• Math tutors
• /
• Blog
• /
• Khan Academy Review: Is It the Right Choice?

Khan Academy Review: Is It the Right Choice?

Many parents have heard about Khan Academy. But is it a good platform? If you’re wondering whether Khan Academy could be the right educational resource for your kid, you’re in the right place – this complete Khan Academy review is all you need to explore the pros and cons, and what other parents have to say.

Key Points

• Learning approach: 7/10. As shown by the Khan Academy pros and cons, its learning approach is most effective for very organized middle and high schoolers.
• User interface and experience: 10/10. One of the best features of the platform – super user-friendly. 
• Effectiveness: 5/10. Only about half of the reviews found the platform effective for long-term learning. 
• Customer support: 4/10. Since Khan Academy is a non-profit company, don’t expect a timely response. 
• Pricing model: 10/10. The content is completely free.

Math & reading from 1st to 9th grade

Exploring alternatives?

Take our quick quiz to discover the perfect learning solution based on your child’s needs.

Get Started

Based on my experience as a math teacher, Trustpilot, Reddit, and other online reviews from parents and students, Khan Academy gets a 7/10. 

The platform can be an excellent choice for its free access and user-friendliness, but if you’re looking for structured, personalized education and measurable learning outcomes, the service falls somewhat short.

Khan Academy reviews: All you need to know

Khan Academy is a non-profit educational organization that provides students with pre-recorded educational videos, articles, resources, exercises, and more. 

These materials are designed to support learning for K-12 and college students, and even adults. The good news is that learners fully control their pace, progress, and study schedule.

That said, I must highlight that Khan Academy reviews also show the platform as a provider of accessible, hassle-free, high-quality learning resources.

💡If you’re a parent on a budget, Khan Academy may be an optimal choice. You don’t have to pay anything to access the materials and kickstart your kid’s learning, which is great! 

But the platform isn’t ideal, and in this article, you will discover why I think there are other options that can prove better. Next, you’ll explore the pros and cons of Khan Academy.

How does Khan Academy work? 

• Free access
• Custom learning path 
• User-friendly interface
• Strong educational content

Khan Academy benefits: Details

Free access

How much is Khan Academy? Pricing is what many parents point to as the key reason to choose the platform. As I mentioned earlier, it’s 100% free! The organization operates on donations and aims to provide top-notch education to anyone who needs it. 

Here’s a Khan Academy Reddit review to back this up.

⭐️The platform comes with certain limitations in terms of capabilities. This can be justified by the fact that the Khan Academy is free and, at times, cannot match the level of quality provided by paid services.

For me, this is a 10/10 feature, but you definitely can find quite affordable options with advanced features and progress reports included. 

For example, the Brighterly math and reading platform offers regular learning reports in every package covering topics learned, progress made, areas for improvement, and more. 

Custom learning path 

One of the best Khan Academy benefits I noticed is self-progression. This is where learners aren’t forced to keep up with a specific schedule or learning structure – they can manage their learning themselves. The service also allows students to review topics as many times as needed and move forward only when they feel confident. I must admit it can be really useful for some students.

⭐️Personally, I find this feature great. However, it may not cater to many learners – some do need structure and control, and Khan Academy lacks it, so I’d rate this feature as 7/10.

If your kid is not someone who can manage their own learning, taking on 1-on-1 tutoring might be a better option. At Brighterly, their reading or math program is designed to match each student’s pace and learning gaps, boosting learning outcomes. This approach is better suited for kids who need an additional push in their academic journey. 

User-friendly interface

As you enter the Khan Academy front page, you can already notice how well-structured and easy to navigate the page is. I find it extremely important for an e-learning platform to focus on actually learning the subject, not on wasting time figuring out how to navigate the website. Clean UI counts. 

Another thing I’ve noticed is that most of the platforms I’ve tested want me to create a dedicated account, which can be uncomfortable at times. The Khan Academy is different in this regard – no account needed, you can click on the course you want to learn and start learning the materials straight away. 

⭐️Most Khan Academy reviews don’t talk about UI, but I haven’t found a single bad review saying the platform’s usability is frustrating. I’d rate this feature as 10/10.

Strong educational content 

If you’re trying to figure out “How good is Khan Academy?’, you probably wonder whether their educational content is actually worth the time, especially with so many learning platforms promising the same results. 

From my comprehensive analysis of the platform’s content and user reviews, I can confidently say that Khan Academy offers a variety of impactful learning materials that can potentially improve knowledge and sharpen skills.

⭐️With Khan Academy courses being free, I’d rate the content as 7/10. According to some Khan Academy ratings, it may be repetitive and boring, but the availability of high-quality educational materials is definitely a big plus. 

If we’re talking about the competitors, not only does Brighterly offer free high-quality educational resources like printable reading worksheets and math worksheets, but its curriculum is fun, compelling, and never boring. The platform doesn’t rely on drilling exercises, but rather approaches learning in a way that is related to real life and engaging.

To sum it up, although Khan Academy gets great reviews and offers many benefits, I must say it has several drawbacks and may not be everybody’s cup of tea. All in all, to answer the notorious question, “Is Khan Academy good?”, we first have to review its weaknesses listed below. 👇

What are the disadvantages of using Khan Academy? 

Why is Khan Academy bad? Con #1: No interactivity

One of the first things that I noticed, and why Khan Academy is bad, is that there is no real interactivity. Think quizzes, exercises, tests, and interactive elements – all absent on the platform. Naturally, some students may find the content repetitive or not engaging enough to hold their attention long-term. Kids get bored, and what happens when they are bored? They tune out and give up.

Here’s a Khan Academy review highlighting this drawback.

It’s one of those Khan Academy disadvantages that can make you think about the service’s competitors. For example, Brighterly focuses on play-based teaching methods, rather than repetitive drills. By incorporating gamified elements, the platform empowers students to improve their math skills and boost overall academic performance. 

Furthermore, the Brighterly math tutors don’t employ a one-size-fits-all approach to teaching. They address kids’ learning gaps and styles, encouraging students to ask questions, participate, and progress at their own pace.

Con #2: Only suitable for older children

One of the first things you should understand about Khan Academy is that it may not be suitable for elementary students. The vast majority of learning material on the site is geared towards middle school/high school grades. 

Which brings me to the next point: even if you manage to find elementary-level educational content, your child will probably not be able to enjoy (or even tolerate) it, since it lacks the fun, interactive elements kids love so much. 

Here’s a Khan Academy review that backs this up.

The good news is that there are awesome alternatives for elementary students. Brighterly, for instance, is perfect for younger students. 

The core principle of its tailored approach is to diagnose kids’ learning needs via an introductory session. This allows Brighterly math and reading tutors to make learning as engaging as possible and show how the subjects transfer to real-world scenarios. 

Con #3: Memorization vs mastery 

Objectively, Khan Academy’s worst feature is how easy it is to “memorize your way to mastery.” Khan Academy has mastery levels, divided into units. Essentially, students collect points by answering the questions in a unit test. 

From my point of view, this system can make students less inclined to actually learn the content.  Some question formats can make students memorize the answers instead of how to find them. 

Brighterly, on the other hand, uses logic and reasoning to teach math rather than relying on tricks, shortcuts, or plain memorization. Brighterly tutors use visual aids, real-world examples, and step-by-step reasoning to make abstract math concepts relatable and understandable. 

Overall, based on my research and Khan Academy reviews, the platform is easy to use, free of charge, and offers to progress at the students’ pace. 

However, users report several drawbacks that can get in the way of consistent learning, such as limited interactivity, suitability for specific niches, and focus on memorization. All of this makes Khan Academy ineffective for some students. 

Khan Academy parents’ & kids’ review: Is the platform effective?

According to the Khan Academy parents’ and Khan Academy kids reviews, the platform can be effective for teens, but not for elementary students.

The entire content on the platform consists of pre-recorded YouTube videos. This basically means that no matter the location, students will be able to learn just by reviewing video lessons and other resources presented on the site.

Naturally, you wonder, “Is Khan Academy a reliable source?” regarding its effectiveness. 

Khan Academy review Reddit: What does the learning experience look like?

Let me start with a little analytics. Khan Academy’s YouTube channel has about 8.9 M subscribers and 8.6K videos published. However, one red flag is Khan Academy’s unusually low subscriber-to-view ratio – a sign that while people might visit, they’re not sticking around. 

As I’ve already mentioned, according to the Khan Academy rating, the learning experience of Khan Academy may be rigid and repetitive, and, well, that could explain why so many viewers don’t come back – the content just doesn’t deliver what it’s supposed to. 

Here’s a Khan Academy rating from a user highlighting the challenges with the platform. 👇

My own experience with Khan Academy backs this up. Reviewing videos without feedback or reinforcing the concepts right away is tiring, boring, and ineffective. Especially for the younger generation, whose attention span is only getting worse, and video-based content just won’t work for most of them.

⭐️Here’s my honest opinion on using Khan Academy as the main source of learning material for students – real skill building is not warranted. Overall, I’d rate the platform’s effectiveness as 5/10. Big stretch. 

Khan Academy reviews: User interface and experience

Let’s talk about UI – one of the best features of Khan Academy, to my liking. 

Khan Academy’s website is quite easy to navigate. It’s minimalistic and doesn’t require much time to find your way around. The layout reminds me of the late 2000s websites – not too modern but intuitive.

Here’s how it works: you can either type a keyword into the search bar to find a course, or choose a topic from the drop-down menu on the main page. 

When you choose a specific topic or a course, you then proceed to the landing page. They can be a bit confusing, with a summary, an overview, and the “about” section all in one place. 

However, the opinion on using Khan Academy as the main source of learning material for students is mixed, as students reported technical issues. 

What stood out to me the most is that most of the courses are STEM-related. So, if you’re looking for something outside of STEM, the options may be limited. The platform is great for SAT or any other exam prep, though, especially for homeschoolers. 

⭐️Is there something better than Khan Academy in terms of design? Definitely! However, I’d still give it 8/10. 

Overall, the design is simple, user-friendly, and non-distracting. The course landing pages need improvement, though. 

So, is Khan Academy reliable? Keep reading to explore more.

Is Khan Academy a reliable source?

Khan Academy is a reliable learning platform that provides accurate, structured educational content for middle, high, and college students. It is quite reliable for learners who prefer self-paced education, but I wouldn’t recommend it to elementary students or someone needing personalized attention. 

Does Khan Academy live up to expectations? 

To evaluate whether Khan Academy is worth it, it’s important to see how students improve their skills with the platform. 

Let’s start with a Khan Academy math review:

Some reviewers say that the platform doesn’t provide real impact. The functionality may not match the material – learners get pretty discouraged. I mean, who wouldn’t?

I’ve seen many Khan Academy reviews that focused on how the platform is not really accurate, which leads not only to confusion but also to frustration, mental fatigue, and loss of motivation. 

To anyone asking, “Is Khan Academy good or bad?”, think about it this way: would I be able to focus on what I’m learning if the content mismatches the questions?

And to answer “Is Khan Academy good or not?”, we have to keep in mind the abovementioned factors: the platform’s videos might not be accurate, and some users even find it harmful to their mental health. 

⭐️With all this in mind, I’d rate the platform’s effectiveness as 5/10.

Khan Academy review: Connect support

Khan Academy offers basic customer support services. Users can submit requests through the Help Center. But again, the platform is free, so there is no dedicated account management or personalized onboarding. The support team uses automated triage to prioritize inquiries, so delays can be expected. 

I haven’t found a single Khan Academy kids Reddit review on customer support, which likely means users don’t expect – or receive – much help when issues arise. This isn’t surprising for a free educational platform, but it’s worth noting if you’re a parent seeking quick, personalized help. 

Competitor platforms like Brighterly, for example, do provide better customer support, which is available via WhatsApp. Here’s a parent review highlighting this benefit. 👇

⭐️Overall, you can access the customer support via a request form on Khan Academy; however, don’t expect a quick issue resolution if one arises. That’s why it’s 4/10.

Is Khan Academy free?

Yes, Khan Academy is 100% free and operates on donations. 

These donations aren’t coming entirely from parents and students, and if that were true, Khan Academy wouldn’t be able to operate anyway. Some companies and corporations also fund Khan Academy and its ventures.

For example, back in 2021, Elon Musk donated $5 million to Khan Academy to further provide “a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.” However, despite these massive donations, a few drawbacks still prevail, especially for young learners.

Many parents and students report a lack of interactivity, personalization, and real educational feedback. The platform heavily relies on video content with zero feedback, which can cause frustration and stress in children. Here’s a Khan Academy rating to back this up.

That’s where Brighterly stands out as a strong alternative, offering live 1:1 interactive classes with instant feedback from tutors and research-based learning methods. Brighterly’s lessons are designed to keep kids engaged and interested, fostering a stronger connection to math beyond the classroom. 

⭐️Despite Khan Academy technically being free, I can’t be sure it delivers enough value for younger students. I’d give it an 8/10. 

How does Khan Academy stack up against other platforms? 

	Khan Academy	Brighterly	Kumon
Trustpilot rating	3.4/5	4.4/5	4.1/5
Best for	K-12	1–9 grades	K-12
Focus	Math, Science, etc.	Math, Reading	Math, Reading
Standout feature	Free	Math lessons, Award-winning curriculum, Free worksheets, Free math tests	Kumon method, Small-steps worksheets
Personalization	👎	👍	👍
Student pays	Free	From $17.3/lesson	From $150 to $200 per subject + enrollment and material fees

The biggest difference between these alternatives is the pricing. Although Khan Academy is technically free, it doesn’t offer the same perks as Brighterly, for example. 

Brighterly offers affordable pricing from $17.3/lesson, which is quite cost-effective compared to competitors on the market. For instance, according to this research, the standard tutoring rate around the United States is between $20 and $80.

Khan Academy review: What users really think 

Khan Academy’s reviews can be split into 2 categories. 

Half of the reviews are positive, with the other 50% being below average. Some people are very pleased with the platform’s services, and they recommend Khan Academy to other parents as the main supplementary learning source for their kids. 

However, in my opinion, there are better options out there, with progress reports, 1-on-1 support, and more benefits. 

What users love about Khan Academy:

• The platform is free
• STEM-focused curriculum (some say Khan Academy is a good way to learn math!)
• User-friendly interface (some glitches happen, though)

“It’s also so user-friendly that my 6-year-old brother was able to learn and use all the features by himself with no assistance whatsoever!” – Commonsesnsemedia review.

“Khan Academy has everything for everyone, and it’s free to use.” – TrustPilot review

“Khan Academy is brilliant, it is free and structured!” – TrustPilot review

Common complaints about Khan Academy:

• Inaccurate videos – the material doesn’t match the questions
• The curriculum doesn’t work for younger learners

“They don’t have courses for elementary science and history, and they need language courses. It isn’t very interactive, and I think there should be games.” – TrustPilot review

“The videos are far too long, use techniques which are too long-winded. The chat in between is tedious.” – TrustPilot review

Bottom line: Is Khan Academy worth it?

So, let’s go over the Khan Academy ratings one last time:

• Learning approach: 7/10
• User interface and experience: 8/10. 
• Effectiveness: 5/10. 
• Customer support: 4/10. 
• Pricing model: 10/10. 

⭐️Which gives Khan Academy an average rating of 7/10 from me.

To summarize:

Khan Academy is the ideal choice if:

✅ You look for a free educational platform

✅ Your child is super organized

✅ You need more subjects than math

Khan Academy isn’t the best option if you:

❌ Look for a math-specialized platform

❌ Need real results

❌ Prioritize interactivity and real connection

Looking for a Khan Academy alternative?

Like I’ve already mentioned, many users find Khan Academy helpful in theory but lacking in engagement, interactivity, and real impact. I also haven’t found any Khan Academy SAT review, which makes me think it’s not a go-to resource for serious test prep. 

There are plenty of alternatives, and Brighterly may be the best. Here’s why:

✅ Professional math & reading tutors

✅ Adapted curriculum and research-based teaching methods

✅ Free math worksheets and resources 

Let’s look at some of the key features that make Brighterly the best Khan Academy alternative: 👇

Professional math & reading tutors

Brighterly’s expert math tutors and reading tutors have the skills to engage, motivate, and inspire kids to be proactive and connected, focusing on a gamified approach rather than repetitive drills. The platform also carefully selects each candidate and performs a rigorous background check to ensure every tutor is fully qualified.

Adapted curriculum and research-based teaching methods

Khan Academy kids review samples reveal the lack of adaptability. But the Brighterly’s reading or math program is continually updated with research-based instructional resources, data, and techniques to remain highly effective and student-friendly. Additionally, each child receives a fully adapted program designed to close learning gaps and boost math and reading skills. 

Free math & reading worksheets and resources 

Brighterly also offers free math & reading worksheets and additional resources for independent learning. Designed by the platform’s best educators, they provide step-by-step practice problems and real-world examples to simplify tough concepts.

You can also take quick reading and math tests 1-9 to get a general overview of your child’s skills. 

Next steps: Support your child’s learning journey with Brighterly 

To wrap up, this Khan Academy rating shows that the platform is certainly worth a try – it’s free, has complete courses, and can be effective under certain conditions. However, I have found many unsatisfactory reviews, which have been confirmed by my own experience with the platform. 

That being said, if the above-mentioned drawbacks don’t align with your expectations, an alternative platform may be in order. Brighterly math and reading platform offers:

• Research-based math and reading teaching techniques 
• 24/7 support 
• School-aligned curriculum
• And free full-fledged study resources 

Sounds interesting? Try Brighterly for free! Book free lesson today and see your children become confident, curious, and ready to tackle any academic challenge!