🧑🏫 AI tutors and tutoring · ➗ Math apps and platforms · 🎓 Courses and learning platforms
Think Academy
By Think Academy International Education, Inc. (TAL Education Group). Visit Think Academy
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
Think Academy is the US arm of China's TAL Education Group. It sells live small-group math classes from first grade through high school, plus contest prep (Math Kangaroo, AMC 8 and 10) and English language arts, online and at some in-person sites. A typical class meets once a week for 1.5 hours with a live teacher, with homework feedback, quizzes and recordings, and runs 0.5 to 2 years ahead of Common Core. Families use Parent and Student apps.
Our take: Fits families who want an accelerated, contest-focused math class with a live teacher; families wary of cross-border data sharing or academic pressure should look elsewhere.
| Ages it suits | pre-K to grade 12 (math programs start at grade 1) |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | Parents sign up and pay; payments for any student under 18 must be made by a parent. Think Academy says it follows COPPA and gets verifiable parental consent before collecting data from children under 13. (terms) |
| Price | Paid. Tuition varies by course and is not listed on the website; free evaluation and trial class; the maker says refunds are available any time (Oct 2026). |
| Works on | Web |
| Account | A parent's account |
| Ads | Not stated |
| In-app purchases | None |
| The AI in it | The site shows a 'Powered by ChatGPT' heading without explaining what it does; classes are taught by live teachers. |
What's good
- Live teachers, small classes
- Clear path from basics to math contests
- Homework feedback and office hours
Watch for
- Prices not posted
- Data may be shared with parties in China
- Collects installed-app list and ad IDs
- Accelerated, competition-minded pace can add pressure
Data and privacy
Classes use live video and audio, students can record videos and take photos, and the company stores performance data and device details including advertising IDs and the list of installed apps. It says it does not show behavioral ads to children, but may share information with affiliates and providers in China and other countries. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
The maker's own claims only: it says 9 in 10 students score above the 90th percentile on state or national math exams and that 1,072 students won national contest awards in 2024. No independent study found.
Alternatives to Think Academy
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
99math
99math (Estonia) · ages about 5-14 (grades K-8)
A low-effort, free way for teachers to make fact practice lively; parents of kids who dislike timed competition may want a calmer tool.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
ABCmouse
Age of Learning, Inc. · ages about 2-6 (preschool to kindergarten)
A full preschool program for families who want one paid app; cancel carefully and watch the reward loop.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
ABCya
ABCya.com LLC (a division of IXL Learning) · ages about 4-12 (pre-K to grade 6+)
Handy for quick grade-level practice in class or at home; skip if you want an ad-free experience without paying.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Adventure Academy
Age of Learning, Inc. · ages grades 3-8 (about 8-13)
Good for kids who love online games and need a nudge toward school subjects; families wanting no social contact should set chat to off or choose a solo app.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
ALEKS
McGraw Hill (ALEKS Corporation) · ages school-age students through college (K-12 and higher ed courses)
A rigorous, mastery-based option for motivated older students or homeschoolers; younger or easily bored kids may prefer something more playful.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
AoPS Online
Art of Problem Solving (AoPS Incorporated) · ages grades 5-12 (about 10-18)
A strong fit for a child who loves hard math and wants contest prep; a child who is behind in math needs something gentler.
Where these facts come from
- https://en.100tal.com/
- https://www.thethinkacademy.com/
- https://www.thethinkacademy.com/faqs
- https://www.thethinkacademy.com/math/lower-elementary
- https://download-pa-s3.thethinkacademy.com/static-pa/static/node_global_website_online/us/policy/us-term-of-use-240919.pdf
- https://download-pa-s3.thethinkacademy.com/static-pa/static/node_global_website_online/us/policy/us-privacy-policy-08312026.pdf
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.