Khan Academy is a free, self-paced learning platform with 8,000+ videos covering K-12 and college subjects, while Outschool is a paid live tutoring marketplace (averaging $15-20/hour) connecting students with individual instructors for personalized classes. Khan Academy suits independent learners seeking comprehensive curriculum coverage; Outschool excels for students needing direct interaction and customized instruction.
Outschool vs Khan Academy — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Free online learning platform covering K-12 and college-prep with video lectures and practice exercises.
Live online tutoring marketplace connecting students with vetted instructors for personalized classes across 5,000+ topics.
Cost Model. Instruction Type. Instructor Interaction. Content Coverage. Subject Specialization. Class Flexibility. User Base
Choose Khan Academy if you need affordable, comprehensive, self-directed learning for core subjects with flexible scheduling and no instructor commitment. Choose Outschool if you want personalized live instruction, real-time feedback, enrichment classes, or specialized tutoring in niche subjects—and have a budget of $15-25 per session.
Khan Academy: 100% of core lessons free | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: All K-12 subjects plus standardized test prep | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Video + practice exercises | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: SAT, ACT, AP, state assessments | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Full rollout in 2026-27 school year | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Thousands of instructional videos | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Excellent scaffolding from basics | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Basic progress tracking and badges | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: College-prep and AP levels available | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Optional premium features | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Full-featured iOS and Android apps | Outschool: N/A
Illustrative Math Curriculum Integration
Khan Academy: Grades 6-8 and Algebra 1 updated by summer 2026 | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Non-profit funded | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Progress tracking only | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: K-12 & Foundational | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Data unavailable | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Steady (data unavailable) | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: 5+ (Math, Science, ELA, History, Social Studies) | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Extensive library | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Unlimited | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Advanced with 2026-27 expansion | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: 5/10 (moderate) | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Flexible/variable | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: All ages (K-12+) | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Highly rated | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Concept-based mastery | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: 4 main + AP/College | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Integrated with hints | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: 6+ (Math, Science, ELA, Social Studies, Test Prep, College) | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: 5,000+ comprehensive video lessons | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Basic points system | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Basic progress reports, Mission Control for parents | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: PreK - Grade 12 + College & AP | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: 100+ million monthly visitors globally | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Limited offline viewing | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: Free (Premium $84/year) | Outschool: $15-60+ per class
Khan Academy: No, pre-recorded videos | Outschool: Yes, real-time classes
Khan Academy: 30+ core subjects | Outschool: 500+ enrichment topics
Khan Academy: Over 150 million users | Outschool: Over 2 million students
Khan Academy: Individual/unlimited access | Outschool: 5-12 (small group)
Khan Academy: 24/7 on-demand access | Outschool: Scheduled classes only
Khan Academy: iOS and Android apps | Outschool: iOS and Android apps
Khan Academy: Created by certified experts | Outschool: Background checks required
Khan Academy: $0 (free) or $14.99/month premium | Outschool: $60-100 (4 weekly classes at $15-25 each)
Khan Academy: 8,000+ videos | Outschool: 100,000+ classes
Khan Academy: Core academics (Math, Science, History, English, Test Prep) | Outschool: Academic + Enrichment (Coding, Arts, Music, Sports, Languages)
Khan Academy: 10-15 minutes per video | Outschool: 45-60 minutes per live class
Khan Academy: No (pre-recorded only) | Outschool: Yes (real-time with instructor)
Khan Academy: 200+ million lifetime | Outschool: 1+ million active (2024)
Khan Academy: Content created by education experts and Khan Academy staff | Outschool: Instructors background-checked and self-vetted (range from certified to hobbyists)
Khan Academy: 24/7 self-paced, learn anytime | Outschool: Fixed schedule, requires advance booking
Khan Academy: Free ($0) | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: 10 (Math, Science, English, History, Test Prep, etc.) | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: 4 (Kindergarten content available) | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: 6 (lecture + practice exercises) | Outschool: N/A
Khan Academy: N/A | Outschool: $40-200+/month (4-8 classes)
Khan Academy: N/A | Outschool: 1000+ instructor-created classes
Khan Academy: N/A | Outschool: 18 years old
Khan Academy: N/A | Outschool: Live, synchronous instruction
Khan Academy: N/A | Outschool: Real-time feedback from live instructors
Khan Academy: N/A | Outschool: Topic-based, instructor-designed
Khan Academy: N/A | Outschool: Fixed class times, scheduling required
Khan Academy: N/A | Outschool: $60-200/month (4-10 classes)
Khan Academy: N/A | Outschool: 3-18 years (15 year span)
Khan Academy: N/A | Outschool: 35,000+ vetted instructors
Khan Academy: N/A | Outschool: 2,000+ classes across all topics
Khan Academy: N/A | Outschool: Varies by instructor (typically 2-4 classes/week)
Khan Academy: N/A | Outschool: Manual (instructor feedback only)
Khan Academy: N/A | Outschool: Yes (real-time interactive)
Khan Academy: N/A | Outschool: 2-12 students (depends on class)
How to choose between Khan Academy and Outschool
Outschool vs Khan Academy — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Outschool vs Khan Academy. Contains 83 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Outschool vs Khan Academy — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Outschool vs Khan Academy.
Yes, Khan Academy's core content (8,000+ videos and practice exercises) is 100% free with no ads. They offer an optional Khan Academy Premium subscription ($14.99/month or $180/year) that adds features like progress tracking for teachers and parents, but these are supplemental. The core learning experience requires no payment.
Can I get one-on-one tutoring through Khan Academy?
Khan Academy does not offer live tutoring. It's entirely self-paced with AI-powered practice feedback. However, teachers can assign Khan Academy content to their classes for tracking. For live, personalized tutoring, Outschool is the platform designed for that use case.
How are Outschool instructors vetted and qualified?
Outschool requires background checks for all instructors, but does not mandate teaching certifications. Instructors range from certified teachers and subject matter experts to passionate hobbyists. Parents should review instructor profiles, credentials, student reviews (5-star rating system), and class descriptions before enrolling. Many instructors list certifications or degrees in their bios.
What happens if I miss an Outschool class?
If you miss a live class, Outschool typically provides a recorded video of the session for asynchronous viewing. However, you won't have real-time interaction. Check individual instructor policies, as some allow rescheduling with notice. Cancellation policies vary by instructor—most require 24-48 hours notice for refunds.
Which platform is better for test prep (SAT/ACT)?
Khan Academy is superior for test prep—it offers free, comprehensive SAT and ACT prep content through partnerships with College Board and ACT, plus practice tests. Outschool offers test prep classes from individual tutors, which can provide personalized guidance but at a cost. For budget-conscious test prep, Khan Academy is the clear winner.
How to Choose Between Khan Academy and Outschool
Cost Model: Khan Academy has Free with optional premium, while Outschool has $15-25 per class (varies by instructor).
Instruction Type: Khan Academy has Pre-recorded video lessons (self-paced), while Outschool has Live interactive classes with real-time feedback.
Instructor Interaction: Khan Academy has None (algorithm-based progress tracking), while Outschool has 1-on-1 or small group with named instructors.
Content Coverage: Khan Academy has 8,000+ videos across K-12, college, test prep, while Outschool has 100,000+ classes across 5,000+ topics.
Subject Specialization: Khan Academy has Core academics and STEM-focused, while Outschool has Academic + enrichment (art, coding, music, sports).
Class Flexibility: Khan Academy has Learn anytime at your own pace, while Outschool has Schedule-dependent on instructor availability.
User Base: Khan Academy has 200+ million learners lifetime, while Outschool has 1+ million active students (2024).
Khan Academy is a free, self-paced learning platform with 8,000+ videos covering K-12 and college subjects, while Outschool is a paid live tutoring marketplace (averaging $15-20/hour) connecting students with individual instructors for personalized classes. Khan Academy suits independent learners se