LearnSpace vs Kuraplan
AI lesson planning built for New Zealand teachers
Last reviewed 2026-06-22. Visit Kuraplan
This is an honest comparison based on publicly available information. We acknowledge what Kuraplan does well before explaining where LearnSpace NZ may be a better fit for your kura, classroom, or whānau.
What Kuraplan does well
- Mature AI lesson, unit, and worksheet generators aligned to the NZ Curriculum
- Slideshow generator turns plans into presentations quickly
- School bulk licensing with admin dashboard (~$99 NZD/teacher/year)
- Timetable photo upload and weekly planner views
- Strong teacher testimonials and active NZ user base
Where LearnSpace leads
- Full ecosystem — four student apps plus PlanSpaceNZ planning in one platform
- Roll-based school pricing with unlimited kaiako included
- Vision AI and handwriting recognition Kuraplan does not offer
- Whānau portal and school-wide app deployment
Side-by-side comparison
Compare
Kuraplan
LearnSpace NZ
Built for Aotearoa
NZ-focused product with NZ Curriculum alignment; company based internationally with NZ market focus
Built in Aotearoa by NZ teachers and engineers — not an offshore product adapted for NZ
NZ Curriculum / Te Mātaiaho
Strong NZ Curriculum alignment including curriculum refresh updates
Aligned to Te Mātaiaho and the refreshed NZ Curriculum from day one, with te reo and tikanga foundational
Year levels
Preschool through Year 13
Years 1–8 primary and intermediate focus
Platform model
Teacher planning and resource tool — separate from student learning platforms
One ecosystem — schools, kaiako, and whānau share a single trusted platform with one login
Student-facing apps
No student-facing apps — generates resources for teachers to use elsewhere
Five live apps: PlanSpaceNZ, MyFeedback Pro (handwriting scan), Word Wand (camera literacy), Monster Maths Lab, Time Tiles (time telling)
Teacher tools
AI lesson planner, unit planner, worksheets, slideshows, chat, and plan library
Class management, app deployment, classroom utilities, curriculum-aligned planning, and progress dashboards
Whānau / family access
No dedicated whānau portal — teacher-focused workflow
Dedicated whānau portal with child progress, weekly recaps, and ad-free child UX
AI approach
Generative AI for plans, worksheets, and presentations
Purpose-built AI — vision word scanning, handwriting recognition, and curriculum-aligned feedback modes
Privacy & child safety
Standard SaaS privacy; teacher-generated content stored in Kuraplan
Privacy by default — ad-free for tamariki, data minimised, encrypted, never sold; NZ-friendly hosting
Pricing transparency
Individual and school plans published; school bulk ~$99 NZD/teacher/year + GST
Public pricing: $2/ākonga/year (schools), $15/mo (teachers), $10/mo (families); 7-day trial from $2
Best for
Kaiako or kura that primarily need AI-generated lesson plans, unit plans, worksheets, and slideshows — and already have separate tools for student practice.
Pricing note
Kuraplan publishes individual and school pricing on their website. School bulk licensing is approximately $99 NZD per teacher per year plus GST. Verify current rates at kuraplan.com/nz/pricing.
View Kuraplan pricingWhen LearnSpace is the better fit
- You want planning plus student apps (literacy, writing feedback, maths) under one login
- Your kura prefers roll-based pricing ($2/ākonga/year) over per-teacher licensing
- You need purpose-built AI for handwriting feedback and camera-based word scanning
- Whānau engagement and ad-free child apps matter alongside teacher planning
When Kuraplan may suit you better
- You only need lesson planning and slideshow generation — no student apps
- Your team already uses Kuraplan workflows and does not want to change planning tools
- You need extensive worksheet and image generation with a large existing plan library
Good to know: LearnSpace does not replace your school SMS, payroll, or admin systems. Kuraplan and LearnSpace both focus on teaching — LearnSpace adds student learning apps Kuraplan does not provide.
See the difference for yourself
Start a 7-day trial — PlanSpaceNZ, Word Wand, MyFeedback Pro, and Monster Maths Lab included.