Which is cheaper, 21K School or StayQrious?

21K is cheaper in the directly comparable Grade VI examples. It publishes ₹93,800 for the Indian pathway and ₹1,48,430 for Cambridge before full-payment discount, plus ₹999 registration. StayQrious costs ₹2,59,600 a year plus ₹82,600 one-time admission, both including GST.

Which has smaller live classes?

StayQrious publishes a cap of eight learners per pod. 21K publishes Grades I–VIII batch bands of 24–26 Standard, 20–22 Premium and 16–18 Elite. Confirm that the quoted batch tier and cap appear in the enrolment offer.

Does 21K School give a CBSE certificate?

Do not assume that from the “CBSE pathway” wording on a grade page. 21K’s main FAQ describes National Curriculum Framework study through Grade VIII and NIOS private-candidate registration for exit assessments. Ask for the named certificate issuer and learner registration route in writing.

Is StayQrious a Cambridge school?

StayQrious says it is Cambridge-accredited and follows an IGCSE pathway, but its public pages do not surface the centre number used in this review. Verify the school in Cambridge’s current directory and obtain the Grade X exam-entry school, venue and subjects in writing.

Which is better for project-based learning?

StayQrious is the more explicitly project-led model: pods of eight, coach-led projects and rubric-based progress are central to its offer. 21K includes projects within a broader subject, grade and assessment timetable. Better fit depends on the learner’s need for structure and direct instruction.

Which serves more grades and boards?

21K serves Nursery–Grade XII and publishes Indian NCF/NIOS, Cambridge and Pearson routes. StayQrious currently admits Grades III–VIII on a Cambridge/IGCSE pathway. Families should verify the final award and exam route rather than relying on curriculum names alone.

Side by side

21K School vs StayQrious NeoSchool

21K costs ₹61,400–₹2.08L a year with 16–26 learners; StayQrious costs ₹2.60L plus ₹82,600 entry for pods of eight.

Fees and ratings last verified 2026-08-11

21K School

Online

Published fees: ₹61,400–₹2,07,800 / yr
Curriculum: Indian NCF · NIOS private candidate · Cambridge · Pearson Edexcel
Grades: Nursery–Grade XII
Rating: 2.6 MouthShut · 2.56/5 from 474 votes

StayQrious NeoSchool

Online

Published fees: ₹2,59,600 / yr incl. GST
Curriculum: Cambridge/IGCSE pathway (provider-published) · project-based
Grades: Grades III–VIII
Rating: 4.9 Google reviews · 4.9/5 checked 13 Aug 2026; count not recorded

The differences that matter

	21K School	StayQrious NeoSchool
Published annual fees	₹61,400–₹2,07,800 for 2026–27 India-resident programmes, depending on grade and pathway; ₹999 registration and board exams are separate	₹2,59,600 including GST for Grades III–VIII; ₹82,600 admission including GST is charged once
Grade VI price example	₹93,800 Indian pathway or ₹1,48,430 Cambridge before the ₹5,000 full-payment discount; ₹999 registration separate	₹3,42,200 first year including annual and admission fees; ₹2,59,600 in later years at the current rate
Current grade span	Nursery–Grade XII	Admissions for Grades III–VIII; the provider says the pathway continues to IGCSE in Grade X
Curriculum choices	Indian National Curriculum Framework through Grade VIII, NIOS private-candidate route for senior grades, Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel	Project-based Cambridge/IGCSE pathway; no separate second-language subject
Final credential boundary	NIOS pass certificate for private candidates or Cambridge/Pearson awards, depending on the route; the named registering and exam centre must be confirmed	Provider says Cambridge/IGCSE; families should confirm the Cambridge centre number, Grade X continuation, exam entry and certificate issuer
Live class size	Grades I–VIII: Standard 24–26, Premium 20–22 or Elite 16–18, subject to availability	Up to eight learners per pod (provider-published)
Daily schedule	Multiple IST batches: about 3 hours 10 minutes for Grades I–V and 4 hours for Grades VI–VIII; longer senior-school windows	Fixed Monday–Friday window of 9:30am–2:30pm IST; the school describes four learning hours
Teaching model	Live subject classes, recordings, assignments and assessments across a conventional grade/pathway structure	Live project-based pods led by a coach, with deliberately less lecture and rote work
Assessment model	Periodic school assessments plus separate NIOS, Cambridge or Pearson public-exam requirements at exit stages	Project rubrics, checkpoints, mastery tracking, continuous observation and quarterly written assessment, according to the provider
Language options	Second and optional third-language choices are published for the Indian pathway	No second language taught as a stand-alone subject; families needing one must arrange it separately
Admissions	Online enquiry and registration; current ₹999 seat reservation; grade, pathway and batch are confirmed subject to availability	Co-founder conversation, school constitution, ₹11,800 Meet the Coach interaction and a fit decision; ask whether a current pod has space
Parent role	Monitor attendance, device use and assignments; a larger class may require the learner to ask actively for help	Support project materials, routines and offline activity while the coach runs the small live pod
Public exams	Board-exam fees are separate; NIOS learners are private candidates, and Cambridge/Pearson candidates need a confirmed entry and venue	Public-exam arrangements are later in the pathway; obtain the Cambridge entry school, venue, subjects and charges before relying on Grade X progression
Independent review evidence	MouthShut 2.56/5 from 474 votes; Trustpilot 2.8/5 from 3; British-programme Ezyschooling 4/5 from 2	Google 4.9/5 (count not recorded); Justdial 4.8/5 from 659 across-web ratings; Ezyschooling 4/5 from one verified review
Peer contact	Live classes, clubs, assemblies and a global learner community; actual interaction varies with batch size and participation	Eight-member pod plus two optional in-person residential offsites a year at extra cost
Withdrawal boundary	Current terms describe a first-month security-deposit process and later notice/dues conditions; families should request the applicable 2026–27 schedule	Admissions explains the Meet the Coach adjustment/refund rule; tuition withdrawal terms and non-refundable kits should be read before payment
Time-zone fit	Several IST starts and a dedicated UAE fee route offer more scheduling options, though preferred batches are not guaranteed	One 9:30am–2:30pm IST school day; better for families who can consistently protect that window
Best fit	A family needing a wider grade span, more curriculum choices and a lower published fee than the small-pod premium model	A Grade III–VIII learner whose family prioritises an eight-child project pod and can afford the premium first-year commitment

A dash means no source published that figure. We leave it blank rather than estimate.

Who should pick which

Pick 21K School if…

You need Nursery–Grade XII coverage or a NIOS, Cambridge or Pearson pathway that StayQrious does not currently offer across all grades.
Your budget is below StayQrious’s ₹3,42,200 first-year commitment and the exact 21K grade/pathway quote is affordable.
You need several possible IST batch starts and can accept a live class of 16–26 after testing it in a real lesson.

Pick StayQrious NeoSchool if…

Your child is in Grade III–VIII and participation in a pod of no more than eight matters more than curriculum breadth or price.
You specifically want coach-led, project-based learning rather than a conventional subject timetable.
The fixed IST day and premium fee work for your family, and you have a written plan for Grade IX–X exams and any second language needed later.

Pick neither if…

You need a regular CBSE-affiliated school’s roll, transfer documents and board registration rather than an online teaching platform or private-candidate route.
Your child needs daily in-person friendships, physical laboratories, therapy or learning support that neither online model can guarantee.
You need robust independent outcome evidence before committing: both providers require a demo, parent references and written credential checks beyond their marketing pages.

Choose 21K School for wider grade coverage, more curriculum routes and a lower published price. Choose StayQrious NeoSchool for a Grade III–VIII project-based pod capped at eight. StayQrious wins on class size; 21K wins on price, grades and pathway choice. Neither wins without a written exam and certificate route.

For Grade VI, the first-year price gap is large

21K’s current Grade VI page lists ₹93,800 for its Indian pathway and ₹1,48,430 for Cambridge before a ₹5,000 full-payment discount, plus ₹999 registration. StayQrious charges ₹2,59,600 annual tuition including GST and ₹82,600 admission including GST, making the current first-year commitment ₹3,42,200. The ₹11,800 Meet the Coach payment is adjusted if a seat is offered and refunded if none is offered. Public-exam costs are not part of these like-stage totals.

The services are also different. A 21K Grade VI learner joins a 16–26-student live batch and a subject timetable. A StayQrious learner joins a pod of up to eight for a coach-led project model. Price per child is not evidence that either method produces better outcomes; it tells you what staffing and programme structure you are buying.

Small pods versus pathway breadth is the real trade-off

StayQrious limits its current admission span to Grades III–VIII and does not teach a stand-alone second language. In return, the school promises an eight-learner pod, project rubrics and a consistent coach. 21K spans Nursery–Grade XII, publishes several batch starts and offers Indian, Cambridge and Pearson routes. Its own Grades I–VIII batch bands range from 16 to 26. Ask to observe the exact batch your child would join; a polished demo with a different class size is not enough.

Board labels do not replace a certificate plan

21K’s Grade VI sales page calls one option a “CBSE pathway”, while its main FAQ describes National Curriculum Framework study through Grade VIII and NIOS registration as a private candidate for exit assessments. StayQrious says it follows a Cambridge/IGCSE pathway to Grade X, but current admissions stop at Grade VIII. For either provider, ask for the named registering school or centre, board number, learner status, exam venue, certificate issuer and responsibility for fees in one email. Use the online-school credential guide and NIOS versus online-school comparison before paying.

The review evidence points in different directions—and has limits

MouthShut shows 21K at 2.56/5 from 474 votes, the broadest public sample found; Trustpilot shows 2.8/5 from three, and Ezyschooling’s British listing shows 4/5 from two. A current Trustpilot reviewer called the administration “unprofessional and poorly managed”. Google showed StayQrious at 4.9/5 when checked on 13 August 2026, but its review count was not recorded. Justdial separately showed a 4.8/5 across-web index from 659 ratings, while Ezyschooling had one verified 4/5 review describing “fun and interactive classes”. Keep the platform samples separate: none establishes typical teaching quality or academic outcomes.

Ask these five questions in the live demo

How many learners are in the exact class or pod being offered, and is that cap written into the contract?
What is the complete first-year total after registration, GST, materials, exam fees, shipping and optional offsites?
Which organisation registers the child for the final board award, and where will every assessed component be completed?
What happens if the learner needs a second language, laboratory work, special support or a transfer certificate?
Which current parent with the same grade, pathway and time zone can discuss both strengths and problems privately?

Use the 12-check online-school vetting guide and compare the full annual cost in the online-school fee guide. This is not legal advice; verify current board, transfer, university and entrance-exam rules for the child’s intended route.

Frequently asked

Which is cheaper, 21K School or StayQrious?: 21K is cheaper in the directly comparable Grade VI examples. It publishes ₹93,800 for the Indian pathway and ₹1,48,430 for Cambridge before full-payment discount, plus ₹999 registration. StayQrious costs ₹2,59,600 a year plus ₹82,600 one-time admission, both including GST.
Which has smaller live classes?: StayQrious publishes a cap of eight learners per pod. 21K publishes Grades I–VIII batch bands of 24–26 Standard, 20–22 Premium and 16–18 Elite. Confirm that the quoted batch tier and cap appear in the enrolment offer.
Does 21K School give a CBSE certificate?: Do not assume that from the “CBSE pathway” wording on a grade page. 21K’s main FAQ describes National Curriculum Framework study through Grade VIII and NIOS private-candidate registration for exit assessments. Ask for the named certificate issuer and learner registration route in writing.
Is StayQrious a Cambridge school?: StayQrious says it is Cambridge-accredited and follows an IGCSE pathway, but its public pages do not surface the centre number used in this review. Verify the school in Cambridge’s current directory and obtain the Grade X exam-entry school, venue and subjects in writing.
Which is better for project-based learning?: StayQrious is the more explicitly project-led model: pods of eight, coach-led projects and rubric-based progress are central to its offer. 21K includes projects within a broader subject, grade and assessment timetable. Better fit depends on the learner’s need for structure and direct instruction.
Which serves more grades and boards?: 21K serves Nursery–Grade XII and publishes Indian NCF/NIOS, Cambridge and Pearson routes. StayQrious currently admits Grades III–VIII on a Cambridge/IGCSE pathway. Families should verify the final award and exam route rather than relying on curriculum names alone.