What is Khanmigo? Khan Academy's AI tutor, explained for parents
Khanmigo is Khan Academy's AI tutor, built on large language models but designed not to simply give answers — it asks guiding questions instead. That makes it one of the safest AI homework tools, and using it as designed isn't cheating. But it can't stop a kid from copying elsewhere, and it can't tell you whether tonight's homework was actually understood. A two-minute conversation still does that.
Khanmigo is an AI tutor made by Khan Academy, the nonprofit behind free online math and science lessons. Unlike homework solvers such as Gauth or Photomath, Khanmigo is deliberately built not to hand over answers: when a child asks it to solve a problem, it asks them what they've tried and nudges them toward the next step. It's also available free for teachers and through many school districts. Here's what parents need to know about what it does — and what it doesn't.
What is Khanmigo?
Khanmigo is a chat-based tutor that sits inside Khan Academy. A student can ask for help with a math problem, get feedback on an essay draft, practice a debate, or chat with historical figures for a history assignment. It's designed around the Socratic method — questions instead of answers — and parents on the family plan can see their child's conversations.
Families can get it through a Khan Academy parent account for a small monthly fee, and many schools provide it free to students through district partnerships. Check with your child's school before paying.
Is Khanmigo cheating?
Used as intended, no. It's the rare AI tool that's actually designed to make kids do the thinking. The line that matters is the same as with any tool:
- Not cheating: working through a problem with Khanmigo's hints, then solving the next one alone.
- Not cheating: getting feedback on your own essay draft and revising it yourself.
- Where it goes wrong: a determined kid can still get a near-answer by pushing hard, or simply switch to Gauth or ChatGPT when Khanmigo won't give in. Its guardrails protect the kid who uses it — they don't stop the kid who goes around it.
Khanmigo vs. homework solver apps
| Khanmigo | Solver apps (Gauth, Photomath) | What a parent needs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gives the answer? | No — asks guiding questions | Yes, with steps | Neither — a read on the finished work |
| Who it's for | The kid | The kid | You |
| Parent visibility | Chat history on family plan | None | A plain-language summary tonight |
| Cost | Small monthly fee, often free via school | Free with paid tiers | Free first check |
| The gap | Kid can switch to a solver app | Kid can skip the thinking | Confirms learning either way |
Khanmigo is a good tutor, but a tutor isn't a check. To see whether tonight's finished work looks like your kid's own thinking, paste it into our homework checker. If you want to help explain a topic yourself without a subscription, explain my kid's homework gives you the concept in plain language and where kids usually get stuck.
The 3 questions to ask tonight
- "What did Khanmigo ask you?" A kid who actually used it can tell you the question that got them unstuck.
- "Walk me through this step." Point at any middle step on the finished work. Understanding survives being questioned.
- "Did you use anything else?" Ask calmly. If Khanmigo wouldn't give the answer, many kids open another app — better to know.
Is Khanmigo safe for kids?
It's one of the most kid-conscious AI tools available: moderated, education-only, with parent visibility on family accounts and school oversight on district accounts. It can still make mistakes, especially in math, so encourage your child to question an explanation that doesn't make sense. For the wider picture of which AI apps suit which ages, see our guide to whether AI is safe for kids.
The bottom line: if your child is going to use an AI tutor, Khanmigo is a good one. Pair it with a simple rule from our AI homework rulebook — explain it out loud after — and you'll know it's working.
Frequently asked questions
What is Khanmigo?
Khanmigo is Khan Academy's AI tutor. It helps students with math, writing, science, and history by asking guiding questions rather than giving answers, and it's available through Khan Academy family accounts and many school districts.
Is Khanmigo cheating?
Used as designed, no — it's built to make students do the thinking and won't simply hand over answers. The risk is a student switching to another app when Khanmigo won't give the answer.
How much does Khanmigo cost?
Families can subscribe through a Khan Academy parent account for a small monthly fee. It's free for teachers, and many school districts provide it free to students — check with your school first.
Does Khanmigo give answers?
Not directly. When asked to solve a problem it asks what the student has tried and offers hints toward the next step. Persistent students can sometimes get close to an answer, but it's designed not to give it outright.
Can parents see Khanmigo chats?
Yes, on family accounts parents can review their child's conversations. On school accounts, teachers typically have visibility instead.
Is Khanmigo safe for kids?
It's one of the more kid-appropriate AI tools: moderated, focused on schoolwork, and visible to parents or teachers. Like any AI, it can occasionally be wrong, so kids should question explanations that don't make sense.
Have a specific piece of homework in mind?
Paste it — or a screenshot of it — into the Homework Check on our homepage and ask your question. You'll get a plain-language read on whether the thinking looks like your kid's, what stood out, and the questions worth asking them. First check is free.