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Brilliant.org: Everything You Need to Know
By
Karla Ibarra
Karla Ibarra is a content writer at Scholarships 360. She has worked as an English teacher and writing tutor. As a writing tutor, she has experience editing scholarships and college application essays. Karla graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Communication and a minor in English.
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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
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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 100 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.”
Here is a list of all the courses offered by Brilliant.org
Math
- Solving Equations
- Understanding Graphs
- Systems of Equations
- Reasoning with Algebra
- Functions and Quadratics
- Complex Numbers
- Everyday Math
- Mathematical Fundamentals
- Number Theory
- Number Bases
- Infinity
- Math History
- Measurement
- Vectors
- Beautiful Geometry
- Geometry I
- Geometry II
- 3D Geometry
- Logic
- Logic II
- Contest Math I
- Contest Math II
- Calculus in a Nutshell
- Pre-Calculus
- Trigonometry
- Calculus Fundamentals
- Integral Calculus
- Multivariable Functions
- Multivariable Calculus
- Introduction to Linear Algebra
- Linear Algebra with Applications
- Vector Calculus
- DIfferential Equations
- Math for Quantitative Finance
- Group Theory
- Equations in Number Theory
- Logic Puzzles
- Pre-Algebra Puzzles
- Algebra Puzzles
- Advanced Algebra Puzzles
- Geometry Puzzles
- Advanced Geometry Puzzles
- Probability and Statistics Puzzles
- Advanced Number Puzzles
- Math Fundamentals Puzzles
- Discrete Math Puzzles
Science
- Knowledge and Uncertainty
- Scientific Thinking
- Physics of the Everyday
- The Chemical Reaction
- Classical Mechanics
- Astrophysics
- Gravitational Physics
- Electricity and Magnetism
- Quantum Objects
- Kurzgesagt- Beyond the Nutshell
- Real Engineering
- Quantum Mechanics with SAbines
- Solar Energy
- Computational Biology
- Special Relativity
- Molecules
- Science Puzzles
- Electricity and Waves Puzzles
- Chemistry and Biology Puzzles
- Physics Puzzles
- Classical Mechanics Puzzles
Data
- Exploring Data Visually
- Building Regression Models
- Modeling with Multiple Variables
- Data Analysis Fundamentals
- Random Variables & Distributions
- Introduction to Probability
- Predicting with Probability
- Applied Probability
- Casino Probability
- Perplexing Probability
- Statistics Fundamentals
- Hypothesis Testing
- Sampling
- Case Study: Unlocking Rental Value on Airbnb
- Case Study: Going Viral on X
- Case Study: Topping the Charts with Spotify
- Case Study: Maximizing Electric Car Value
Computer Science
- Thinking in Code
- Creative Coding
- Computer Science Fundamentals
- Introduction to Algorithms
- Algorithms and Data Structures
- Programming with Python
- Introduction to Neural Networks
- How LLMs Work
- How Technology Works
- Search Engines
- Cryptocurrency
- Quantum Computing
- Artificial Neural Networks
- Reinforcement Learning
- Computer Memory
- Computer Science Puzzles
- Advanced Computer Science Puzzles
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, $13.49 a month for the annual plan or $749.99 for a lifetime subscription. 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 $9 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. In this plan, each person gets their own individual Premium account.
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. For one month the cost is $24.99, for one year the cost is $161.88 and the lifetime cost is $749.99.
Brilliant for Educators
Brilliant for Educators is a way for educators to elevate STEM learning in the classroom for free! In order to obtain Brilliant for free, you will need to complete the Educator applicant form then you can create classes and assign content and invite your students! Educators or students who aren’t eligible for free access can use Brilliant for Educators for a discounted subscription price.
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. 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.
Key Takeaways
Frequently asked questions about Brilliant
Does Brilliant offer certificates?
How long does a course take to complete?
What age group is Brilliant for?
