Prodigy Ultra vs. Prodigy Homeschool Companion: What's the Difference?
If your family already uses Prodigy, you may be wondering why you would choose Homeschool Companion instead of a standard Prodigy Ultra membership.
Both options give your child access to Prodigy's engaging learning experiences. The biggest difference is what you, as the parent, can do and see.
Prodigy Ultra focuses primarily on your child's experience within Prodigy. Homeschool Companion includes that same premium experience, while also giving homeschool parents additional tools to plan lessons, assign specific skills, and follow each child's progress.
This comparison focuses specifically on the parent experience. Homeschool Companion is designed for parents who want to use Prodigy as a more intentional part of their homeschool routine.
What Is Included With Prodigy Ultra?
Prodigy Ultra gives your child access to the full premium Prodigy experience, including:
- Unlimited access to Prodigy Math and Prodigy English
- Access to Prodigy Science
- Adaptive practice that responds to your child's skill level
- Math Facts, which helps children build fluency through short, approachable practice sessions
- In-game rewards, pets, and progression designed to keep children motivated
- Access to Prodigy World and Prodigy Arcadia
Ultra is a strong option for families looking for engaging, independent practice that supplements what their child is already learning.
From the parent side, however, Ultra offers fewer tools for actively planning and directing learning. Parents do not receive the same homeschool-specific assignment, curriculum, and progress-management features available through Homeschool Companion.
What Does Homeschool Companion Add for Parents?
Homeschool Companion includes the full Prodigy Ultra experience, including Math, English, Science, and Math Facts.
What makes it different is the additional set of tools designed around how homeschool families plan, teach, and manage learning at home.
Homeschool Companion includes:
- A parent dashboard showing what each child is learning, what they have mastered, and where they may need more support
- The ability to create and manage assignments based on what you are currently teaching
- Tools to manage multiple children from one parent account
- Homeschool-specific resources to support your family throughout the school year
- Homeschool curriculum tools that help connect Prodigy practice with the curriculum your family already uses
For example, you may want your child to practice fractions after covering them during a lesson, reinforce a concept they found difficult, or work through skills connected to your homeschool curriculum.
Homeschool Companion allows you to choose what your child practices and then follow their progress, rather than relying only on the game to determine what comes next.
Homeschool Curriculum Tools
Homeschool Companion includes curriculum tools created specifically for homeschool families.
Parents can use these tools to find and assign skills that align with the homeschool curriculum they are already teaching. This makes it easier to use Prodigy alongside your existing lessons instead of treating it as a completely separate activity.
Prodigy's homeschool curriculum alignment with The Good and the Beautiful is now available, helping families connect Prodigy practice with topics from the curriculum they are already using.
These homeschool curriculum tools are part of Homeschool Companion and are not included with a standard parent Ultra membership.
Prodigy Ultra and Homeschool Companion at a Glance
| Feature | Prodigy Ultra | Homeschool Companion |
|---|---|---|
| Annual price | Approximately $118 | Approximately $250 |
| Prodigy Math | Yes | Yes |
| Prodigy English | Yes | Yes |
| Prodigy Science | Yes | Yes |
| Math Facts | Yes | Yes |
| Premium game rewards and experiences | Yes | Yes |
| Parent dashboard with detailed learning insights | No | Yes |
| Parent assignment creation and management | No | Yes |
| Multi-child homeschool management | No | Yes |
| Homeschool-specific resources | No | Yes |
| Homeschool curriculum tools | No | Yes |
| Alignment with homeschool curricula | No | Yes |
| Available through approved ESA or scholarship marketplaces | Yes | Yes |
The price difference reflects the additional tools available to the parent.
Homeschool Companion is not a separate version of the Prodigy games. Your child still receives the same premium learning experience included with Ultra. The added value is the homeschool planning, assignment, and reporting experience built around the parent.
What About Families Homeschooling More Than One Child?
Families with multiple children can choose the Homeschool Companion Family Bundle.
The Family Bundle includes Homeschool Companion for up to three children for $399 per year. Each child receives their own access code, individual learning experience, and progress reporting, while the parent can manage everyone through one account.
For parents teaching children at different ages or skill levels, this makes it easier to assign appropriate work and understand how each child is progressing.
How Are the Memberships Purchased?
Depending on where your family lives, Prodigy Ultra and Homeschool Companion may be available through approved Education Savings Account, scholarship, or state funding marketplaces, including ClassWallet, Odyssey, and Theodore.
Families can search for Prodigy within their approved marketplace and complete the purchase using their available funds.
After purchasing Homeschool Companion, you will receive an access code to redeem through your Prodigy account. Ultra memberships purchased through a marketplace may be applied directly to an existing account.
It is helpful to create a parent account before purchasing so the membership or access code can be connected to the correct account.
Which Membership Is the Better Fit for Your Family?
Prodigy Ultra may be the right choice if you are mainly looking for:
- Engaging Math, English, and Science experiences
- A learning activity your child can use independently
- Premium game features and additional motivation
- A way to supplement your homeschool program without needing additional parent planning tools
Homeschool Companion may be the better fit if you want to:
- Choose and assign specific skills
- Connect Prodigy practice to your homeschool curriculum
- See what your child has mastered and where they may need more support
- Manage learning for more than one child
- Use Prodigy as a planned part of your homeschool day
- Have greater visibility into what your child is learning
The simplest way to think about it is: Prodigy Ultra gives your child the full premium Prodigy experience. Homeschool Companion includes that same experience while giving you, the homeschool parent, more tools to plan, guide, and understand their learning.
Common Questions About Prodigy Homeschool Companion
Is Homeschool Companion just Prodigy Ultra with a different name?
No. Homeschool Companion includes the full Prodigy Ultra experience, along with additional parent tools designed for homeschooling, including assignments, detailed learning insights, multi-child management, and homeschool curriculum tools.
Are the homeschool curriculum tools available now?
Yes. Homeschool Companion includes homeschool curriculum tools, including alignment with The Good and the Beautiful.
Can ESA or scholarship funds be used for either membership?
It depends on your state and the programs available to your family. Some approved state marketplaces offer both Prodigy Ultra and Homeschool Companion, while others currently offer only Homeschool Companion.
What happens if I homeschool more than one child?
The Homeschool Companion Family Bundle includes memberships for up to three children. Each child receives an individual access code and reporting, while the parent can manage their learning through one account.
Do I need a Prodigy account before purchasing?
Yes. You should have a parent account before purchasing so your membership or access code can be connected to the correct account.
