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Khan Academy
By Khan Academy (nonprofit). Visit Khan Academy
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
A free nonprofit learning site with videos, practice exercises, quizzes and unit tests in math, science, reading, grammar, history, computing and test prep, from early elementary through college. A child watches short lessons, then practices skills that move from attempted to familiar, proficient and mastered. Parents and teachers can link accounts to see progress and assign work. Schools can buy a district version. The AI tutor Khanmigo is a separate paid add-on for families.
Our take: A strong free default for families and schools that will set a weekly routine; kids who need a game to stay engaged may do better with something more playful.
| Ages it suits | about 5-18 and adults (grades K-12, plus college and test prep) |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | Under 13 in the US (or under the age of consent in your country) cannot open an account without a parent's approval or a school's setup. Under 18 must have a parent review and accept the terms. Any use of the AI features by under-18s must be supervised and the account linked to a parent or teacher account. (terms) |
| Price | Free. Free for everyone (Oct 2026). The optional Khanmigo AI tutor is $4 a month or $44 a year for parents and learners; free for teachers; district pricing for schools. |
| Works on | Web, iPhone and iPad, Android |
| Account | A parent's account |
| Ads | None |
| In-app purchases | None |
| The AI in it | The core site is not AI; Khanmigo, an optional AI tutor and writing coach built into the site, is sold separately and the terms call it a beta that can make errors. |
What's good
- Free, with no ads and no in-app purchases
- Huge range of subjects and grade levels in one place
- Mastery levels show clearly what a child knows
- Parent and teacher accounts can see progress
Watch for
- Self-paced and text-heavy; young or unmotivated kids may drift without an adult
- Gains in the maker's studies come from the small share of students who used it 30+ minutes a week
- Khanmigo AI tutor is a paid extra and is labeled beta
- Coach feature lets other users view a child's activity unless a parent turns it off
Data and privacy
The policy says Khan Academy does not sell personal information, shows no third-party ads, avoids tracking on child-directed pages, and asks parent consent for child accounts; school use follows FERPA and COPPA. It tells users not to put personal details into the AI features. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
Mostly the maker's own studies: Khan Academy's researchers report that students in partner districts who used it 30+ minutes a week had about 20% greater-than-expected gains on MAP Growth, but only about 9% of students reached that dose and the study is correlational. It is not rated on Evidence for ESSA.
In the Big Index
- On the list 10 AI reading apps and reading coaches for kids
- On the list 16 AI math helpers: the ones that teach and the ones that just answer
- On the list 16 AI coding tools and AI-assisted coding for kids and teens
- On the list 14 AI homework helpers for teens that build understanding
- On the list 14 AI study tools for high schoolers (flashcards, NotebookLM, quizzes)
- On the list Top 50 free learning sites for kids (2026)
- On the list 33 best educational YouTube channels, by age
- On the list 21 best homeschool resources online
- On the list 23 best free sites for kids to learn coding
- On the list 20 best summer learning ideas and programs
- On the list 19 best apps for preschoolers (2026)
- On the list 23 best free online courses for teens
- Khan Academy
- Khan Academy for teachers
- Khan Academy Kids
- Khan Academy
Alternatives to Khan Academy
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AmblesideOnline
AmblesideOnline (volunteer advisory) · ages about 5-18 (Year 0 to Year 12)
A strong free plan for homeschool families drawn to Charlotte Mason and literature-rich learning; secular families or those wanting an interactive program should look elsewhere.
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AoPS Online
Art of Problem Solving (AoPS Incorporated) · ages grades 5-12 (about 10-18)
A strong fit for a child who loves hard math and wants contest prep; a child who is behind in math needs something gentler.
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Babbel
Babbel · ages about 13+ (built for adults)
A solid choice for a motivated older teen; younger kids are not allowed and are better served by kids' apps.
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Beast Academy
Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) · ages 6-13 (levels 1-5, roughly grades 1-5)
A great fit for curious or advanced elementary kids and homeschoolers who enjoy a challenge; kids who need gentle catch-up practice should start elsewhere.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Codecademy
Codecademy LLC · ages 16+
A good next step for a motivated 16- or 17-year-old; younger kids need a coding tool built for them.
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Connections Academy
Pearson · ages grades K-12
Worth a look for families who need school at home and have an adult free to coach; families expecting it to match a good local school should read the research first.
Where these facts come from
- https://www.khanacademy.org/about/docs/khan-academy-terms-of-service
- https://www.khanacademy.org/about/privacy-policy
- https://blog.khanacademy.org/khan-academy-efficacy-results-november-2024/
- https://www.khanmigo.ai/pricing
- https://www.evidenceforessa.org/programs/math/
- Reviews on G2: https://www.g2.com/products/khan-academy/reviews
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.