The Nerd Series

Why Brilliant is The Best Online Learning Platform

Education July, 06, 2025

Brilliant.org is an e-learning platform devoted to STEM subjects. Its 60+ Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) courses all provide an active learning environment.

Sue Khim started Brilliant in 2012, and it has increased to 4 million members in the last ten years. Award-winning professors, academics, and experts from Microsoft, Duke, Google, and MIT are among the course designers. Its classes are built around hands-on learning to keep the experience interesting and enjoyable.

However, this does not necessarily imply that Brilliant is the best educational tool for you. So, in this comprehensive Brilliant.org review, we'll find out everything you need to know.

Pros

  1. Interactive: This course is very well designed in a way so that learners can participate very well. the courses are so crafted that the learner would be engaged and interactive throughout the course.
  2. Free trial: If any user wishes to try the premium plan, then before that he can opt for the 7-day free trial program.
  3. Beginner-friendly: Brilliant has created a number of courses aimed at teaching the essentials to novices. Then there are intermediate and advanced courses to choose from.
  4. Self-paced: The courses of brilliant are designed in such a way that they all are self-paced. This feature allows you to finish any given exercise in time according to your convenience.
  5. Mobile app: The mobile app of brilliant is very user-friendly. This app allows users to download courses in offline mode (Max 6 at a time) and then study and learn according to their convenience.

Cons

  1. Limited topic: Because Brilliant primarily covers STEM courses, it's preferable to look at Coursera or Skillshare if you're looking for something else.
  2. Only Subscription: That is a big drawback of brilliant. Either you have to go for an annual or monthly program, you cannot pay for just the course you want.
  3. No Certificates: Brilliant's courses don't include any certifications of completion, and the emphasis isn't on professional development. Therefore, you cannot get a certificate for your learning here. Thus, if you care about that thing, you should look into Udacity or Datacamp.

Brilliant review verdict

Anyone who appreciates learning and problem-solving should visit Brilliant.org. Its 60+ bite-sized courses are all interactive and involve active learning and are based on STEM topics: Technology, Science, Math, and Engineering. The platform is extremely user-friendly and simple to utilize. You can choose from one of three membership levels and take advantage of a seven-day free trial.

Who is Brilliant for?

Now, that isn't the easiest thing to answer, but Brilliant boasts that its courses are suitable for people aged 10 to 110. Brilliant may be an appropriate platform for you if you appreciate problem-solving and confronting difficulties through interaction and hands-on learning.

Students, professionals, and lifelong learners will all gain from this exceptional learning experience. It's a platform that most of us can benefit from, whether we're trying to understand ideas through problem-solving or just want to keep our minds engaged.

Its emphasis on STEM topics provides a fresh approach to studying these crucial skills, which you may not have previously found enjoyable. I know that in high school, Math and Science were not my favorite subjects, but after doing some of Brilliant's guided activities, I have a newfound enthusiasm for these subjects and have also had some fun dilemmas with them. It has truly transformed subjects that were formerly dreaded into a guided discovery experience.

It's important to note now that if you already know you don't want to take STEM classes and want to learn about a wider range of topics, you should look at alternatives like Coursera, Udacity, or Datacamp, which are more focused on achieving educational goals and expanding your career.

Brilliant for educators

Brilliant isn't just for students; it also provides free educational resources for teachers and professionals. This grants you accessibility to active learning, problem-solving activities, teaching tools, and other resources.

To enroll for an account of education, simply fill out the registration form and survey to determine your requirements. Once you've been accepted, you'll be able to choose from up to six courses and participate in limitless daily challenges. You can then invite your students to join you on the Brilliant platform.

You must be a classroom teacher and be able to validate your education status in order to apply. The teacher account will be active for a period of two years.

How much are brilliant courses

Brilliant.org has a Free and a Premium version. The complimentary account is limited to the Today page, which includes a sample of daily courses online as well as the opportunity to synchronize your performance across the mobile and web app.

The Premium experience, on the other hand, offers three different membership plans, all of which include easy accessibility to the 60+ courses, as well as offline modes on mobile apps and assisted courses. You have three options for paying for the Premium plan:

Monthly payment of $24.99

Pay $149.85 for a year (equivalent to $12.49 each month)

Pay $299.89 for a year for groups of three or more.

Free trial of 7 day

If you opt to join Brilliant premium, you'll be able to take advantage of a 7-day free trial. You can begin your 7-day free trial once you've signed up, but you must do so within two days of joining Brilliant.org.

This means that when you create an account for the premium package, you'll have to provide your payment information before you can start enjoying the perks. But don't worry, you won't be charged this until the free trial of 7 days is up, and you'll be able to cancel it at any time by choosing 'End trial' here. You will not be charged in this manner.

Brilliant gift plan

Brilliant does provide a gifting plan where you may buy a premium package for a friend or family member. You can choose between purchasing a one-year plan or lifetime access.

Brilliant group plan

Brilliant now provides a Group plan in addition to the gift plan. It's a yearly strategy that you can discuss with your family, class, or team. 3 to 50 individuals can be accommodated on the Brilliant Premium club package. If you are a meaningfully, you can contact Brilliant to discuss your options.

How to open a brilliant account?

Brilliant.org makes creating an account a breeze. To set up a free account, simply follow these simple instructions:

  1. Go to brilliant.org and click the "Get Started" button
  2. Continue by answering questions about your learning experience by clicking 'Continue.'
  3. Add an email address or sign up with a Google or Facebook account
  4. Confirm your email address (or Google or Facebook account)

Most popular brilliant courses

If you're new to Brilliant.org, you might be unsure of where to begin. I've put together nine different learning paths, each of which has a collection of courses aimed at helping you become a better student while mastering a specific topic.

Math foundations

The Math Foundations programme consists of seven courses that begin with pre-algebra and progress to geometry and algebra essentials.

Enrichment and competition math

These courses are designed for math aficionados who want to learn more about geometry, logic, number theory, and probability. It's a great place to start if you already know the basics and want to practice and review what you've learned.

Probability, statistics, and Finance

Anyone intrigued by statistics and probability, as well as their real-world applications, should take this online course. These courses are for you if you want to improve your understanding of basic probability and statistics principles.

Intermediate math

These classes are for anyone interested in progressing to more advanced math. Algebra II, Geometry II, and Number Theory are the more advanced topics, which are followed by Trigonometry, Pre Calculus, and Complex numbers.

Road to Calculus and advance Math

Calculus, as well as the principles of linear algebra, group theory, and differential equations, are covered in these courses. This learning path is for anyone interested in learning advanced mathematics and who has already completed Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus.

Science foundations

These programs are for anyone interested in learning the fundamentals of scientific reasoning and science. It will guide you through the fundamentals of scientific thought, as well as more advanced topics such as Classical Mechanics Magnetism, and Electricity.

Advanced and applied science

This e-learning course is designed for students who have completed foundational science courses and want to learn more about advanced topics. This learning path will cover complex topics such as Computational Biology, Special Relativity, Quantum Computing, and more.

Computer Science foundation

These courses will introduce you to the fundamentals of computer science. You'll start with programming and algorithms and work your way up to more advanced topics like neural networks.

Applied computer science

These programs are for anyone who has a basic understanding of computer science and wants to learn about more advanced topics. The topics covered in this learning path are Neural Networks, Quantum Computing, and Cryptocurrency.