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Education · head to head

Khan Academy vs Labster

Khan Academy logo

Khan Academy

Education

Free world-class education for anyone, anywhere

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Labster logo

Labster

Education

Virtual science labs for immersive learning

From
On request
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: 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.; Labster customization is limited and labs cannot be easily adapted to specific course learning outcomes
  • They diverge on capability: Khan Academy covers Video lessons, Labster covers Virtual simulations.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Khan Academy and Labster differ
AttributeKhan AcademyLabster
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, IOS, AndroidWeb
Founded20082011

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Education).

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
  • Clever

Only in Labster

  • Virtual simulations
  • 3D environments
  • Theory pages
  • Quizzes
  • Lab reports
  • Mobile access
  • Multiplayer
  • Canvas

Both cover

  • Progress tracking
  • Google Classroom
  • 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 Labster
  • Assigning practice and tracking student progress in a classroomnot Labster

Labster

  • Virtual labsnot Khan Academy
  • Pre-lab preparationnot Khan Academy
  • Supplemental learningnot Khan Academy
  • Remote educationnot 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.

Labster

  • Customization is limited and labs cannot be easily adapted to specific course learning outcomes
  • Simulations can lag or freeze depending on operating system and connection speed
  • Cannot fully replace hands-on physical lab experience and data collection
  • Students report preference for tactile physical lab experience over virtual simulations

Pricing, plan by plan

Khan Academy

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

Labster

On request
  • Student Access$49/month
    • Course simulations
    • Mobile access
    • Progress tracking
  • Institution$undefined/month
    • All simulations
    • LMS integration
    • Analytics
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Custom content
    • API access
    • Priority support

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.
Khan Academy review

Choose Labster if

  • You need virtual simulations.
  • You also want 3d environments.
Labster review

Questions people ask

Is Khan Academy or Labster better?
Neither clearly leads. Khan Academy starts at Free and Labster at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Khan Academy or Labster?
Khan Academy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Khan Academy and On request for Labster.
Does Khan Academy or Labster run on more platforms?
Khan Academy runs on Web, IOS, Android. Labster runs on Web.
Can I use Khan Academy for free?
Yes. Khan Academy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Labster starts at On request.
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 Labster is typically brought in for.
What can Khan Academy do that Labster cannot?
Khan Academy covers Video lessons, Practice exercises, Mastery system, Personalized learning. Labster covers Virtual simulations, 3D environments, Theory pages, Quizzes. Both handle Progress tracking, Google Classroom, Web support, IOS support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Khan Academy: Is Khan Academy free?

Yes. Khan Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and states that it is a free tool for students, teachers and parents alike, with over 840 free courses and teacher tools provided at no cost. It relies on donor support rather than fees.

Source
Labster: What STEM subjects does Labster cover?

Labster provides interactive 3D simulations across biology, chemistry, physics, and other STEM subjects, designed for university, college, and high school students.

Khan Academy: Who is Khan Academy for?

Khan Academy serves students, teachers and parents, covering core academic subjects from K-12 through early college. The platform is available in more than 190 countries and over 55 languages.

Source
Labster: How many students has Labster served?

Labster has served over 6 million students and thousands of institutions globally with its virtual lab simulations.

Khan Academy: How is Khan Academy funded if it is free?

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Khan Academy is funded by donations rather than subscriptions. Its about page states that donor support is what keeps the classroom tools free.

Source
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