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Khan Academy vs Udacity

Khan Academy logo

Khan Academy

Software

Free world-class education for anyone, anywhere

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Udacity logo

Udacity

Software

Nanodegrees for in-demand tech skills

From
$249/month
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.; Udacity expensive compared to many online learning alternatives at $249/month or annual commitments
  • They diverge on capability: Khan Academy covers Video lessons, Udacity covers Nanodegree programs.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Khan Academy and Udacity differ
AttributeKhan AcademyUdacity
Starting priceFree$249/month
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
Free tierYesNo
Founded20082011

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 Udacity

  • Nanodegree programs
  • Real-world projects
  • Mentorship
  • Code review
  • Career services
  • Industry partnerships
  • Mobile learning
  • Enterprise platforms

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 Udacity
  • Assigning practice and tracking student progress in a classroomnot Udacity

Udacity

  • Tech skill developmentnot Khan Academy
  • Career transitionnot Khan Academy
  • Upskillingnot Khan Academy
  • Team trainingnot 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.

Udacity

  • Expensive compared to many online learning alternatives at $249/month or annual commitments
  • Course certificates lose value after subscription ends if not continuously maintained
  • Limited offline access to course materials
  • May lack breadth of non-tech courses compared to general learning platforms

Pricing, plan by plan

Khan Academy

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

Udacity

$249/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Udacity 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.
Khan Academy review

Choose Udacity if

  • You need nanodegree programs.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want real-world projects.
Udacity review

Questions people ask

Is Khan Academy or Udacity better?
Neither clearly leads. Khan Academy starts at Free and Udacity at $249/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Khan Academy or Udacity?
Khan Academy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Khan Academy and $249/month for Udacity.
Does Khan Academy or Udacity run on more platforms?
Khan Academy runs on Web, IOS, Android. Udacity 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. Udacity starts at $249/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 Udacity is typically brought in for.
What can Khan Academy do that Udacity cannot?
Khan Academy covers Video lessons, Practice exercises, Mastery system, Progress tracking. Udacity covers Nanodegree programs, Real-world projects, Mentorship, Code review. Both handle Web support, IOS support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Udacity: How is Udacity priced?

Udacity offers subscription-based pricing: $249/month or $846 for 4 months (approximately $212/month with 15% discount). One subscription covers 500+ courses and all 80+ Nanodegree and Executive programs. Month-to-month subscriptions are cancellable anytime.

Source
Udacity: Does Udacity offer degree programs?

Yes, Udacity offers a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence ($199 enrollment fee plus subscription) and MBA in AI Product Management, both priced under $5,000 total, approximately 90% cheaper than traditional programs.

Source
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