Software · head to head
Khan Academy vs Brilliant
The short version
- Each has a real cost: 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.; Brilliant requires active daily engagement to maintain learning streaks, which can feel gamified
- They diverge on capability: Khan Academy covers Video lessons, Brilliant covers Interactive lessons.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Khan Academy and Brilliant actually diverge.
| Attribute | Khan Academy | Brilliant |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | Unknown |
| Founded | 2008 | 2012 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 Khan Academy
- Video lessons
- Practice exercises
- Mastery system
- Personalized learning
- Teacher tools
- Parent dashboard
- Test prep
- Google Classroom
Only in Brilliant
- Interactive lessons
- Problem-solving
- Daily challenges
- Guided paths
- Offline access
- Mobile learning
- Mobile apps
Both cover
- Progress tracking
- Web support
- IOS support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Khan Academy
- Free self paced learning across maths, science and humanitiesnot Brilliant
- Assigning practice and tracking student progress in a classroomnot Brilliant
Brilliant
- Math learningnot Khan Academy
- Science educationnot Khan Academy
- Programming basicsnot Khan Academy
- Problem-solving skillsnot Khan Academy
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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.
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Khan Academy
Free- FreeFree
- Video lessons
- Practice exercises
- Progress tracking
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
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Brilliant if
- You need interactive lessons.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want problem-solving.
Questions people ask
- Is Khan Academy or Brilliant better?
- Neither clearly leads. Khan Academy starts at Free and Brilliant at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Khan Academy or Brilliant?
- Khan Academy starts at Free and Brilliant at Free.
- Does Khan Academy or Brilliant run on more platforms?
- Khan Academy runs on Web, IOS, Android. Brilliant runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Khan Academy for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Khan Academy best used for?
- Khan Academy is most often used for free self paced learning across maths, science and humanities, assigning practice and tracking student progress in a classroom. Of those, free self paced learning across maths, science and humanities and assigning practice and tracking student progress in a classroom are not what Brilliant is typically brought in for.
- What can Khan Academy do that Brilliant cannot?
- Khan Academy covers Video lessons, Practice exercises, Mastery system, Personalized learning. Brilliant covers Interactive lessons, Problem-solving, Daily challenges, Guided paths. Both handle Progress tracking, 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.
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