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Brilliant.org: Everything You Need to Know

If you enjoy science, technology, engineering, and/or math (STEM), and want to learn more about those subjects on an online platform, keep reading to see if Brilliant.org is right for you! 

What is Brilliant.org?

Brilliant is an online learning platform that focuses on STEM subjects. Brilliant offers a hands-on, engaging, and challenging learning experience. Unlike many teaching platforms, Brilliant’s classes are not in pre-recorded video form and are more interactive. A mobile app for on-the-go learning is also available.

Brilliant was founded in 2012 by Sue Khim, who wanted to create a superior STEM learning website for students. Today, Brilliant hosts 10 million registered users from all over North America. Let’s learn more about how Brilliant’s classes work!

How are classes designed?

Classes at Brilliant feature a hands-on learning approach. They are made up of interactive problems that work like solving puzzles. Brilliant courses do not have a single instructor, but rather, are created by multiple developers. Instead of a video or lecture, courses are made up of graphic visuals and interactive participation. Users can take the time they need for each lesson since they are self-paced. The courses start at a beginner level with intermediate and advanced options.

Brilliant courses are made for users of any age and feature an option for teachers and educators. Brilliant for educators offers teachers the option to create a virtual classroom and assign material to their students. To access this option, educators must apply and verify their credentials.

What classes does Brilliant.org offer?

Brilliant offers over 60 courses in the STEM category, focusing on mathematics, physics, quantitative finance, and computer science. When browsing through their course catalog, the main page of a course gives users a description and lets them know whether there are prerequisite courses. It is not mandatory to take the prerequisite courses, but recommended. On that page, users can also view additional related courses they can take. For example, if interested in learning Python, users can take the course “Programming with Python.” 

How much does Brilliant.org cost and what does each plan offer?

In terms of pricing, Brilliant offers a free plan and a premium subscription. Brilliant premium includes three subscription offers: monthly, annual, and group. Read on to find out how each plan compares to the other!

Free plan

The free plan offers a limited amount of content. It features a preview of the first chapter of a course and daily challenges. Besides syncing and tracking users’ progress across mobile devices, the free plan doesn’t offer much else. This plan is for users who want to test whether they like Brilliant’s class structure or if it includes what they are looking for.

Premium plan

Brilliant’s premium plan starts at $24.99 per user monthly (works out to only $12.49 per month if paid in one full payment). This option gives users access to all the content on the website. If interested in the platform, users can sign up for the seven-day free trial to determine if they want to purchase the premium plan.

Group plan

Brilliant’s group plan accommodates groups of 3 to 50 users at $8.33 per person each month. This option is available for those in a family, class, or organization. The plan charges one total payment each year, with the ability to cancel at any time.  

Gift plan

Additionally, Brilliant offers a one-year subscription for another person called “The Gift Plan.” This option is for an individual who wants to give a year of lessons to a family member or friend as a gift.

How can I use Brilliant.org to benefit my professional life?

Brilliant classes won’t do much to directly advance users’ careers. The platform does not offer certificates nor any statement of completed courses. Users can always add the skills they learned to their resumes/CVs, but they won’t hold much weight. Besides applying the skills to their careers, completed courses from Brilliant won’t guarantee a high-paying job. Users looking to advance their professional life might consider other platforms. 

Alternatives to Brilliant:

Depending on what a potential user is looking for, Brilliant might be the ideal learning platform. However, it has its limitations when it comes to broader application such as career advancement or variety of subjects. Depending on what you are looking for, you might be able to find an alternative in place of Brilliant. Let’s compare!

Khan Academy

Brilliant’s classes are interactive and hands-on. If you are looking for a more traditional approach to online learning, look to Khan Academy. Khan Academy is a non-profit educational platform that offers classes in varying subjects free for students and educators. Their classes include 15-minute videos narrated by highly qualified instructors, followed by quizzes to evaluate learning. Khan Academy might be right for you if you are not a fan of puzzles, but still want to learn about STEM.

MasterClass

Brilliant’s courses are limited to STEM subjects. If looking for more diverse topics, users might be interested in MasterClass. MasterClass is an online learning website that offers classes taught by widely known instructors and experts. Students of any age can discover courses in food, entertainment, design, business, wellness, science, technology, and more. Users might prefer MasterClass over Brilliant if looking for learning skills in a broader range of subjects.

Coursera

Unlike Brilliant, Coursera offers ways to advance your career. In fact, you can even earn a degree. Coursera is an online platform that partners with universities and organizations to provide classes, certifications, and degrees. Credentials from Coursera help make users more qualified candidates for jobs, internships, or scholarships. Signing up for Coursera might lead to a more satisfactory experience over Brilliant for users seeking to advance their careers.

Frequently asked questions

Does Brilliant offer certificates? 

Brilliant does not award certificates for completing courses. If you are looking for something to add to your resume, you’ll have to apply what you learned in the course and list what you achieved with the knowledge.

How long does a course take to complete? 

Brilliant courses are self-paced and the time for completion varies depending on the course.

Does Brilliant offer courses in other languages? 

No, classes are available only in English. If you are looking for online learning courses in other languages, check out Coursera and edX!