CuraCourseCuraCourse vs Pearson MyLab
How CuraCourse and Pearson MyLab compare if you’re deciding between writing your own lessons and assigning homework from a Pearson textbook.
We wrote this from each company’s public docs. Last checked .
When Pearson MyLab fits
MyLab works well if your course follows a Pearson textbook and you want lots of auto-graded problems matched to it. It also has LMS grade sync, LockDown Browser support, and Inclusive Access billing.
When CuraCourse fits
CuraCourse is for instructors who write their own lessons, with questions, runnable code, graphs, and simulations right in the explanation. The price is published, or the school pays.
The main differences
Starting from a Pearson book
MyLab courses are built on a Pearson title. Instructors add custom questions and build assignments around it. CuraCourse is for instructors who write the teaching material and questions together. If your course already follows a Pearson book, MyLab’s matched problems save setup time.
What students pay
Students buy MyLab access per title or get it through Inclusive Access. Pearson doesn’t publish prices. CuraCourse costs $0, $20, or $45 per student for a course, or the school pays.
Where the AI gets its answers
Pearson’s AI Study Tool is in select titles and draws on Pearson content. CuraCourse’s tutor works in any course you build, answers from your lessons, and helps only as much as you allow.
Each cell links to its guide or source.
| What you need to do | CuraCourse | Pearson MyLab |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive lessons | ||
| Author your own material Write content and organize it for your class. | Available Write lessons with explanations, video, equations, and activities in one editor. Guide | Questions only Build assignments and write custom questions. The main text is a Pearson eTextbook. Source |
| Questions alongside teaching material Ask questions while students learn a concept. | Available Multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, open response, sorting, and ordering, right after your explanation. Guide | Some titles Some titles include an eTextbook with embedded practice. Homework is assigned separately. Source |
| Custom Activities | ||
| Build your own interactive activity Put a simulation or tool you made in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript inside a lesson, with saved progress and scores. | Available Build it yourself or with CuraAI. It saves each student’s progress and score. Guide | Not in their docs Custom questions are short answer, multiple choice, or true/false. We couldn’t find embedded activities. Docs checked |
| Exams | ||
| Timed exams Give students a set amount of time. | Beta Set a time limit, how students move through questions, and when grades are released. Guide | Available Tests and quizzes can have a time limit, with optional LockDown Browser. Source |
| IDE | ||
| Write and run code in the browser Students code without installing anything. | Available Code exercises run inside the lesson on every plan. Cloud-based labs need Pro, or Core with the labs add-on. Guide | MyLab Programming MyLab Programming has coding exercises and live examples students can edit and run. Source |
| Automatic code checks Grade code against tests you set. | Available Check student programs against the output you expect, on every plan. Guide | MyLab Programming Programming exercises are auto-graded against expected output. Source |
| Grading | ||
| Manual scoring and feedback Grade work yourself and leave comments. | Available Grade with your rubric, and move through submissions quickly with Lightning Grader. Guide | Available Freehand Grader scores uploaded handwritten work against criteria you write. Source |
| AI rubric grading AI scores work against your rubric and gives feedback. | Available Write the rubric, then review the AI’s scores and feedback. On every plan, and free Starter courses include a few AI credits. Guide | Rubric drafts (beta) AI-assisted grading suggests rubrics for you to edit. We couldn’t find AI scoring of student work. Source |
| AI | ||
| AI help you control Decide how much AI helps students. | Available Turn on the AI tutor per lesson and choose how much it helps. Off by default. Guide | Select titles The AI Study Tool is in select titles; instructors turn it on per course and assignment. Source |
| Adoption & cost | ||
| LMS launch and grade sync Students open work from your LMS, and grades go back automatically. | Available LTI 1.3 with grade passback. Works with Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard Ultra, Brightspace, Schoology, and more. Guide | Available Access Pearson (LTI 1.3) pairs LMS courses and sends grades to the LMS. Source |
| How access is priced What a course costs, including paid features and usage. | Free to start Free for instructors. Students pay $0, $20, or $45 per course, or the school pays. Guide | Per title Students buy access for a specific title, or the school uses Inclusive Access. No published prices. Source |
“Available” means it’s documented, though it may need a certain plan. “Not in their docs” means we couldn’t find it in the linked pages. It may still exist.
Switching from Pearson MyLab
- Export your gradebook and list the MyLab assignments, custom questions, and settings you rely on.
- Rewrite your lessons in CuraCourse and rebuild key questions. Pearson’s problem bank and eText stay with Pearson.
- Set up exams, code checks, and the AI tutor. Then decide whether students or your school pays.
Sources
We checked these pages in October 2026. Some features depend on the plan or book, so ask Pearson MyLab about your setup. If something is out of date, tell us and we’ll fix it.
- Pearson: Custom Question Builder
- Pearson: MyLab Math
- Pearson: LockDown Browser
- Pearson: MyLab Programming
- Pearson: MyLab Programming features
- Pearson: Freehand Grader
- Pearson: AI assisted grading (beta)
- Pearson: AI-powered study tools
- Pearson: Access Pearson setup (Canvas)
- Pearson: Inclusive Access
CuraCourse entries in the table link to our own guides.