Homeschool Tracker has served families for two decades, and its grading engine is still one of the deepest around. But records have grown past the gradebook — ESA receipts, per-state compliance, college-ready transcripts — and that's usually what sends people looking. Here's where I'd point them.
ArborSlate
Best overall alternativeEverything Tracker does — gradebook, attendance, transcripts, report cards — plus the parts it doesn't: ESA expense tracking against your state's categories, per-state compliance records, AI course descriptions, an AI tutor, and co-op management. Built by a registrar who homeschools five. Family $29/month or $249/year, with free anonymous tools and a 14-day trial — and for Arizona ESA families the subscription is ESA-eligible.
Homeschool Planet
Best planner-first alternativeIf your real gap is scheduling rather than records, Planet is the strongest daily planner in homeschooling, with a big marketplace of ready-made publisher lesson plans. $9.95/month or $84.95/year with a 30-day free trial (no card). Publisher lesson plans in their Marketplace are purchased separately, on top of the subscription. No ESA tracking, though.
How they compare
| Feature | ArborSlate | Homeschool Tracker | Homeschool Planet |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-school transcripts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gradebook & grades | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Attendance tracking | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Report cards | ✓ | ✓ | Partial3 |
| Lesson planning / scheduling | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| ESA expense tracking | ✓ | ✗ | ✗4 |
| State-compliance records | ✓ | Partial1 | ✗ |
| AI course descriptions & tutor | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Co-op management | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Free tools (no account needed) | ✓ | Partial2 | ✗5 |
✗ means not offered — or not advertised on the product's public site as of July 2026. 1 Homeschool Tracker — Its reports can support a state filing, but there is no per-state guidance or compliance log. 2 Homeschool Tracker — Free Basic Edition requires creating an account. 3 Homeschool Planet — Grade reporting exists; K-8 report cards are not the flagship it makes of planning. 4 Homeschool Planet — A help-center topic acknowledges families "using state funds," but there is no expense-tracking feature. 5 Homeschool Planet — 30-day free trial rather than a free no-account tool.
Common questions
Why look for a Homeschool Tracker alternative?
Homeschool Tracker is a capable, inexpensive gradebook, but it shows its desktop-era roots and has no ESA expense tracking, no per-state compliance guidance, and no modern AI tools. Families who need those, or who want a more current interface, often shop for an alternative.
What is the best Homeschool Tracker alternative for ESA families?
ArborSlate — it’s the only option here that tracks ESA expenses against your state’s category list, generates itemized receipts, and builds a submission packet, while also covering the gradebook and transcripts Tracker handles. For Arizona families the subscription is itself ESA-eligible.
Is there a free alternative to Homeschool Tracker?
ArborSlate’s transcript builder, diploma maker, Arizona ESA tracker, and GPA calculator are free with no account, and the full app has a 14-day free trial. Homeschool Tracker itself also offers a free Basic Edition if budget is the deciding factor.