Brilliant vs Khan Academy

Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

Brilliant

Interactive lessons and an AI tutor for maths, coding, data and science, learned by solving problems.

Free plan + paid

Visit Brilliant Brilliant profile

Khan Academy

Free, nonprofit lessons and practice for school subjects, with an AI tutor.

Free

Visit Khan Academy Khan Academy profile

The short answer

Khan Academy is a free, nonprofit library of video lessons and mastery-based practice across school subjects, with tools for teachers and parents. Brilliant teaches maths, coding, data and science through hands-on interactive problems with an AI tutor, and needs a Premium subscription for full access. Pick Khan Academy for free, broad school curriculum coverage; pick Brilliant for learning by doing in maths and computer science.

Brilliant or Khan Academy: our take

The teaching styles differ most. Khan Academy pairs video lessons with practice exercises, and learners move at their own pace with mastery-based progress. Brilliant avoids videos: its 40+ interactive courses have you solve problems, drag sliders and write code. Both have AI tutors that guide rather than hand over answers. Brilliant's Koji works on a shared canvas, builds a learning plan from assessments, and can work through uploaded homework. Khan Academy's Khanmigo helps students and also helps teachers with planning.

Coverage differs too. Khan Academy spans maths, science, computing, history, economics and test preparation, from early primary school to early university level. Brilliant is narrower and deeper in STEM, running from fractions and algebra through calculus, probability and statistics, plus Python, algorithms, AI basics, circuits and quantum computing. Neither offers certificates of the kind employers or colleges recognise.

Price is the clearest split. Khan Academy is a donation-funded nonprofit, so the core library is free with no ads, though some learner access to Khanmigo is paid. Brilliant's free account is limited to a daily lesson, and Premium unlocks every course, tutoring and personalised practice, with individual and family plans (6 seats) billed monthly or yearly. Both run in a browser and on iOS and Android.

For classrooms and families, Khan Academy has the stronger tools: teachers and parents can assign work and track progress, and it partners with school districts. Brilliant is used in 5,000+ schools but leans towards self-directed learners. A student, parent or teacher wanting free, curriculum-wide practice should start with Khan Academy. A student or curious adult who learns maths and coding best by working through problems, and is willing to pay, will likely prefer Brilliant. Many learners use both: Khan Academy for school topics, Brilliant for deeper hands-on practice.

Choose Brilliant if…

Students and curious adults who learn maths and coding best by doing problems, not watching lectures
Hands-on, visual lessons instead of video lectures
AI tutor guides you through steps without giving answers away

Choose Khan Academy if…

Students, parents and teachers wanting free, mastery-based practice in school subjects
Core library is free with no ads
Mastery-based practice with progress tracking

What is Brilliant?

Brilliant teaches maths, computer science, data analysis and science through short interactive lessons where you solve problems, drag sliders and write code instead of watching videos. Courses run from fractions and algebra through calculus, probability and statistics, plus Python, algorithms, AI basics and topics like circuits and quantum computing. An AI tutor called Koji works on a shared canvas, asking guiding questions and giving hints rather than handing over answers, and it builds a learning plan from assessments of what you already know. Students can upload homework or say what is on a test and work through it with the tutor. A free account gives a limited daily lesson; Premium unlocks every course, tutoring and personalised practice, with individual and family plans billed monthly or yearly. Brilliant is used by adults learning for fun and by schools, and runs in a browser and on iOS and Android apps.

What is Khan Academy?

Khan Academy is a nonprofit that offers free video lessons and practice exercises for maths, science, computing, history, economics and test preparation, from early primary school through early university level. Learners move at their own pace with mastery-based practice, and teachers and parents can assign work and track progress. Its AI tutor and teaching assistant, Khanmigo, helps students work through problems without simply giving answers and helps teachers with planning; parts of it are free for teachers, while some learner access is paid. Khan Academy also partners with school districts. Because it is a nonprofit funded by donations, there are no ads or course fees for the core library. It is not a platform for others to publish or sell courses. It runs in the browser and in iOS and Android apps. It suits students, parents and teachers who want trustworthy, free foundational learning.

Side by side

Attribute	Brilliant	Khan Academy
Pricing	Free plan + paid	Free
Open source	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android
Best for	Students and curious adults who learn maths and coding best by doing problems, not watching lectures	Students, parents and teachers wanting free, mastery-based practice in school subjects
Status	Active	Active