Yes, Brilliant has a free version, but it's limited by keys. Brilliant says free users get 2 keys a day, each one opening one concept or one practice set, and the keys reset at midnight in your time zone. Brilliant Premium removes the limit and adds Koji, its personal tutor.
Two keys a day is enough for a short daily habit, which is how a lot of people use Brilliant anyway. If you want to binge a topic or jump straight to one idea, that's where free gets in the way. Here's exactly what the free plan includes and the free route for schools.
What free Brilliant includes
Brilliant's Help Center says both free and Premium users can:
- Learn from thousands of interactive concepts.
- Solve hands-on problems.
- Track progress with streaks and XP.
- Compete in Leagues.
- Use Brilliant on the web, iOS and Android.
Brilliant free vs Premium
| Feature | Free | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Daily limit | 2 keys a day, one concept or practice set each | No keys, no limits |
| Topic navigation | Work through each topic in order | Jump to any concept |
| Ads | Occasional ads between concepts | Ad-free |
| Koji tutor | No | Yes |
Brilliant is clear that Koji is the main reason to upgrade. It describes Koji as a tutor that knows what you're working on and guides your thinking rather than giving you the answer.
How the 2 keys a day work
- Each key opens one concept or one practice set.
- Once you've used both keys, you wait until the next day to carry on.
- Keys reset at midnight in your own time zone, not a fixed global time.
- You can't skip ahead in a topic on free, so plan to work through it in order.
A simple way to make the most of free is to use your first key on a new concept and your second on a practice set for the same topic, so you learn and then test it on the same day.
Does Brilliant have a free trial?
Sometimes. Brilliant's Help Center says it sometimes offers free trial promotions for Premium, and availability varies by platform, account and timing. When one is available:
- You enter card details to start, but nothing is taken when the trial begins.
- You get full Premium access during the trial.
- Brilliant recommends cancelling at least 24 hours before the trial ends.
- If you started on the web, cancel in your Brilliant account settings. If you started in the App Store or Google Play, cancel there.
Free Brilliant for K-12 schools
This is the free route most people don't know about. Brilliant for Educators gives K-12 teachers and their students free classroom access to the full course catalogue, with no daily limits or ads. Brilliant says it doesn't include Koji. Teachers can assign courses, levels or lessons with optional due dates and track progress by class.
Who Brilliant for Educators is for
Brilliant's help page on free classroom access adds detail the main pages don't. It describes Brilliant for Educators as a grant-funded programme covering its Math, Data, Computer Science and Science courses for classroom use. Brilliant says it prioritises classroom teachers at accredited K-12 schools who apply with a school email address, and it's generally not intended for:
- Homeschools.
- Private tutors and tutoring centres.
- Colleges and universities.
- Programmes for adult learners.
Brilliant says eligible teachers usually get access almost instantly after applying.
A catch for parents
This is the detail most parents won't expect. Brilliant says Koji stays off on any account that's part of a Brilliant for Educators class, even if that account also has Premium. If you want your child to use Koji at home, Brilliant suggests a separate Premium account rather than the school one.
Getting the most from two keys a day
- Keep your streak going with one concept in the morning and one practice set later.
- Stick to one topic until you finish it, because free users work through topics in order anyway.
- Use Leagues for motivation, because they're open to free users too.
If you're still hitting the limit every day after a few weeks, that's a fair sign Premium is worth trying.
Is free Brilliant enough?
For a daily maths or logic habit, yes. Two concepts a day adds up over a few weeks, and you still get streaks and Leagues. If you want help when you're stuck without Koji, my guide to the best free AI maths solvers is a good companion, and my list of ChatGPT prompts for maths shows how to get step-by-step explanations for free.
For schools weighing it up, Brilliant says it's certified by kidSAFE through its COPPA seal programme, complies with FERPA and GDPR, and says it doesn't use student data for marketing. Teachers can assign courses, levels or lessons with optional due dates and track completion and Skills Check scores by class.
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My verdict: Brilliant is free with a daily limit, and the 2 keys suit a steady habit better than a cram session. Teachers should look at Brilliant for Educators first, because it removes the limits for a whole class, just without Koji.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brilliant completely free?
No. Brilliant has a free version limited to 2 keys a day, each opening one concept or practice set. Premium removes the limit and adds the Koji tutor.
When do Brilliant keys reset?
Brilliant says keys reset at midnight in your time zone.
Does Brilliant have a free trial?
Sometimes. Brilliant says it occasionally offers Premium free trials, and availability depends on platform, account and timing.
Can teachers get Brilliant for free?
Yes. Brilliant for Educators gives K-12 teachers and students free classroom access to the full catalogue with no daily limits or ads, but not Koji.
Are there ads on free Brilliant?
Yes. Brilliant says free users see occasional ads between concepts, while Premium is ad-free.
Can homeschoolers get Brilliant for Educators?
Brilliant says the programme is generally not intended for homeschools, private tutors, colleges or adult learning programmes.
Does Koji work on a school Brilliant account?
No. Brilliant says Koji stays off on any account in a Brilliant for Educators class, even if that account also has Premium.
Is Brilliant safe for children?
Brilliant says it's certified by kidSAFE through its COPPA seal programme and complies with FERPA and GDPR.
Can I skip ahead in a topic on free Brilliant?
No. Brilliant says free users work through each topic in order, while Premium lets you jump straight to any concept.
