Brilliant

What is Brilliant?

Brilliant is an interactive learning platform focused on mathematics, science, computer science, and data science. Founded by Sue Khim in 2012, Brilliant distinguishes itself through an active learning approach where users solve carefully designed problems and puzzles rather than passively watching videos. This methodology helps develop critical thinking skills and deeper conceptual understanding through engaged problem-solving and visual, interactive demonstrations.

Key Features

Brilliant delivers its unique STEM learning experience through several distinctive elements: interactive problem-solving that requires active engagement, visual demonstrations that build intuition, progressive difficulty sequences that adapt to learner proficiency, daily challenges to build consistent practice, guided course pathways that build foundations systematically, coding exercises for applied learning, and thoughtfully designed simulations that illustrate complex concepts. Courses are structured into concepts with bite-sized lessons that can fit into busy schedules.

Who Should Use Brilliant?

Brilliant is particularly valuable for STEM students seeking deeper understanding beyond rote learning, professionals wanting to strengthen quantitative and analytical skills, lifelong learners interested in mathematics and sciences, parents supporting children's STEM education, coding beginners learning programming concepts, analytical thinkers who enjoy problem-solving challenges, and anyone preparing for technical interviews or academic advancement. The platform works well for those who learn through doing rather than watching or reading.

Pricing

Brilliant offers a subscription model with limited free access to selected problems and partial courses. The Premium subscription costs approximately $12.50/month with annual billing ($149.99/year) or $24.99/month billed monthly. Premium provides complete access to all courses, guided solutions, offline mode, and new content as it's released. The platform occasionally offers discounted rates for students and educators, and group rates for educational institutions or organizations.

User Experience

Users consistently praise Brilliant for its thoughtfully designed interactive approach that makes learning engaging and effective. The platform's clean, intuitive interface guides users through progressively challenging content that builds both skills and confidence. The visual elements and simulations receive particular acclaim for making abstract concepts tangible and intuitive. While the subscription represents an investment, many users find the quality of the interactive learning experience and course design justifies the cost compared to more passive learning alternatives.

Bottom Line

Brilliant stands out in the educational technology landscape through its commitment to active, problem-based learning rather than passive content consumption. While it may not offer formal credentials or cover the breadth of subjects found on some platforms, it excels at developing deep understanding and intuition in STEM topics through its innovative interactive approach. For learners seeking to truly master mathematical and scientific concepts rather than merely memorizing them, Brilliant provides a uniquely engaging and effective learning environment that builds both knowledge and problem-solving capabilities.