Softwr

Learning Management · head to head

edX vs Khan Academy

edX logo

edX

Learning Management

Online courses from the world's top universities

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Khan Academy logo

Khan Academy

Education & E-Learning

Free world-class education for anyone, anywhere

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Khan Academy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: edX individual course costs not displayed; pricing requires enrollment to view; Khan Academy the Internet Archive's capture of Khan Academy's homepage on 1 January 2021 stated it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and that its full library of practice and lessons 'is all free for learners and teachers', funded by donations rather than subscriptions.
  • They diverge on capability: edX covers Video lectures, Khan Academy covers Video lessons.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which edX and Khan Academy actually diverge.

Attributes where edX and Khan Academy differ
AttributeedXKhan Academy
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
CategoryLearning ManagementEducation & E-Learning
Founded20122008

Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 edX

  • Video lectures
  • Interactive exercises
  • Discussion forums
  • Certificates
  • MicroMasters
  • Professional certificates
  • Degrees
  • Mobile learning

Only in Khan Academy

  • Video lessons
  • Practice exercises
  • Mastery system
  • Progress tracking
  • Personalized learning
  • Teacher tools
  • Parent dashboard
  • Test prep

Both cover

  • Web support
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

edX

  • Learners seeking university-level credentials from elite institutions (MIT, Harvard, Cambridge)not Khan Academy
  • Career changers pursuing MicroMasters or professional certificatesnot Khan Academy
  • Individuals in regions with limited access to higher educationnot Khan Academy

Khan Academy

  • Free self paced learning across maths, science and humanitiesnot edX
  • Assigning practice and tracking student progress in a classroomnot edX

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

edX

  • Individual course costs not displayed; pricing requires enrollment to view

Khan Academy

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Khan Academy's homepage on 1 January 2021 stated it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and that its full library of practice and lessons 'is all free for learners and teachers', funded by donations rather than subscriptions.

Pricing, plan by plan

edX

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the edX review.

Khan Academy

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Video lessons
    • Practice exercises
    • Progress tracking

Which should you pick?

Choose edX if

  • You need video lectures.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want interactive exercises.
edX review

Choose Khan Academy if

  • You need video lessons.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want practice exercises.
Khan Academy review

Questions people ask

Is edX or Khan Academy better?
Neither clearly leads. edX starts at On request and Khan Academy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, edX or Khan Academy?
Khan Academy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for edX and Free for Khan Academy.
Does edX or Khan Academy run on more platforms?
edX runs on Web, iOS, Android. Khan Academy runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use Khan Academy for free?
Yes. Khan Academy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. edX starts at On request.
What is edX best used for?
edX is most often used for learners seeking university-level credentials from elite institutions (mit, harvard, cambridge), career changers pursuing micromasters or professional certificates, individuals in regions with limited access to higher education. Of those, learners seeking university-level credentials from elite institutions (mit, harvard, cambridge) and career changers pursuing micromasters or professional certificates are not what Khan Academy is typically brought in for.
What can edX do that Khan Academy cannot?
edX covers Video lectures, Interactive exercises, Discussion forums, Certificates. Khan Academy covers Video lessons, Practice exercises, Mastery system, Progress tracking. Both handle Web support, IOS support, Android support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on edX

More on Khan Academy

Keep looking

Other head to heads