Khanmigo is Khan Academy’s AI tutor and teaching assistant. Unlike a general chatbot, it’s designed to guide students to the answer rather than hand it over, which makes it one of the more school-friendly AI tools.
In this guide I’ll explain what Khanmigo does, what it costs, who can use it, and the safety features parents and teachers should know about.
What is Khanmigo?
Khanmigo is built into Khan Academy, the free non-profit learning site. It works alongside Khan Academy’s lessons and practice exercises:
- For students: a tutor that asks questions, gives hints and explains steps, instead of just giving answers. It’s strongest in maths.
- For teachers: tools for lesson planning, writing questions and summarising student work.
- For parents: a way to see how children are using it.
How Khanmigo tutors
Khan Academy describes it as Socratic. If a student asks “what’s the answer?”, Khanmigo responds with a question or a hint to get them thinking. That makes it harder to use for copying, and much closer to how a good human tutor works.
It can still make mistakes, like any AI, so students should check its explanations against their lessons.
How much does Khanmigo cost?
According to Khanmigo’s official pricing page:
| Who | Price |
|---|---|
| Teachers | Free |
| Learners | $4/month or $44/year (plus sales tax) |
| Families (parent plan with children) | $4/month or $44/year |
| Schools and districts | Price on request |
Reviews say the paid learner and family plans are limited to the US, and the person buying must be 18 or over. Children use Khanmigo through a parent’s account. In schools, students get access when their district has a Khan Academy Districts partnership. Teachers can’t switch it on for students by themselves.
Safety and privacy
- Moderated conversations: chats are monitored for safety, and there are daily usage limits.
- Adult visibility: parents and teachers can see chat history, and parents can get alerts if a conversation is flagged. Students should know their chats aren’t private.
- Learning-first design: it’s built to avoid simply doing homework for students.
Khanmigo vs ChatGPT and Gemini for school
- Khanmigo: built for learning, guides rather than answers, linked to Khan Academy courses, with adult oversight.
- ChatGPT and Gemini: much broader and more powerful, but it’s up to the student to use them honestly. Both now have study-style modes.
For students without Khanmigo access, my guides on how to use ChatGPT for school and Google Gemini for students show how to get similar tutor-style help.
Is Khanmigo worth it?
- Teachers: yes, try it, as it’s free.
- Families in the US: at $4 a month, it’s affordable if your child already uses Khan Academy and wants guided help.
- Students elsewhere: check whether your school offers it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Khanmigo free? It’s free for teachers. Learners and families pay $4 a month or $44 a year. Schools get pricing on request.
Does Khanmigo give answers? It’s designed to guide students with questions and hints rather than give answers straight away.
Can parents see Khanmigo chats? Yes, on a family plan, parents can see their child’s chat history and get alerts about flagged conversations.
Is Khanmigo available outside the US? Teacher tools are available in supported regions. Paid learner and family plans are US-only, according to reviews.
Related guides on WebTechHelp
- How to use ChatGPT for school the right way
- Google Gemini for students
- Gemini Notebook (NotebookLM) for students
Sources
- Khanmigo: Pricing
- The Rundown: Khanmigo features, pricing and safety
