If you are shopping for a homeschool activity tracking app, you have probably come across both Homeschool Moment and Strew. Both are modern, well-designed apps that take a fresh approach to documenting your family's learning journey, but they are built for somewhat different audiences and use cases. Here is an honest, side-by-side comparison to help you decide which one is the right fit.
Homeschool Moment: Overview
Homeschool Moment is a photo-first homeschool documentation app powered by AI. The core idea is simple: snap a photo of your child's learning activity, and the app does the rest. AI generates detailed descriptions of what is happening in the photo, automatically categorizes it by subject, and organizes everything into a timeline you can later export as a professional PDF portfolio.
Homeschool Moment is designed primarily for US homeschool families who need to maintain records for state compliance, build portfolios for year-end reviews, or simply want a beautiful record of their children's learning. The app supports multiple caregivers, so both parents, grandparents, or co-op teachers can contribute to the same family's documentation.
Strew: Overview
Strew takes its name from the educational philosophy of "strewing" — placing interesting books, materials, and experiences in a child's path and letting curiosity lead. The app reflects this philosophy with a rolling activity feed that feels more like a social media timeline than a traditional record-keeping tool.
Strew is built with the UK and international home education community in mind. It understands that homeschooling (or "home education" as it is called in the UK) looks different around the world, and it accommodates a wide range of educational philosophies including Waldorf, Steiner, Charlotte Mason, Montessori, and unschooling. Its study points system and AI-generated summaries help families demonstrate the breadth and depth of their children's learning.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Homeschool Moment | Strew |
|---|---|---|
| AI Capabilities | AI photo descriptions and auto subject categorization | AI-generated activity summaries |
| Photo Documentation | Core feature — photo-first design | Supported but not the primary focus |
| Reporting | PDF portfolio export by child, subject, or date | AI summaries for authority reviews |
| Multi-Child Support | Yes, with per-child filtering and portfolios | Yes |
| Multi-Caregiver | Yes — parents, grandparents, co-op teachers | Limited |
| Platform | iOS and Android (mobile app) | Web-based |
| Educational Philosophies | Flexible — works with any approach | Explicit support for Waldorf, Steiner, Charlotte Mason, Montessori, unschooling |
| Study Points / Gamification | Streaks for consistency motivation | Study points system |
| Privacy | Privacy-first — photos never used for AI training | Standard data protection |
| International Focus | Primarily US-focused | Built for UK and international families |
AI Capabilities
Both apps use AI, but in different ways. Homeschool Moment's AI is focused on the moment of capture: take a photo, and the AI immediately describes what it sees, identifies the learning activity, and categorizes it by subject. This is particularly useful for busy parents who want thorough documentation without spending time writing detailed notes.
Strew's AI works more on the summary side. After you have logged a series of activities, the AI can generate coherent summaries of your child's learning over a period. This is especially valuable for UK families who may need to provide reports to their local authority, as it turns scattered activity logs into readable narratives.
Documentation Style
This is where the two apps diverge most clearly. Homeschool Moment is built around photos. Every learning moment starts with an image, creating a rich visual record that doubles as a family memory book. The resulting PDF portfolios are visually impressive and tell the story of your homeschool year in a way that text-only records cannot.
Strew takes a more text-based, feed-driven approach. Activities are logged in a rolling feed, similar to how you might post updates on social media. While you can include photos, the app does not revolve around them the way Homeschool Moment does. This can be preferable if you want to document activities that do not photograph well, like discussions, audiobooks, or collaborative projects.
Pricing Comparison
Homeschool Moment offers a free tier with 5 entries per month, a monthly plan at $12/month, and an annual plan at $99/year (saving about 30%). The free tier lets you try the full experience before committing.
Strew offers its own pricing structure. Check their website for the most current pricing details, as these may change.
Who Should Choose Homeschool Moment?
Homeschool Moment is the better choice if you:
- Want the easiest possible documentation experience (just take a photo)
- Value photo-based records and visual portfolios
- Are a US homeschool family needing records for state compliance
- Have multiple caregivers who contribute to your children's education
- Care deeply about privacy and how your family's photos are handled
- Want AI that works at the point of capture, not just in summaries
Who Should Choose Strew?
Strew is the better choice if you:
- Are based in the UK or another country outside the US
- Follow a specific educational philosophy like Waldorf, Charlotte Mason, or Montessori
- Prefer a rolling feed format for logging activities
- Want AI-generated summaries for local authority reports
- Practice unschooling or child-led learning and want a tool that genuinely supports that approach
- Value the study points system for visualizing learning breadth
The Bottom Line
Both Homeschool Moment and Strew are thoughtfully designed apps built by people who understand homeschooling. They are not watered-down versions of corporate education software — they are purpose-built tools for families who have chosen to educate at home.
The choice between them largely comes down to two factors: geography and documentation style. If you are a US family who loves capturing learning moments with photos, Homeschool Moment's AI-powered approach will feel like magic. If you are a UK or international family following a specific educational philosophy and want a flexible activity feed with AI summaries, Strew is built specifically for you.
Whichever you choose, both apps are a significant upgrade over spreadsheets and paper logs. Try the free tier or trial of each to see which one clicks with your family's rhythm.
Document Your Learning Journey
Homeschool Moment uses AI to help you capture learning activities with educational captions. Perfect for building portfolios and meeting state requirements.