Aurelius: Learn History review (2026)
Short answer
Aurelius: Learn History is the app we make, and it scores 9.2/10, first of 12, on the same public rules as every other app here. It teaches world history as 127 illustrated lessons of about 5 minutes across 13 eras, in chronological order from Ancient Egypt to the Cold War; each lesson links to what came before and after and ends with a quiz. Real paintings, artefacts and archival photos are credited on every image, lessons are fact-checked, and reported errors are corrected. It runs on iPhone, iPad and Android and costs $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year after a 3-day free trial (US App Store). It is the only app we cover that passes all five Timeline Test questions. Its honest limits: no free plan after the trial, English only, no web version, and no store ratings yet because it launched in January 2026.
Best for Learning world history in order, as connected stories, in 5 minutes a day
Aurelius: Learn History Our app
Agape Group GmbH
Our score: excellent, #1 of 12
- Design 10
- Path 10
- Sources 10
- Depth 10
- Price 10
- Platforms 8
- Ratings 1
How the score works · inputs verified October 20, 2026
- App Store (US)
- No ratings yet
- Google Play (US)
- No rating shown yet, 100+ downloads
- Price (US)
- 3-day free trial, then $9.99/month or $79.99/year
- What's free
- 3-day free trial; Pro subscription needed after it
- Platforms
- iPhone/iPad, Android
- Age rating
- 9+ (App Store), Everyone (Google Play)
- Languages
- English
- Facts read on
- October 20, 2026
The Timeline Test: Aurelius passes 5 of 5
- ✓ Does it teach history in order?
- ✓ Is there a quiz right after every lesson?
- ✓ Does it show sources or say who checks the facts?
- ✓ Are the lessons written by people, not generated by AI?
- ✓ Is the price clear?
Our five-question check, answered from the app's own listing. How the Timeline Test works.
What's good
- History in order: 127 lessons across 13 eras, each linked to what came before and after
- A quiz after every lesson, with explanations
- Real paintings, artefacts and archival photos, credited on every image
- Lessons fact-checked; errors fixed when readers report them
- One monthly and one yearly price, plus a 3-day free trial
Watch out for
- No free plan: a subscription is needed after the 3-day trial
- English only
- Launched in January 2026, so no store ratings yet
- No web version
Disclosure: we make Aurelius. This review uses only what its App Store and Google Play listings say, read on October 20, 2026, and the same scoring rules as every other app on this site. Where it falls short, we say so.
What is Aurelius: Learn History?
Aurelius: Learn History, by Agape Group GmbH, turns world history into "campaigns" you play through in order. Each lesson is a short illustrated story you swipe through in a few minutes, followed by a quiz. The App Store listing describes it as history "from the founding of Rome to the fall of the Berlin Wall"; the Google Play listing as "from the pyramids to the fall of the Berlin Wall". It launched on the App Store in January 2026 (version 1.1.1, October 2026), needs iOS 15.1 or later, and is rated 9+ on the App Store and Everyone on Google Play.
Screenshots of Aurelius, our app, from its App Store listing.
The 13 eras
Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Medieval Europe, the Renaissance, the Age of Exploration, the American Revolution, the French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, the American Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Cold War. See them as a timeline in the order to learn world history.
Connected, not memorised
"Lessons follow each other in chronological order and link to what came before and what came next, so you understand why things happened, not just when." Ancient Rome, Medieval Europe and the American Revolution are told as connected chapters: the birth of the Republic, the Gracchi, Caesar, Charlemagne, 1066, Magna Carta, the Black Death, Lexington, Saratoga, Valley Forge and Yorktown.
Learn it, then prove it
A quiz after every lesson "with hearts on the line" and clear explanations, XP, levels, daily streaks, 76 Honors to unlock, trivia battles against the computer and challenges with friends. Recall straight after reading is one of the best-supported ways to remember (Roediger & Karpicke, 2006).
Real history, checked
Paintings, artefacts and archival photographs from public collections, "with the artist, date and licence credited on every image", plus painterly illustrations where no image survives. "Every lesson is fact-checked, and we correct errors when readers report them" (info@agapegroup.ch). No AI-written lessons.
Why it scores 9.2/10
| Criterion (weight) | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Learning design (22%) | 10 | 5-minute lessons, a quiz after each, streaks and Honors, battles with friends |
| Chronological path (22%) | 10 | 13 eras in order, lessons linked by cause and effect |
| Sources and accuracy (17%) | 10 | Every image credited, lessons fact-checked, corrections, no AI lessons |
| History depth (12%) | 10 | History only, 127 lessons, 13 named eras |
| Price and clarity (10%) | 10 | $9.99/month or $79.99/year, 3-day free trial |
| Platforms (10%) | 8 | iPhone, iPad and Android; no web version |
| Ratings (7%) | 1 | No ratings yet (checked in six App Store countries and on Google Play) |
The one criterion where every other app beats it is ratings. That is the honest reason it is 9.2 and not 10.
How much does Aurelius cost?
On the US App Store, read October 20, 2026: a 3-day free trial, then $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year. Aurelius Pro unlocks all eras, lessons and quizzes and removes ads. Prices in other countries are shown in the app before you subscribe. To cancel: on iPhone, Settings → your name → Subscriptions (Apple); on Android, Google Play → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions (Google).
| App | Score | Best for | App Store rating | Google Play rating | Price (US) | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurelius Our app | 9.2/10 | Learning world history in order, as connected stories, in 5 minutes a day | No ratings yet | No rating shown yet | 3-day free trial, then $9.99/month or $79.99/year | iPhone/iPad, Android |
| Paladin | 4.6/10 | Animated 5-minute stories about famous people | 4.6 from 23,623 ratings | 4.6 from 19,124 reviews | Pro: $12.99/month, $24.99 for 3 months; six yearly prices listed, $29.99 to $99.99 | iPhone/iPad, Android |
| Khan Academy | 5.6/10 | School-style world and US history courses, completely free | 4.6 from 112,470 ratings | 4.1 from 173,663 reviews | Free | iPhone/iPad, Android, web |
| Historo | 6.4/10 | AI-generated lessons on any history topic you ask for | 4.5 from 4 ratings | 4.1 from 171 reviews | Historo+: $8.99 to $9.99/month; $34.99 to $59.99/year | iPhone/iPad, Android |
Who Aurelius is for
Adults and teenagers who want to understand history as one story, in a few minutes a day, rather than collect random facts. It suits you less if you want something free forever (try Khan Academy or Histopia), history in a language other than English (Historo has 12), or a reference to look things up (World History Encyclopedia).
Frequently asked questions
Is Aurelius free?
No. Aurelius has a 3-day free trial, then costs $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year on the US App Store. Cancel before the trial ends and you pay nothing.
How many lessons does Aurelius have?
127 lessons across 13 eras, from Ancient Egypt to the Cold War, according to its App Store and Google Play listings (October 2026).
How long is each Aurelius lesson?
A few minutes: each lesson is a short illustrated story you swipe through, then a quiz.
Is Aurelius on Android?
Yes. Aurelius: Learn History is on Google Play and on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.
Is Aurelius accurate?
Its listings say every lesson is fact-checked, images from public collections are credited with artist, date and licence, and errors are corrected when readers report them. We make the app, so judge it yourself during the trial.
Is Aurelius the same as "Aurelius - Stoic Philosophy"?
No. That is a different app, by a different developer, about Stoic quotes. Aurelius: Learn History is by Agape Group GmbH.
Aurelius or Paladin?
Aurelius if you want history in chronological order with sources; Paladin if you want animated stories about famous people and a big user base. See Aurelius vs Paladin.
The bottom line
If you want to understand history in order, a few minutes a day, Aurelius is built exactly for that, and it scores highest on our published criteria. It is new, English-only and paid after the trial. Try it free for 3 days and decide.
Sources
- Aurelius: Learn History, US App Store listing (id6756365599) and Google Play listing (app.rork.aurelius_history_quest), read October 20, 2026; aureliushistory.com.
- Roediger, H. L., & Karpicke, J. D. (2006). "Test-enhanced learning." Psychological Science, 17(3), 249–255. PubMed