Brilliant vs Synthesis Tutor
Brilliant
brilliant.orgSynthesis Tutor
synthesis.comSide by side
| Figure | Brilliant | Synthesis Tutor |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $29/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 6 | 8 |
| Spec score · Math Learning Apps | 9.4 (#1) | 8.6 (#19) |
| Company headquarters | Crunchbase and aVenture list headquarters in San Francisco, California, United States. | The maker states that it is headquartered in Scotts Valley, California. |
| Company legal name | Crunchbase lists the legal name as Brilliant Worldwide, Inc., a private for-profit company. | The maker identifies itself as Synthesis School, Inc. |
| Company size | Crunchbase lists 51–100 employees, while aVenture reports 122 current employees. | LinkedIn lists Synthesis as a privately held education company with 11–50 employees. |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Crunchbase lists Brilliant as a Series C company with eight funding rounds and Reach Capital as a Series C lead investor, but obscures the dollar totals. | Crunchbase lists three funding rounds and investors including O'Shaughnessy Ventures, while the dollar amounts are obscured. |
| Rating on Apple App Store | 4.7 out of 5 from 33K ratings | 4.6 out of 5 from 10K ratings |
| Rating on Trustpilot | 4.2 out of 5 from 2,980 reviews | 4.4 out of 5 from 319 reviews |
| Support | The Help Center covers product features, curriculum, pricing, educator use, account management and troubleshooting, with support available at [email protected]. | The company lists [email protected] for email inquiries. |
| System requirements | The Apple listing requires iOS 17 or later, iPadOS 17 or later, or macOS 14 with an Apple M1-or-newer Mac; it also supports visionOS 1 or later. | The iPad app requires iPadOS 16 or later; Android tablets require Android 13 or later and an 8-inch-or-larger screen; 4 GB RAM and a 50 Mbps connection are recommended. |
| What it does | Brilliant is an interactive STEM learning service focused on math, coding, data science, science, technology, logic and AI. | Synthesis Tutor is an adaptive AI math tutor for children approximately ages 5–11 covering K–5 mathematics. |
Plans
Brilliant
- FreeFree
- Group AnnualPrice not published
- Individual Premium$20 a month
- Individual Premium (annual)$20 a year
- Family Premium$40 a month
- Family Premium (annual)$40 a year
Synthesis Tutor
- Individual Monthly$45 a month
- Individual Annual$348 a year
- Individual Lifetime$999 a month
- Family Monthly$70 a month
- Family Annual$400 a year
- Family Lifetime$1,499 a month
- Individual Lifetime$999, paid once
- Family Lifetime$1,499, paid once
In their own words
Brilliant
Brilliant is an interactive STEM learning service with courses in math, coding, data science, science, technology, and AI. Learners work through problems, explore visual models, and receive immediate feedback. Most courses include Koji, a digital tutor that guides learners through reasoning step by step. Free accounts can access all courses but are limited to two lessons per day in sequence, see occasional ads, and receive only a limited Koji preview. Premium adds unlimited lessons and practice, the option to jump to any lesson, an ad-free experience, and full Koji access. Individual Premium is listed at $20 a year, billed as one payment and renewed annually; Family Premium is $40 a year, also billed as one payment and renewed annually, with six seats included. Eligible K–12 teachers and their students may receive free Premium through an application-reviewed educator program. That program supports Google Classroom roster syncing and lesson sharing. Its reports show lesson completion, time spent, course progress, and completion dates, but not answer-level correctness or formal grades. Brilliant runs on Android, iOS, and web, and lessons require an internet connection and cannot be downloaded.
Synthesis Tutor
Synthesis Tutor is a personalized math learning product for children ages 5–11, covering standard K–5 topics such as counting, arithmetic, fractions and algebraic thinking. Lessons target gaps in a child’s knowledge and use real-time micro-assessments to check understanding before advancing. For children under 7, text and answer choices are read aloud automatically, and voice speed can be adjusted. The Tutor is available in English and Spanish on the web and iOS, with other languages in progress. Schools, classrooms, homeschooling pods and districts can inquire through an interest form. A seven-day trial is listed, though the facts do not specify a free plan. Individual Monthly costs $35 a month for one child; Family Monthly is $29 a month for up to seven children. Annual and lifetime options are also listed, including Family Annual at $119 a year for up to seven children.