Khan Academy
Free education for everyone, forever.
What is Khan Academy?
- 100% free, nonprofit education site.
- Started by Salman Khan in 2008.
- Funded by Bill Gates Foundation + others.
- No subscription, no ads, no hidden costs.
- Used by 100+ million students worldwide.
- Available on KhanAcademy.org or app.
Subjects covered
- Math — basic to college calculus.
- Science — physics, chemistry, biology.
- History — world + American.
- Economics + finance.
- Computer programming.
- Test prep — SAT, MCAT, etc.
Best for seniors
- Refresh subjects you forgot.
- Help grandkids with homework.
- Learn finance + investing concepts.
- Understand world history better.
- Learn modern science discoveries.
- No tests required — just learn for joy.
Khanmigo (AI tutor)
- $4/month for unlimited AI tutoring.
- Ask questions anytime.
- Personalized help when stuck.
- Patient AI tutor — never gets frustrated.
- Reasonably priced supplement.
- Free version still extensive.
How to get started
- Go to KhanAcademy.org.
- Sign up free with email.
- Browse subjects — pick what interests you.
- Watch short video lessons (5–15 min each).
- Practice problems after each video.
- Track your progress over time.
Other free education
- Coursera — audit university courses free.
- edX — Harvard, MIT free courses.
- YouTube — Crash Course, TED-Ed.
- OpenStax — free college textbooks.
- Library e-resources — often include LinkedIn Learning free.
- Senior centers — in-person classes free.
Help your grandkids too
Many seniors discover Khan Academy when grandkids ask for help with homework. The site has a parent dashboard so you can track grandkids' progress too. Spending an hour helping them with math (using Khan to refresh your skills first) creates wonderful intergenerational bonding. The grandkids love that grandma still wants to learn alongside them.