Atom Learning and Heddy are built for different moments in a child's school life: Atom is an adaptive practice platform built mainly around ages 7 to 11 and the 11+, while Heddy is an AI tutor for students aged 13 and over working through KS3 and early GCSE homework. They overlap less than you might expect, so this is less a contest than a question of which year your child is in.
Different ages, different jobs. Atom prices as of Sept 2026.
What Atom Learning says it is
Atom's own FAQ describes Atom Home as suitable for children aged 7 to 11 (Years 3 to 6), with Exam Prep packages specifically for children preparing for the 11+ and independent school exams. It uses adaptive technology, so questions are shown at a level matched to the child, and its homepage describes exam preparation built around a target school, with a week-by-week plan.
At the time of writing, in September 2026, Atom's pricing page shows three plans. An English, maths and science plan is 39.99 pounds a month. An Exam Prep plan covering all 11+ subjects, including verbal and non-verbal reasoning, is 59.99 pounds a month. Exam Prep Plus adds unlimited mock tests with feedback at 69.99 pounds a month. Paying yearly is listed as saving 20 per cent. Atom also offers one-to-one tuition on top of a subscription, using data from the platform to recommend a tutor. One more thing I noticed: the pricing page also lets you pick Year 7 to Year 11 and has a separate GCSE section, with plans at the same monthly prices. I have not assessed those older-year plans, so everything below is about the Years 3 to 6 and 11+ offer that Atom's FAQ describes.
On KS3, Atom is candid. Its FAQ says children are welcome to use Atom Home in Year 7 or above, but that its content is only mapped to early KS3 topics to help Year 6 pupils prepare for the move, so a child in late Year 7 or beyond may not find it challenging enough.
What Atom does better
It is purpose-built for the 11+. Mock tests, exam-board coverage for grammar, independent and other school entry tests, reasoning papers, and a plan built around a specific exam date. Heddy does none of this, and it would be wrong to suggest otherwise.
Volume of practice. Atom describes tens of thousands of practice questions for its core plan, with adaptive difficulty. Heddy is not a question bank.
Human tuition as an option. Atom's one-to-one tuition sits alongside the software. Heddy has no human tutors.
Aimed at younger children. Atom's FAQ says Atom Home is written for Years 3 to 6. Heddy is for 13 and over, so it is not an option for a primary-age child.
Where Heddy is different
It starts when the homework is hard, not when the exam is booked. Heddy is for the evening a Year 8 is stuck on a question. Each professor walks a four-rung hint ladder that ends in a fully worked similar problem, never the answer to the question in front of them.
One specialist per subject. Heddy has a guide and seven professors, each with a method suited to their subject, described in the eight-tutor overview. Atom's core offer centres on English, maths and science, with reasoning for the 11+.
Cards from your own mistakes. Sessions can turn into flashcards written from what you actually got wrong, and those flashcards are free and unlimited.
A different relationship with the child. Atom's plans are bought by a parent with a target exam in mind. Heddy opens with no account, so a teenager can try it on their own.
Side by side
| Atom Learning | Heddy | |
|---|---|---|
| Main age | 7 to 11 (Years 3 to 6) per its FAQ; pricing page also lists older years | 13+, KS3 into GCSE |
| Core purpose | 11+ and KS2 adaptive practice | Homework help from AI tutors |
| Mock tests | Yes, in Exam Prep Plus | No |
| Human tuition | Optional add-on | No |
| How it treats "I'm stuck" | Adaptive next question | Hint ladder, never the answer |
| Cost (Sept 2026) | 39.99 to 69.99 pounds per month | Free to start; tutor turns metered |
Atom figures are from Atom's own pages as read in September 2026 and may change.
Which to choose
Choose Atom if your child is in Years 3 to 6, you are aiming at an 11+ or independent school entrance exam, or you want mock papers and a dated plan.
Choose Heddy if your child is already at secondary school, is 13 or older, and needs help with day-to-day KS3 or early GCSE work. The two rarely compete, because one is what you use to get into secondary school and the other is what helps once you are there. Heddy is on the App Store when you get there.
Comparison written 30 Sep 2026 from Atom Learning's public pricing and FAQ pages. Check Atom's site for current details. Written by Duke Harewood, who builds the tutors at aitutors.me.
Atom if
- Child is in Years 3 to 6
- Aiming at the 11+ or entrance exams
- You want mock papers and a dated plan
Heddy if
- Already at secondary school
- Aged 13 or over
- Needs help with daily KS3 work
Questions people ask
Is Atom Learning suitable for KS3?
Atom's own FAQ says Atom Home is aimed at ages 7 to 11 (Years 3 to 6), and that its content is only mapped to early KS3 topics, so a child in late Year 7 or beyond may find it too easy. It is mainly an 11+ and KS2 product.
How much does Atom Learning cost?
At the time of writing (September 2026), Atom's pricing page lists three plans at 39.99, 59.99 and 69.99 pounds per month, with a 20 per cent saving on yearly billing. Check Atom's site for current prices.
Does Heddy prepare for the 11+?
No. Heddy is built for KS3 and early GCSE students aged 13 and over. If your child is preparing for 11+ or independent school entry, Atom is designed for exactly that.
Can a child use both?
Yes, at different stages. Atom suits the run-up to secondary entry; Heddy suits homework help once a student is in KS3.