Khan Academy
Free nonprofit learning site with videos, articles and mastery-based practice for K–12 math, science, ELA, social studies, computing and test prep, plus an optional $4-a-month AI tutor called Khanmigo.
What is Khan Academy?
Khan Academy is a free learning website and app run by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Its mission is a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. As of October 2026 it offers more than 840 courses in math, science, English language arts, social studies, economics, computing and test prep, and it runs in more than 55 languages.
There are no ads and no paywall. The one paid add-on is Khanmigo, an AI tutor that coaches students through problems instead of handing over answers.
How it works
Each course is broken into units and skills. A student watches a short video or reads an article, then practices. Correct answers raise a skill from attempted to familiar, proficient and mastered. Quizzes and unit tests check whether the learning stuck, and a course challenge lets a strong student test out of material they already know.
The parent role is light but real. Homeschool families often sign up as a teacher, create a class and add their kids. That unlocks free assignments, due dates and reports that show which skills need work. A typical homeschool day might be one math assignment plus a science or grammar unit.
What it covers
| Stage | Highlights |
|---|---|
| K–2 | Early math, counting, place value; younger kids do better in Khan Academy Kids |
| 3–5 | Arithmetic through fractions and decimals, Illustrative Math courses, reading and vocabulary |
| 6–8 | Pre-algebra, ratios, intro algebra, life and physical science, grammar |
| 9–12 | Algebra 1 and 2, geometry, precalculus, calculus, statistics, biology, chemistry, physics, US and world history, AP courses |
| Test prep | Digital SAT prep, plus AP and college-level courses |
Math is the deepest strand by far. Humanities courses exist, but writing practice and feedback are limited unless you add Khanmigo.
Who it's best for
Khan Academy suits self-motivated students in about grade 4 and up, families who want rigorous math without a bill, and teens prepping for the SAT or AP exams. It also works well as a free diagnostic: a course challenge quickly shows gaps.
Look elsewhere if you need an accredited program with transcripts, a live teacher, or something playful for a preschooler. Families with young kids should start with Khan Academy Kids. Families who want a full, structured online curriculum often prefer Time4Learning.
Pricing at a glance
Khan Academy is free. Khanmigo costs $4 a month or $44 a year as of October 2026, and one family plan covers your children. The Khan Academy pricing page explains what the free tier includes and when Khanmigo is worth it.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
You do not need funding for the courses. If you add Khanmigo or pair Khan Academy with a paid curriculum, some education savings account programs may cover educational software and curriculum; each program decides. See how scholarships and ESAs work and check rules for states like Arizona and Florida. You can save Khan Academy and its paid companions to your wishlist and apply once on Edulist.
How it compares
- IXL has more practice questions and covers more ELA, but it costs money. See IXL vs Khan Academy.
- Beast Academy is deeper and more puzzle-based for grades 1–5.
- Prodigy wraps math practice in a game for kids who need motivation.
- Brilliant is interactive problem solving for teens and adults. See Brilliant vs Khan Academy.
Browse more math programs, homeschool curriculum and test prep, read real reviews of Khan Academy, or compare sites like Khan Academy. Our list of the best educational websites for kids ranks it against the field.
Who Khan Academy is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Families who want rigorous K–12 and AP math at no cost
- Self-motivated students in grade 4 and up
- SAT and AP prep on a budget
- Homeschoolers who want free assignments and progress tracking
Look elsewhere if
- Families who need an accredited program or transcripts
- Young children who need games and narration to stay engaged
- Students who need a live teacher to explain concepts
Khan Academy pros and cons
Pros
- Completely free, with no ads
- Deep math coverage from kindergarten through calculus and beyond
- Mastery points and unit tests show exactly what a child knows
- Parent and teacher dashboards let you assign work with due dates
- Free SAT prep and many AP courses
Cons
- Not accredited and does not issue transcripts
- Video lessons can feel dry for younger kids
- Reaching mastered on every skill can feel slow and repetitive
- Humanities and writing are thinner than math and science
What’s included
- More than 840 free courses spanning K–12 and early college
- Mastery system that tracks each skill from attempted to mastered
- Course and unit tests, plus SAT and AP prep
- Free parent and teacher dashboards with assignments and due dates
- Optional Khanmigo AI tutor for $4 a month or $44 a year
- Available in more than 55 languages
How much does Khan Academy cost?
Every Khan Academy course, video, practice set and parent or teacher tool is free, funded by donations to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The only paid consumer product is Khanmigo, an AI tutor and writing coach, at $4 a month or $44 a year (as of October 2026). A family plan lets a parent add children from the parent account and review their chat history. Sales tax is extra.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khan Academy courses | Free | Monthly | Free |
| Khanmigo for families, monthly | $4/mo | Monthly | $4/mo |
| Khanmigo for families, annual | $44/yr | Yearly | $3.67/mo |
Free trial: Khan Academy does not list a standing free trial for Khanmigo on its pricing page.
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
Future opening updates
Applications are not open on Edulist. Saving a product does not subscribe you or establish eligibility. Visit your wishlist to opt in for updates.
View wishlistWhat parents say
A summary of public parent feedback we read on forums, app stores and review sites. It is not a set of Edulist family reviews.
Parents, teachers and students praise Khan Academy as the go-to free resource for math, with a clear mastery path and real test prep. Common complaints are that the mastery grind can feel tedious, some pages feel crowded or dated, and older students sometimes find the videos slow. Many homeschoolers use it as a supplement rather than a full curriculum.
Common praise
- Free access with no paywall for core learning
- Strong, mastery-driven math progression
- Useful free tools for assigning work and tracking progress
Common complaints
- Reaching mastered on every skill can feel tedious
- Repetitive narration and dated-looking pages
- Limited live human help
Sources: capterra.com · reviews · support.khanacademy.org · 360038662451 Khan academy encourages you to be perfect not t · support.khanacademy.org · 4412839002637 Homeschooling with Khan Academy
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Khan Academy FAQs
Is Khan Academy free?
Yes. Every course, video, exercise and parent or teacher dashboard is free and ad-free because Khan Academy is a donor-funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The only paid option is Khanmigo, the AI tutor, at $4 a month or $44 a year as of October 2026.
Is Khan Academy accredited?
No. Khan Academy does not issue grades, credits or transcripts, and it is not an accredited school. Homeschool families who need records usually log Khan Academy work themselves or pair it with an accredited program.
Can Khan Academy be a full homeschool curriculum?
For math, many families use it as their main program, since it runs from kindergarten through calculus with unit tests. For reading, writing and history, most families treat it as a supplement and add books, writing practice and discussion.
How do parents track progress on Khan Academy?
Create a free parent account and link your children, or sign up as a teacher and add your kids to a class. The teacher route lets you assign lessons with due dates and see which skills need work.
Is Khan Academy good?
For math and test prep it is one of the strongest free tools available, with a clear mastery path and real practice. Its weak spots are engagement for young kids, thin writing feedback and the lack of a live teacher.
What is Khanmigo?
Khanmigo is Khan Academy's AI tutor. It coaches students through problems without simply giving answers, helps with writing and coding, and lets parents review their child's chats. Family plans are limited to US billing addresses.
Is Khan Academy secular?
Yes. Khan Academy is secular and aligns much of its content to US standards such as Common Core. It has no religious content.
Can an ESA or scholarship pay for Khan Academy?
The courses are free, so there is nothing to pay for. If you add Khanmigo, some ESA programs may treat it as educational software; each program sets its own rules.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources:
- khanacademy.org · about
- khanmigo.ai · pricing
- khanmigo.ai · parents
- blog.khanacademy.org · homeschooling made fun with khan academy and khanmigo kp
- blog.khanacademy.org
- capterra.com · reviews
- support.khanacademy.org · 360038662451 Khan academy encourages you to be perfect not t
- support.khanacademy.org · 4412839002637 Homeschooling with Khan Academy
- hackr.io · khan academy review