iRainbow vs Purple Mash
Purple Mash is a UK-built creative learning platform mainly licensed to schools. iRainbow is a South African parent-first learning platform with full curriculum coverage from Grade 1 to 12.
Purple Mash, made by 2Simple, is a creative learning platform from the UK widely used in primary schools internationally, including in South Africa. It is known for its educational games, computing focus, and creative tools like 2Paint a Picture and 2Graph.
iRainbow is a South African learning platform built directly for parents and homeschoolers, with full CAPS and IEB aligned coverage from Grade 1 to 12, in English and Afrikaans. Here is how they compare for SA families.
Feature comparison at a glance
| Feature | iRainbow | Purple Mash |
|---|---|---|
| Sold to | Parents and homeschoolers (also schools) | Mainly schools, some homeschool offering |
| Price for parents | R129/month for the whole family (up to 5 kids), cancel anytime. | School licensing model; home access offered through enrolled schools |
| Built for | South African learners by SA educators | UK-built, used internationally including SA |
| Curriculum alignment | CAPS and IEB aligned | UK-based curriculum focus, not SA-specific |
| Subjects covered | Up to 36 subjects: Maths, English, Afrikaans, Life Skills/Orientation, Maths Literacy, Accounting, Business Studies, Sciences, Coding, Robotics and more | Computing, Maths, English plus core and foundation subjects (primary focus) |
| Languages | English (UK) | |
| Grades covered | Grade 1 to Grade 12 | Younger years through primary education |
| Teaching method | Step-by-step video lessons by SA teachers + interactive activities + AI Tutor + practice | Educational games, multimedia projects, creative tools, self-marking activities |
| Creative tools | iRainbow Create AI artwork rewards earned through learning | 2Paint a Picture, 2Graph and other creative tools (a strength) |
| AI features | Free AI Tutor for learners | Purple Mash AI for teachers |
| Devices | Web, Windows PC, Android phones and tablets | Web (any device) |
| Offline access | Yes, offline functionality available | Web-based, internet required |
| Live training | Free weekly Zoom training for parents and learners | Teacher training resources |
| Support | SA-based WhatsApp support | School-based support via the contracting school |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | Not directly applicable (school licence) |
Information accurate as of April 2026 based on publicly available product information. Please check the provider websites for current rates and offerings.
Direct to parents vs sold to schools
iRainbow
iRainbow is sold directly to parents at R129 per month for up to 5 kids. Sign up online, no school required. This makes it ideal for homeschoolers, after-school support, or parents who want to take control of their child\'s learning regardless of which school they attend.
Purple Mash
Purple Mash is primarily a school licence product. Parents typically get home access only when their child\'s school subscribes. Without that, families cannot easily subscribe directly.
South African curriculum vs UK platform
iRainbow
iRainbow is fully CAPS and IEB aligned across Grade 1 to 12, in both English and Afrikaans. Includes a full Afrikaans subject and is built around what SA learners actually study and are tested on at school.
Purple Mash
Purple Mash is built around the UK curriculum and is used internationally. It is not specifically CAPS or IEB aligned. There is no Afrikaans content. Excellent for creative computing and general primary enrichment, but not a curriculum-match for SA matric.
Teaching content vs creative activities
iRainbow
iRainbow teaches each topic with a step-by-step video lesson by a qualified SA educator, plus interactive activities, practice questions and AI explanations on demand. Built around progressing through a structured curriculum.
Purple Mash
Purple Mash centres on educational games, multimedia projects, creative tools and self-marking activities, more enrichment than structured teaching. Strong for digital creativity and primary-school computing in particular.
When Purple Mash is the better choice
Purple Mash has real strengths in specific scenarios:
- If your child\'s school already subscribes to Purple Mash and offers home access for free.
- If your priority is creative computing tools (2Paint a Picture, 2Graph, multimedia projects) for primary-school learners.
- If you want broad enrichment activities aligned to UK-style primary education.
- For schools looking for a creative computing platform across primary classes.
For SA-specific structured curriculum learning from Grade 1 to 12 in English and Afrikaans, iRainbow is the better fit. Some families use both, Purple Mash for creative computing through their school, iRainbow for the SA curriculum at home.
Common Questions: iRainbow vs Purple Mash
Purple Mash is primarily licensed to schools. Parents whose children attend a Purple Mash school often get free home access through that school. It is not normally sold direct to parents the way iRainbow is. iRainbow is built directly for parents and homeschoolers, with self-service signup and a transparent monthly subscription.
In most cases, no. Purple Mash access for families typically depends on your child's school being a Purple Mash subscriber. iRainbow is fully self-service for parents at R129 per month for up to 5 kids.
Purple Mash is built around the UK curriculum and used internationally. While many activities translate across curricula, it is not specifically CAPS or IEB aligned. iRainbow is built specifically for the South African curriculum from Grade 1 to 12.
Purple Mash mainly serves younger years through primary education. iRainbow covers Grade 1 to Grade 12, including FET phase subjects like Accounting, Business Studies, Maths Literacy and Physical Sciences.
Purple Mash is well known for its creative tools (2Paint a Picture, 2Graph, multimedia project tools) and computing-focused activities. These are strong, especially for primary-school computing and creativity. iRainbow's strengths are different, full SA curriculum teaching, AI tutoring, gamified progress and broader subject coverage.
Yes, iRainbow is month-to-month at R129 with no annual lock-in, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee.
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