What Reviewers Say

Reviewers consistently highlight the platform's expansive catalog and the high quality of its academic content. John Wolcott emphasizes the value of learning from world-class subject-matter experts and leading institutions, which benefits self-directed learners. Cathy Duffy Reviews notes the platform's high academic rigor, stating that specific courses are robust enough to serve as core resources for high school credits. Homeschool Super Freak praises the service for its flexibility and ability to meet various online program needs. According to Well-Trained Mind Forums, the engaging video format and portability significantly boost student enthusiasm. Homeschool.com appreciates how the streaming model allows parents to select specific lectures to supplement current units of study. However, PCMag observes that the documentary-style delivery lacks interactive elements and can sometimes feel more like edutainment than pure learning.

How It Works

A typical week involves a student choosing a specific subject or course from the streaming platform and watching two to three 30-minute video lectures independently on a computer or tablet. Parents typically download the accompanying PDF guidebook, which provides lecture outlines and suggested reading lists, to facilitate a 15-minute follow-up discussion at the kitchen table. Since the service does not include built-in assignments, the parent must decide if the student will write a summary or complete a research project based on the video content. Most sessions take about 45 minutes total, requiring only the streaming device and a notebook for the student to record key points from the professor's presentation.

Switching to This?

The Great Courses Plus does not offer formal placement tests or diagnostic tools because it is an open-access library of lectures rather than a leveled, grade-specific curriculum. Most families start by selecting a course that matches the student’s current interest or historical time period, often previewing the first lecture together to ensure the academic level is appropriate. Families can start using the service at any point in the school year, as each course is self-contained and does not require prior knowledge of other platform content. If you are switching from a traditional workbook-based program, expect a transition period where you will need to develop your own method for grading and tracking progress, as the platform provides no formal assessments.

Curriculum Details

Price

$12 - $20

Streaming subscription with a 7-day free trial on all plans: $20/month (monthly), $15/month ($45 billed quarterly), or $12.50/month ($150 billed annually).

Grades

6 - 12

Available As

Digital Video Audio

Coverage

Supplement

Subjects

History/Social Studies Science Math Reading/Language Arts Foreign Language Art Music Logic & Critical Thinking

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Pacing

Self-paced

Parent Time

0-20 min/day

Student Independence

Fully independent

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Academic Level

Advanced

Worldview

Neutral

Teach Multiple Ages

Yes

Videos

Reviews We Consulted

Updated: March 2026

How This Compares

Compared to MasterClass, which focuses on celebrity-led storytelling and creative inspiration, The Great Courses Plus is more strictly academic, featuring university professors delivering lectures that align with standard high school course requirements. When weighed against free resources like YouTube or Khan Academy, The Great Courses Plus offers a distraction-free, ad-free environment with peer-reviewed scholarship, though it lacks the interactive practice problems found on Khan Academy. For families considering CuriosityStream, The Great Courses Plus provides much deeper, multi-part courses that function like a full semester of study, whereas CuriosityStream focuses on shorter, narrative-style documentaries. Compared to Coursera or edX, The Great Courses Plus is more flexible for homeschoolers because it lacks the rigid deadlines and formal enrollment requirements of those college-level platforms. Parents choosing between The Great Courses Plus and a textbook curriculum should know that while The Great Courses Plus is significantly more engaging for visual learners, it requires the parent to act as the primary administrator for all testing and written output.

Getting Started