Brilliant offers both a free tier and Premium subscription plans. Both give you access to our interactive courses in math, science, computer science, and more—but they differ significantly in how much you can learn and how you experience the platform.
Quick comparison
With Brilliant Free:
- Limited to 2 keys per day, which unlock 2 lessons or practice sets
- Must work through courses sequentially—no skipping ahead
- See occasional ads between lessons
With Brilliant Premium:
- Unlimited access to all lessons and practice sets—no keys required
- Jump to any lesson in any course—learn in whatever order works for you
- Ad-free experience across web and mobile
What you can access with free vs. Premium
Both free and Premium users can:
- Learn from thousands of interactive lessons
- Solve hands-on problems
- Track progress with streaks and XP
- Compete in Leagues
- Use Brilliant on web, iOS, and Android
The key differences are in how much you can learn per day and how you navigate courses.
Daily learning limits: The key system
Free: Brilliant uses a "key" system to meter content for free users. You receive 2 keys per day, and each key unlocks one lesson or one practice set. Keys reset at midnight in your time zone. Once you've used both keys, you'll need to wait until the next day to continue learning.
Premium: No keys, no limits. Learn as much as you want, whenever you want—perfect for intensive learning or exam preparation.
Course navigation
Free: You must work through each course sequentially, starting with the first lesson and progressing in order. You can't skip ahead to specific topics.
Premium: Jump directly to any lesson in any course. This is especially useful if you want to focus on specific topics or refresh particular concepts without starting from the beginning.
Ad experience
Free: You'll see occasional ads between lessons.
Premium: Completely ad-free across all platforms.
Why upgrade to Premium?
Premium removes all barriers to learning and gives you the flexibility to learn at your own pace:
- Learn without interruption – No daily limits means you can dive deep into topics, binge entire courses, or prepare intensively for exams
- Navigate freely – Jump directly to the topics you need without working through prerequisites
- Ad-free focus – Stay in the flow without distractions
Most learners find that the free tier's 2-lesson daily limit becomes restrictive once they get engaged with the material. Premium unlocks the full Brilliant experience.
Try Premium free
New users are eligible for a free trial so you can experience Premium before subscribing.
Ready to upgrade? Visit our Premium page to compare plans and pricing.
Educators and students
K-12 educators and their students may qualify for free Brilliant Premium through our Brilliant for Educators program. Learn more at educator.brilliant.org.
Have questions? Contact us at support@brilliant.org.