Comparison · our side, disclosed

Atom Learning vs PlusProgress

We build PlusProgress, so treat this as what it is: our side of the story, written as fairly as we can manage. Atom Learning is a well-established platform with a long track record, and for plenty of families it is the right choice. Every Atom figure below was checked against their own pricing page. Prices change, so check both sites before deciding.

What each plan costs

Atom Learning and PlusProgress plans, prices and what each includes
PlanPer monthSubjectsMock exams
Atom Learning EMS£39.99£31.99 billed yearlyEnglish, Maths, ScienceNot included
Atom Learning Exam Prep£59.99£47.99 billed yearlyEnglish, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, ScienceNot included
Atom Learning Exam Prep Plus£69.99£55.99 billed yearlyEnglish, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, ScienceUnlimited mock tests
PlusProgress Basic£12.99£8.99 equivalent committed to 30 SeptOne subject at a time, you choose whichNot included
PlusProgress Premium£39.99£27.99 equivalent committed to 30 SeptEnglish, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal ReasoningUnlimited, matched to your school’s format

Atom figures come from their own pricing page. PlusProgress prices are live from our own billing.

The comparison that actually matters

Compare like for like. If you want mock exams, which most families do in the year of the test, Atom’s plan that includes them is £69.99 a month. Ours is £39.99, or the equivalent of £27.99 a month with the commit-until-September toggle: 30% off, taken as one payment covering everything to 30 September, with no further charges ever. If you do not want mocks at all, Atom’s entry plan is the same £39.99 as our Premium, and it covers Science where we do not, but it leaves out verbal and non-verbal reasoning, which most grammar school tests are built on.

Feature comparison
Atom LearningPlusProgress
Free trial5-day free trial7-day free trial, plus a live demo with no sign-up
ScienceIncluded on every planNot covered
Reasoning subjectsFrom £59.99 a monthIncluded in Premium at £39.99
School-specific preparationCheck their site for current detailMocks follow the format each named school uses, with admissions facts checked against the school’s own published material
Who builds itAn established education companyA practising 11+ tutor, with the platform used in real lessons
Who owns itVenture-backed: its Series A, led by SoftBank’s Vision Fund 2, was the largest in UK edtechWholly owned by the tutor who builds it, in the UK. No outside investors
FocusA broad platform across ages and subjects, sold to schools as well as families; the question bank serves the national curriculum, not the 11+ aloneThe 11+ only, so it is nobody’s side project

Which one should you choose?

Atom may suit you better if
  • Your child needs Science as well as the 11+ subjects.
  • You want the largest content library and the longest track record.
  • You are preparing across several years rather than for one exam.
PlusProgress may suit you better if
  • You have a target school and want practice in that school’s format.
  • You want mock exams included rather than on the top plan.
  • You want the admissions facts and the practice in one place.
  • You want the platform’s whole job to be the 11+, answering to its founder rather than a fund.

Common questions

Is PlusProgress cheaper than Atom Learning?

It depends which plan you compare. Atom’s entry plan is £39.99 a month for English, Maths and Science, without the reasoning subjects and without mock tests. The plan that includes mock tests is £69.99 a month. PlusProgress Premium is £39.99 a month and includes all four 11+ subjects and unlimited school-format mocks, and committing until September takes 30% off that: the equivalent of £27.99 a month, billed as one payment covering everything to 30 September. Pick “Commit until September” with the toggle before signing up and that single fee is the only charge ever taken.

What does Atom Learning do better?

Atom is a larger, longer-established company with a track record over many more cohorts. It also covers Science, which PlusProgress does not, and that matters if your child is sitting an independent school exam that tests it.

What is the main difference between the two?

PlusProgress is built around the specific school your child is sitting for. Mocks follow the format that school actually uses, and each school page carries admissions facts checked against the school’s own published material. Atom is built as a broader learning platform across English, Maths, Science and reasoning, sold to schools as well as families, so its question bank serves the national curriculum rather than the 11+ alone.

Can I try PlusProgress before paying?

Yes. Every plan starts with a 7-day free trial. You can also open the live demo of the parent dashboard without signing up or entering a card at all.

See it for yourself

The fastest way to judge any of this is to look. The demo needs no sign-up and no card, and the school pages show exactly what we hold on the school your child is sitting for.

PlusProgress is independent of Atom Learning and of GL Assessment. Atom Learning is a trademark of its owner and is named here for comparison only. Prices change: confirm both on the providers’ own sites before you buy.