Waldorf Essentials Alternatives: 7 Curricula to Consider in 2026

The main alternatives to Waldorf Essentials in 2026 are Christopherus, Lavender's Blue, Live Education!, Oak Meadow, Earthschooling, Enki Education and Starpath Learning. Which one suits you depends on why Waldorf Essentials didn't: grade range, the author's training, how traditional you want it, the kind of support, or simple taste.

Below is what each one does well and which families it suits. We're Starpath Learning, one of the seven, so read our entry with that in mind.

Why families look for Waldorf Essentials alternatives

The reasons families give most often:

• Strict traditional Waldorf. Waldorf Essentials is easier to start with and more flexible than strictly traditional. Families who want the traditional approach look at Christopherus or Live Education!
• High school. Waldorf Essentials runs to Class 8, and its Classes 7 and 8 need separate math and stories. For grades 9-12 it offers free outlines only. Families committed to Waldorf through high school look at Oak Meadow or Earthschooling (both PreK-12).
• Teacher training. Families who want an author trained as a Waldorf teacher look at Live Education! (written by Waldorf-trained class teachers), Christopherus (Donna Simmons trained as a Waldorf teacher) or Starpath Learning (Sophie is a Waldorf class teacher).
• Accreditation. Waldorf Essentials sells curriculum, and its site doesn't mention accreditation. Families needing an accredited transcript or diploma look at Oak Meadow's distance school.
• Different secular vs religious balance. Each provider sits differently on the spectrum.
• Different format preferences. Some families want a full digital platform (Starpath); some want printed books (Christopherus); some want a choice of digital or print (Waldorf Essentials).

The right alternative depends on which of these matters most to you. Here's each option in turn. All prices below were checked on each company's own site (prices checked September 2026). For what Waldorf Essentials itself costs, see Waldorf Essentials pricing.

1. Christopherus Homeschool Resources

Christopherus Homeschool Resources was founded in 2003 by Donna Simmons and Paul Newton, and Donna writes the materials. She trained as a Waldorf teacher in London, and the curriculum is grounded in anthroposophy and rich in philosophy.

Strengths: depth, philosophy, an author with Waldorf teacher training, print-on-demand books with audio downloads and videos, and a curriculum that's now complete from the early years through grade 8.

Weaknesses: needs a lot of parent initiative (it isn't open-and-go), no live mentoring or coaching offered on its site, and all sales are final.

Price: First Grade Curriculum $260; Sixth Grade Curriculum $577; Eighth Grade Syllabus $225, with further 8th-grade items sold separately.

Grades: early years through grade 8.

Fit: families who want traditional Waldorf depth, are happy to plan for themselves, and value a teacher-trained author.

For a head-to-head comparison: see our Christopherus vs Waldorf Essentials article.

2. Lavender's Blue Homeschool

Lavender's Blue Homeschool is one of the most widely recommended Waldorf-inspired curricula. It's written by one author, Kelly, a former kindergarten teacher with a background in developmental neuropsychology. It's secular.

Strengths: secular (no religious instruction), a private online community included with the purchase, digital format with MP3 audio tracks and video tutorials, and daily main lesson plans in grades 1-3 (you always know what to teach).

Weaknesses: K-3 only (fourth grade in development), digital files only, and sales are final and non-refundable.

Price: kindergarten $327 (or $117 a season), grade 1 $367, grades 2 and 3 $397 each.

Fit: families with K-3 children who want secular content and detailed plans without paying for coaching they may not use.

3. Live Education!

Live Education! is written by Waldorf-trained class teachers. Its principal writer, Bruce Bischof, trained at Rudolf Steiner College and taught as a Waldorf class teacher for 14 years. It says teachers in more than 150 Waldorf schools use it.

Strengths: close to what's taught in a Waldorf classroom, teacher-trained authors, extensive content, and support included in each package: an initial consultation, phone and email support, a Community Center with a member directory and forum, and a second consultation later in the year.

Weaknesses: first orders go through by phone, new customers pay a $35 consultation fee (refunded if you order within a month), and there's no return policy.

Price: kindergarten $425; grades 1-2 $445; grade 3 $455; grades 4-5 $465; grade 6 $495; grade 7 $555; grade 8 $595. Add $65 per grade for US shipping.

Grades: K-8.

Fit: families who want Waldorf classroom depth, like having a consultation built in, and don't mind ordering by phone.

4. Oak Meadow

Oak Meadow was founded in 1975 and calls itself Waldorf-inspired. It's the one option here with an accredited distance school path.

Strengths: PreK-12 coverage, a distance school accredited by NEASC with transcripts and high school diplomas, a dedicated teacher for enrolled students, secular, and more than 50 years of history.

Weaknesses: less traditionally Waldorf: it teaches in weekly lessons across all subjects rather than main lesson blocks, and it introduces letters and numbers gently in kindergarten. The distance school costs a good deal more than curriculum alone.

Price: the self-directed kindergarten curriculum is $315 digital or about $449 in print. A full distance school year is about $3,500-3,650 for K-4 and $4,700-5,100 for grades 5-8; high school is priced per course.

Fit: families who need accreditation or PreK-12 from one provider, or want a flexible Waldorf-inspired approach. Less suited to families who want traditional Waldorf.

5. Earthschooling

Earthschooling, run by The BEarth Institute, is a secular, digital-only program covering the widest age range, with eurythmy and music included.

Strengths: PreK-12, organized in main lesson blocks, eurythmy and music (often missing from other curricula), cultural enrichment lessons in Spanish, German, French and Arabic, more than 100 hours of teacher support tutorials, charts showing how it matches your state's requirements, and 2026 homeschool awards.

Weaknesses: digital only, no refunds on electronic materials, and high school certificates cost extra and aren't accredited.

Price: grades 1-8 are $350 each and each high school grade $750, at the sale prices listed on the site. Handwork is sold as one-time grade blocks with lifetime access (for example $120 for grade 4).

Fit: families who want every age covered, who value eurythmy and music, or who want help showing how their year meets state requirements.

6. Enki Education

Enki Education, founded by Beth Sutton, M.Ed., blends Waldorf, Montessori and cooperative learning in what it calls a "Developmental Immersion/Mastery" approach.

Strengths: a blend no other provider here offers, a multicultural outlook, a digital subscription, and live group Q&A sessions with senior Enki faculty.

Weaknesses: only early childhood and kindergarten are on sale now. Grades 1-5 are "coming soon", released one grade a year, so Enki doesn't cover grades 1-3 today. The blend won't please everyone (traditional Waldorf families may not want the Montessori side, and the reverse).

Price: Foundation Guides $75; Early Childhood Guide Set $175 a year; Kindergarten $300 a year.

Fit: families with young children who are drawn to Waldorf, also want some Montessori, and are happy with a blended approach.

7. Starpath Learning

Starpath Learning is ours: a Waldorf-inspired homeschool platform for grades 1 to 3.

Strengths: the blocks are written by Sophie, a Waldorf class teacher with more than 10 years' experience, and follow the Waldorf block sequence. The curriculum sits in one platform with the planner, portfolio and compliance tools. You can buy a single block for $19, or the full curriculum for $47/month, with a 14-day trial for $7. The free tier (planner, portfolio, homeschool legal requirements tool and compliance report export) works without a subscription, and our Library of free articles is open to everyone.

Weaknesses: newer than Christopherus or Waldorf Essentials, so less of a track record. Grades 1 to 3 only, much narrower than Oak Meadow or Earthschooling. The platform is still growing, and some features are in development.

Fit: families with children in grades 1 to 3 who want lessons by a trained Waldorf teacher in a modern platform, bought one block at a time or all together. It suits families who like having the planner, portfolio and compliance tools in the same place. Less suited to families who want K-12 from one provider, or who prefer printed books.

How to choose among the alternatives

If budget matters most: compare a grade 1 year. Christopherus $260, Earthschooling $350 (sale price), Lavender's Blue $367, Live Education! $445 plus shipping, Starpath $19 a block or $47/month. Waldorf Essentials' own Class 1 is $200 digital (prices checked September 2026).

If you want strict traditional Waldorf: Live Education! and Christopherus, both written by Waldorf-trained teachers.

If you want full PreK-12 in one provider: Oak Meadow (accredited distance school option) or Earthschooling (digital, secular).

If you want an author trained as a Waldorf teacher: Live Education! (Waldorf-trained class teachers), Christopherus (Donna Simmons trained as a Waldorf teacher), Starpath (Sophie is a Waldorf class teacher).

If you want secular Waldorf: Lavender's Blue, Earthschooling and Oak Meadow all call their curricula secular.

If you want a Waldorf-Montessori blend: Enki Education is the only major option, for early childhood and kindergarten for now. Waldorf vs Montessori explains how the two approaches differ.

If you want a free self-directed approach: assemble from public library books, the Rudolf Steiner Archive, free YouTube content, free curriculum samples, and our free Library articles. It's possible, but it takes a lot of your time.

What to do to choose

1. Write down the 3 things that matter most to you: price, traditional or flexible Waldorf, grade range, the author's training, accreditation, community, format.
2. Visit each provider's website. Read the about page, the curriculum overview, and one or two sample materials.
3. Listen to or read free content from each. Waldorf Essentials' free Office Hours calls, Christopherus' articles, our free Library articles.
4. Price the grade you need, all in. Add shipping (Live Education! charges $65 a grade in the US), support tiers and extra pieces sold separately. Check the refund policy too: Waldorf Essentials, Christopherus and Lavender's Blue all say sales are final.
5. Talk with families using your top 2 choices. Their experience tells you more than reviews.
6. Try free or low-cost first if you'd like. Sample materials, library books and free Library articles can carry you through the first few months while you decide.
7. Choose and start. Many families gain more from starting with a good curriculum than from researching for another season.

Related reading

• Waldorf Essentials Review
• Waldorf Homeschool Curriculum Comparison 2026
• Is there a Waldorf homeschool curriculum?
• Best Waldorf homeschool curriculum for grade 1
• How do I start Waldorf homeschooling?