- Learning sites at a glance
- Nine Khan Academy alternatives
- The free option backed by the UK government
- Games, practice, live classes or courses?
- Making online learning stick
- Signs a learning site isn't working
- Learning beyond the screen
- Questions to ask before you pay for anything
- My plain advice on choosing a Khan Academy alternative
- Frequently asked questions
The best Khan Academy alternative depends on who's learning and how: a child who needs games, a teen who needs exam practice, or an adult picking up a new subject. Look at the age range, whether it follows your curriculum and what the free version includes. Nine sites follow in no particular order, plus how to make online learning stick.
Free online learning changed what's possible at home, but no single site suits every learner, and there's no shame in mixing a few. Some children need practice dressed up as a game, some teens need step-by-step help with homework, and adults often want university-level courses.
The nine sites below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from free textbooks to live classes and university courses. Each description comes from the site's own pages, re-checked today. If maths is the sticking point, my ChatGPT prompts for maths focus on understanding steps rather than copying answers.
Learning sites at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the site describes free use, a free account or free resources, Trial only means a time-limited trial and No means neither is stated on the pages we read. Some free sites charge for certificates, tutoring or extra practice.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brilliant | Interactive lessons | Learning by solving problems | Yes |
| CK-12 | Free textbooks and practice | Free textbooks for every subject | Yes |
| edX | University courses | Learning from top institutions | Yes |
| IXL | Skills practice | Daily skills practice | No |
| Oak National Academy | Free curriculum lessons | Following England's curriculum | Yes |
| Outschool | Live online classes | Small live classes on any topic | Yes |
| Photomath | Maths help app | Step-by-step help with homework | Trial only |
| Prodigy | Maths game | Maths practice as a game | Yes |
| Zearn | Maths lessons | Daily maths lessons for younger children | Yes |
Nine Khan Academy alternatives
Brilliant
Best for: Teens and adults who learn maths, science and coding best by solving interactive problems rather than watching videos.
CK-12
Best for: Families and teachers who want free textbooks, practice questions and simulations covering most school subjects.
edX
Best for: Older students and adults who want courses from universities, with the option of certificates.
IXL
Best for: Parents who want structured daily practice with detailed reports on which skills their child has mastered.
Oak National Academy
Best for: UK families and teachers who want free video lessons and resources that follow the curriculum in England.
Outschool
Best for: Curious children who learn best with a live teacher and small classes on topics from coding to art.
Photomath
Best for: Students stuck on a homework problem who want to see each step explained from a photo of the question.
Prodigy
Best for: Primary-age children who'll practise maths happily when it's wrapped in a game with quests and pets.
Zearn
Best for: US elementary families and classrooms that want short daily maths lessons with on-screen teachers.
The free option backed by the UK government
UK families often don't realise there's a government-backed free option. GOV.UK says Oak National Academy is an executive non-departmental public body linked to the Department for Education, giving teachers and pupils access to digital curriculum resources which are free, optional and adaptable.
What that means for you: if you're in England and want lessons that follow the curriculum, start with the free option first. Add a premium service only for a specific gap, such as extra maths practice or exam preparation.
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Games, practice, live classes or courses?
Game-based sites wrap practice in quests and rewards, which keeps younger children going. Practice platforms track skills question by question and report progress to parents. Live class sites put children in small groups with a real teacher. Course sites offer university-level learning for older students and adults.
Match the format to the learner, not the other way round. It's common for one child in a family to love a game site while a sibling prefers a live teacher, and that's fine.
Making online learning stick
- Set a regular time each day, even if it's short.
- Start with topics just above the learner's comfort level.
- Mix practice with explaining answers out loud.
- Check progress reports weekly, not daily.
- Celebrate effort as well as scores, especially on hard topics.
- Swap sites if motivation drops for more than a couple of weeks.
Signs a learning site isn't working
- Guessing to finish. The level may be too hard.
- Rushing through. The level may be too easy.
- Arguments at login time. Try a different format.
- No progress after weeks. Ask a teacher what to focus on.
Learning beyond the screen
Discussion builds understanding that screens can't. Talking through a topic at dinner or debating a question with friends helps ideas stick. My list of debate topics is a fun way to start.
Questions to ask before you pay for anything
Does the site follow your country's curriculum, or will the topics be in a different order from school? Can you see progress reports, and do they tell you anything useful? Is there a free trial long enough to judge, and can you cancel easily? A few minutes on these questions saves money and frustration, and it often shows that a free option covers more than you'd expect.
Do you make a learning site? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a Khan Academy alternative
Choose for the learner in front of you. A reluctant eight-year-old will do more maths in a game than on a worksheet site; a focused teenager preparing for exams needs structured practice. Try a free option for two weeks before paying for anything; you'll quickly see whether it gets used.
And keep a person in the loop. Online learning works best when someone asks what you learned today and helps when it gets hard. A five-minute chat at the end of a session does more for motivation than any badge or streak.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Khan Academy?
It depends on the learner: games for younger children, practice platforms for skills, live classes for interaction and courses for adults.
Is there a free alternative to Khan Academy?
Yes. Several sites here describe free use, free accounts or free resources.
What's free for UK students?
GOV.UK describes a government-backed body offering free, optional and adaptable digital curriculum resources; see the section above.
Are maths games good for learning?
They help with practice and motivation, especially for younger children, alongside other learning.
Which site is best for adults?
Course sites with university content suit adults learning new subjects.
How long should children study online each day?
Short, regular sessions usually work better than long ones.
