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Education · head to head

Khan Academy vs Udemy

Khan Academy logo

Khan Academy

Education

Free world-class education for anyone, anywhere

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Udemy logo

Udemy

Education

World's largest marketplace for online learning

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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.; Udemy course quality varies significantly as Udemy allows anyone to create and sell courses without vetting
  • They diverge on capability: Khan Academy covers Video lessons, Udemy covers Video courses.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Khan Academy and Udemy differ
AttributeKhan AcademyUdemy
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
Founded20082010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, IOS, Android), 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
  • Progress tracking
  • Personalized learning
  • Teacher tools
  • Parent dashboard
  • Test prep

Only in Udemy

  • Video courses
  • Quizzes
  • Assignments
  • Certificates
  • Mobile learning
  • Offline viewing
  • Q&A
  • Reviews

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

Udemy

  • Skill buildingnot Khan Academy
  • Career transitionnot Khan Academy
  • Professional developmentnot 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.

Udemy

  • Course quality varies significantly as Udemy allows anyone to create and sell courses without vetting
  • No formal credentials or degrees offered, unlike Coursera and edX which offer institution-branded certificates
  • Courses are self-paced with no instructor interaction or support, making structured learning difficult for some students

Pricing, plan by plan

Khan Academy

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

Udemy

Free
  • Personal$19/month
    • 11,000+ courses access
  • Team$360/year
    • For 5-20 people

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 Udemy if

  • You need video courses.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want quizzes.
Udemy review

Questions people ask

Is Khan Academy or Udemy better?
Neither clearly leads. Khan Academy starts at Free and Udemy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Khan Academy or Udemy?
Khan Academy starts at Free and Udemy at Free.
Does Khan Academy or Udemy run on more platforms?
Khan Academy runs on Web, IOS, Android. Udemy 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 Udemy is typically brought in for.
What can Khan Academy do that Udemy cannot?
Khan Academy covers Video lessons, Practice exercises, Mastery system, Progress tracking. Udemy covers Video courses, Quizzes, Assignments, Certificates. Both handle Web support, IOS support, Android 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
Udemy: Does Udemy offer team/business pricing?

Yes, Udemy's Team plan costs $360 per user annually for groups of 5 to 20 people, in addition to individual Personal plan at $19/month.

Source
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
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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