BusyTeacher vs CommonLit
BusyTeacher
busyteacher.orgCommonLit
commonlit.orgSide by side
| Figure | BusyTeacher | CommonLit |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $350/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 4 |
| Spec score · Teacher Resource Libraries | 9.3 (#1) | 8.5 (#4) |
| Audience | The service is aimed at ESL and EFL teachers working with beginners through advanced learners and with children or adults. | CommonLit describes its instructional materials as supporting literacy development for students in grades 3–12, while CommonLit 360 serves grades 6–12. |
| Founded | BusyTeacher says it has served ESL and EFL teachers since 2007. | 2013 |
| Purpose | BusyTeacher provides printable worksheets, lesson plans, and teaching articles for ESL and EFL teachers. | CommonLit is a nonprofit providing literacy instructional materials and an ELA program for teachers and schools. |
| Support | The store says customers can email [email protected] to request a replacement download link, while technical support for bundle items is not offered. | Paid school plans list priority teacher support and a dedicated success manager among their support features. |
Plans
BusyTeacher
- Free printable worksheets and lesson plansFree
- Individual e-book$10, paid once
- Entire BusyTeacher Library$80, paid once
- The Entire BusyTeacher Library: 80 PDF E-Books$80, paid once
- Educational license$99, paid once
CommonLit
- CommonLit DigitalFree
- Spark$4,200 a year
- Core$7,200 a year
- Elevate$12,800 a year
In their own words
BusyTeacher
BusyTeacher provides printable teaching materials and articles for ESL and EFL teachers, along with a library of digital e-books. Its homepage lists 18,421 free printable worksheets and lesson plans, with no registration required. Worksheets cover grammar, vocabulary, speaking, reading, listening, writing, and pronunciation, and the site has tools for making word searches, word or sentence scrambles, and double puzzles. The resource formats also include flashcards, posters, and puzzle activities, with material for young learners, teenagers, and adults. The 80-book library covers subjects such as grammar, speech, business English, classroom management, age groups, and proficiency levels. The e-books arrive as PDF files through an email download link and can be viewed on computers, smartphones, or tablets; they can also be printed, but paper copies are not provided. The entire library costs $80, paid once. An individual e-book license allows use with the buyer’s own students or classes, but prohibits sharing with other teachers or colleagues. The store says digital purchases are not refundable.
CommonLit
CommonLit is a nonprofit literacy provider offering teaching materials and an English language arts program for schools. Its Text Library gives teachers access to thousands of free literary works and texts from diverse and contemporary authors. CommonLit 360 is a full-year, standards-aligned curriculum for grades 6–12, combining reading, writing, speaking, and listening around complete texts and grade-level tasks. It includes three benchmark assessments for tracking students’ reading growth and proficiency during the school year. The materials support literacy development for grades 3–12, while the 360 curriculum covers grades 6–12. Listed integrations include Clever, ClassLink, Canvas, and Google Classroom; Canvas is limited to eligible paid school packages. Google Classroom can import classes and students, post assignments to the class stream, and export scores to the gradebook. The Digital plan is free for teachers and students. School plans are listed at $4,200 a year, $7,200 a year, and $12,800 a year, each with a one-year commitment.