Software · head to head
Khan Academy vs Rosetta Stone
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.; Rosetta Stone monthly plan is 19.99 USD/month; annual plan is 159.00 USD/year (13.25 USD/month equivalent)
- They diverge on capability: Khan Academy covers Video lessons, Rosetta Stone covers Immersive learning.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Khan Academy and Rosetta Stone actually diverge.
| Attribute | Khan Academy | Rosetta Stone |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $13.25/month |
| Pricing model | free | Unknown |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Founded | 2008 | 1992 |
Identical on both: 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
- Progress tracking
- Personalized learning
- Teacher tools
- Parent dashboard
- Test prep
Only in Rosetta Stone
- Immersive learning
- Speech recognition
- TruAccent
- Live tutoring
- Phrasebook
- Stories
- Audio companion
- Mobile apps
Both cover
- 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 Rosetta Stone
- Assigning practice and tracking student progress in a classroomnot Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone
- Language learning across 25+ languages with immersive methodnot Khan Academy
- Speech recognition practice via TruAccent toolnot Khan Academy
- Conversational fluency building through Chat Missionsnot Khan Academy
- Custom learning materials creation with Sapphire Studionot Khan Academy
- Professional and personal development language acquisitionnot 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.
Rosetta Stone
- Monthly plan is 19.99 USD/month; annual plan is 159.00 USD/year (13.25 USD/month equivalent)
Pricing, plan by plan
Khan Academy
Free- FreeFree
- Video lessons
- Practice exercises
- Progress tracking
Rosetta Stone
$13.25/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Rosetta Stone review.
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 Rosetta Stone if
- You need immersive learning.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want speech recognition.
Questions people ask
- Is Khan Academy or Rosetta Stone better?
- Neither clearly leads. Khan Academy starts at Free and Rosetta Stone at $13.25/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Khan Academy or Rosetta Stone?
- Khan Academy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Khan Academy and $13.25/month for Rosetta Stone.
- Does Khan Academy or Rosetta Stone run on more platforms?
- Khan Academy runs on Web, IOS, Android. Rosetta Stone 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. Rosetta Stone starts at $13.25/month.
- 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 Rosetta Stone is typically brought in for.
- What can Khan Academy do that Rosetta Stone cannot?
- Khan Academy covers Video lessons, Practice exercises, Mastery system, Progress tracking. Rosetta Stone covers Immersive learning, Speech recognition, TruAccent, Live tutoring. Both handle Web support, IOS support, Android support.