a month for twice a week (one center) |
| Typical range | Varies by center | About $250 to $550 a month |
Which costs more?
Mathnasium, by a wide margin. One Best Brains center lists $159 a month for one subject. Mathnasium memberships commonly cost $250 to $550 a month; one Illinois center lists $449 for twice-weekly visits (grades PreK to 8) plus a $199 enrollment fee.
The gap reflects time. Best Brains includes one class a week. Mathnasium's twice- or three-times-weekly visits add up to two to three hours of guided work. Per hour of center time, the two are closer than the monthly fees suggest. See our guides to Best Brains pricing and Mathnasium cost.
Which is better for a child who is behind?
Usually Mathnasium. Its assessment is designed to find gaps from earlier grades, and two or three sessions a week give enough time to work through them, with an instructor nearby to explain. One weekly class at Best Brains may not provide enough teaching time to close a large gap, even with daily practice.
For a child who is broadly on track and needs steady reinforcement, Best Brains' weekly rhythm is often enough, and much cheaper.
Which is better for an advanced or curious child?
Both can work ahead. Mathnasium's assessment may include topics not yet covered at school, and its plan can push beyond grade level. Best Brains moves through new material each week and adds abacus and coding, which some curious children enjoy alongside math. For serious challenge, such as competition math, families often look at specialist enrichment programs instead.
Which fits your family's schedule?
Best Brains is the lighter commitment: one visit a week per subject and short daily practice at home. Mathnasium needs two or three visits a week but no homework to supervise. If driving is the constraint, Best Brains or an online option is easier. If evenings at home are the constraint, Mathnasium's no-homework model may suit you better.
How will you know it is working?
Set a check-in after about a term. At Best Brains, read the weekly progress book and look for your child completing homework packets confidently and moving to new material without repeated reteaching. At Mathnasium, ask for an update against the learning plan and check school results on the topics the assessment flagged. In both cases, watch your child's attitude: a child who starts saying math is easier and stops avoiding homework is usually making real progress, even before grades move.
If there is little change after a term, the format may not match your child's needs, and it is worth trying something with more individual attention.
What should you ask each center?
- Best Brains: How long is the math class, how many children will be at the table, and how is the level decided?
- Best Brains: Is there a registration fee, and how do lessons connect to school topics?
- Mathnasium: What did the assessment find, and will I get the plan in writing?
- Mathnasium: What is the monthly fee, the enrollment fee and the cancellation notice?
Our verdict
Choose Mathnasium if your child has real gaps, needs frequent guided practice and you can manage two or three visits a week at a higher price. Choose Best Brains if your child is broadly on track, benefits from a weekly class with light homework, and you want to keep costs down or add other subjects. If your child needs focused, individual teaching, a one-to-one tutor gives more attention than either group format.
What to do next
- Ask both centers for a placement test or assessment and a written price list.
- Decide how many hours of help a week your child realistically needs.
- Book a free 45-minute math assessment with TaleemSquare to compare a one-to-one option. Online math tutoring starts at $85 a month for two live lessons a week.
Sources
- 1.Best Brains, What is Best Brains? Weekly classes, five students per teacher, homework packet. Checked Oct 2026.
- 2.Best Brains Fuquay-Varina center page Published prices for one to four subjects. Checked Oct 2026.
- 3.Mathnasium FAQ (Australia) Four-step method, 2 to 3 visits a week, no homework. Checked Oct 2026.
- 4.Mathnasium of Glenview, Enrollment Options Published monthly prices and enrollment fee. Checked Oct 2026.
- 5.ThePricer, How much does Mathnasium cost? (updated Aug 2026) Common Mathnasium monthly price range.
Written and fact-checked by the TaleemSquare Editorial Team
We research every figure against the provider's own pages or independent sources, list them above, and update posts when prices or policies change. See our editorial process and teaching method.
