Software · head to head
Brilliant vs Udemy
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Brilliant requires active daily engagement to maintain learning streaks, which can feel gamified; Udemy course quality varies significantly as Udemy allows anyone to create and sell courses without vetting
- They diverge on capability: Brilliant covers Interactive lessons, Udemy covers Video courses.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Brilliant and Udemy actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Brilliant
- Interactive lessons
- Problem-solving
- Daily challenges
- Progress tracking
- Guided paths
- Offline access
- Mobile apps
Only in Udemy
- Video courses
- Quizzes
- Assignments
- Certificates
- Offline viewing
- Q&A
- Reviews
- Slack
Both cover
- Mobile learning
- Web support
- IOS support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Brilliant
- Math learningnot Udemy
- Science educationnot Udemy
- Programming basicsnot Udemy
- Problem-solving skillsnot Udemy
Udemy
- Skill buildingnot Brilliant
- Career transitionnot Brilliant
- Professional developmentnot Brilliant
- Team trainingnot Brilliant
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Brilliant
- Requires active daily engagement to maintain learning streaks, which can feel gamified
- Premium subscription needed for full course access; basic free tier is limited
- Focuses only on STEM subjects; no humanities or social sciences
- Interactive nature requires more time commitment than passive video learning
Udemy
- Course quality varies significantly as Udemy allows anyone to create and sell courses without vetting
- No formal credentials or degrees offered, unlike Coursera and edX which offer institution-branded certificates
- Courses are self-paced with no instructor interaction or support, making structured learning difficult for some students
Pricing, plan by plan
Brilliant
Free- Premium Monthly$24.99/month
- Access to all 90+ courses
- No ads
- Premium Annual$150/year
- Access to all 90+ courses
- No ads
Udemy
Free- Personal$19/month
- 11,000+ courses access
- Team$360/year
- For 5-20 people
Which should you pick?
Choose Brilliant if
- You need interactive lessons.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want problem-solving.
Choose Udemy if
- You need video courses.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want quizzes.
Questions people ask
- Is Brilliant or Udemy better?
- Neither clearly leads. Brilliant starts at Free and Udemy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Brilliant or Udemy?
- Brilliant starts at Free and Udemy at Free.
- Does Brilliant or Udemy run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Brilliant for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Brilliant best used for?
- Brilliant is most often used for math learning, science education, programming basics, problem-solving skills. Of those, math learning and science education are not what Udemy is typically brought in for.
- What can Brilliant do that Udemy cannot?
- Brilliant covers Interactive lessons, Problem-solving, Daily challenges, Progress tracking. Udemy covers Video courses, Quizzes, Assignments, Certificates. Both handle Mobile learning, Web support, IOS support, Android support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Brilliant: Does Brilliant offer offline learning?
Yes. The Brilliant mobile app allows users to download lessons and learn without internet connection.
SourceUdemy: Does Udemy offer team/business pricing?
Yes, Udemy's Team plan costs $360 per user annually for groups of 5 to 20 people, in addition to individual Personal plan at $19/month.
SourceBrilliant: Is there a free tier for Brilliant?
Yes. Brilliant offers a free basic tier with access to some courses. K-12 teachers and their students can qualify for free Premium access.
SourceBrilliant: What subject areas does Brilliant cover?
Brilliant covers over 90 courses across mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, and data science, taught by experts from MIT, Harvard, Google, and Microsoft.
SourceBrilliant: How does Brilliant's teaching approach differ from video lectures?
Brilliant emphasizes active learning through interactive problem-solving rather than passive video watching, similar to Duolingo's gamified approach.
Source