iRainbow vs Siyavula for South African families
Siyavula is a free, well-respected SA platform for Maths and Science practice. iRainbow goes wider and deeper: video lessons by SA teachers, AI tutoring, gamified learning, and full curriculum coverage from Grade 1 to 12.
Siyavula is a non-profit South African education platform widely used by Grade 8 to 12 learners for free Maths and Physical Sciences practice. It is well-loved for its open textbooks and zero-rated mobile access on major SA networks.
iRainbow is a commercial platform that goes much wider: full video lessons by SA teachers across all major subjects, AI tutoring, gamified learning, and structured progress from Grade 1 to 12. Here is how they compare.
Feature comparison at a glance
| Feature | iRainbow | Siyavula |
|---|---|---|
| Price | R129/month for the whole family (up to 5 kids), cancel anytime. | Free for individual learners; school pricing for educators. |
| Subjects covered | Up to 36 subjects across the platform and Video Library: Maths, English, Afrikaans, Life Skills/Orientation, Maths Literacy, Accounting, Business Studies, Natural Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Coding, Robotics, Creative Studies and more | Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Maths Literacy, Natural Sciences, Life Sciences, CAT, IT |
| Languages | English (limited Afrikaans support) | |
| Curriculum alignment | CAPS and IEB aligned | CAPS aligned (SA curriculum) |
| Grades covered | Grade 1 to Grade 12 | Mainly Grade 8 to Grade 12 (some Grade 4 Natural Science) |
| Teaching method | Step-by-step video lessons by SA teachers + interactive activities + AI Tutor | Practice questions with step-by-step solutions, open textbooks (no video lessons) |
| AI Tutor | Yes, included free | No AI tutor |
| Interactive learning | Yes, gamified activities, treasure map progression, leaderboards | Practice questions with feedback, no gamification |
| Devices | Web, Windows PC, Android phones and tablets | Web-based |
| Offline access | Yes, offline functionality available | Textbooks downloadable, platform requires internet |
| Built for | South African learners by SA educators | South African learners (focus on STEM) |
| Live training | Free weekly training on Zoom for parents and learners | No live training |
| Support | SA-based WhatsApp support | Email and online help centre |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | N/A (free) |
Information accurate as of April 2026 based on publicly available product information. Please check the provider websites for current rates and offerings.
Video lessons vs practice questions
iRainbow
Every topic on iRainbow includes a step-by-step video lesson taught by a qualified South African educator, plus interactive activities and a free AI Tutor. Covers Mathematics, English, Afrikaans, Life Skills, Maths Literacy, Accounting, Business Studies and more across Grades 1 to 12.
Siyavula
Siyavula provides practice questions with step-by-step solutions and downloadable open textbooks. It does not include video lessons or interactive teaching. Excellent for additional drill on Maths and Sciences once a learner already understands the topic.
Subject and grade coverage
iRainbow
Full coverage across Grades 1 to 12 with 36 subjects in the Video Library. Includes Maths, English, Afrikaans, Life Orientation, Life Skills, Maths Literacy, Accounting, Business Studies, Natural Science, Physics, Chemistry, Life Science, Geography, History, Coding, Robotics and Creative Studies. CAPS and IEB aligned.
Siyavula
Mainly Grade 8 to 12 in STEM subjects: Maths, Maths Lit, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Natural Sciences, CAT and IT. Some Grade 4 Natural Science content. Does not cover English, Afrikaans, Life Orientation, Accounting, Business Studies or younger primary-school subjects.
AI tutoring and gamified learning
iRainbow
iRainbow includes a free AI Tutor that explains concepts in plain language and answers learner questions in the moment. The platform is gamified with a Treasure Map progression, diamonds, stars and leaderboards. iRainbow Create lets kids earn AI-generated artwork as a reward for completing assessments.
Siyavula
No AI tutor or gamification. The interface is functional and academic, with practice questions and progress tracking. Learners who get stuck typically need a parent, tutor or teacher to step in.
Pricing, paid vs free
iRainbow
R129 per month for the whole family. Up to 5 kids, all subjects, all grades. Free weekly Zoom training. 30-day money-back guarantee. See current pricing.
Siyavula
Free for individual learners. Funded through philanthropy and school partnerships. Schools pay for additional teacher tools. Excellent value if you only need free Maths and Science practice in high school.
When Siyavula might be the better choice
To be fair, Siyavula is one of the best free educational resources in South Africa:
- If your child only needs free Maths or Sciences practice in Grade 8 to 12.
- If cost is a barrier and Siyavula's free model is the only option that works for your family.
- If you specifically value zero-rated mobile data access on Vodacom, MTN and Telkom.
- If you want open-source textbooks you can download and use offline.
For most SA families looking for a complete learning platform with video teaching, AI support, gamified motivation, and coverage from Grade 1 to 12 across all subjects, iRainbow is the better fit. Many families use both, Siyavula for extra Maths and Science drill, iRainbow for the actual teaching.
Common Questions: iRainbow vs Siyavula
Yes, Siyavula offers free practice questions and open textbooks for individual learners, funded through philanthropy and partnerships. There is no catch for individuals. The trade-off is that Siyavula focuses only on STEM subjects (Maths, Sciences, IT) and is mainly for Grade 8 to 12. It also does not include video lessons, AI tutoring, gamified learning, or support for younger learners.
Siyavula is excellent for free Maths and Science practice in high school. iRainbow is a complete learning platform: video lessons by qualified SA educators, AI tutoring, broader subject coverage including English, Afrikaans, Life Skills and FET subjects, gamified learning to keep kids engaged, and structured learning paths from Grade 1 to 12. If your child needs teaching (not just practice), iRainbow is the better fit.
Siyavula provides practice questions with step-by-step solutions and open textbooks. It does not include video lessons or interactive teaching. Learners who do not yet understand a topic can find the practice frustrating. iRainbow teaches each topic with a step-by-step video lesson by an SA teacher, then offers practice questions and AI explanations on demand.
Yes, many families do. Siyavula is great for additional Maths and Science practice in Grade 8 to 12. iRainbow provides the actual teaching across all subjects from Grade 1 to 12. They complement each other.
iRainbow covers Mathematics, Maths Literacy, Natural Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, Life Science and Biology in both English and Afrikaans, with full video lessons by SA educators plus practice questions. Siyavula has more practice question depth specifically for Maths and Physical Sciences in higher grades. For most learners, iRainbow gives a more rounded experience; Siyavula is a strong free supplement for extra STEM drilling.
Yes, iRainbow is month-to-month at R129. Cancel anytime, no annual lock-in. There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Ready to try iRainbow?
30-day money-back guarantee. One subscription covers all your kids.