Ask Poppy vs Khanmigo
Two ways to get help without being handed the answer. Here's what each actually does, what it costs, who it's for, and where Khanmigo is the better choice. (Disclosure: we make Ask Poppy. Facts about Khanmigo come from Khan Academy (nonprofit)'s own pages, as checked 18 Oct 2026, and are linked so you can verify them.)
Ask Poppy, the AI tutor that asks instead of tells. Free, 30 messages a day · iPhone, iPad, Mac
At a glance
| Khanmigo | Ask Poppy | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Khan Academy, a US nonprofit | Poppy Labs AS (Oslo), a small, new team |
| What it is | An AI tutor built into Khan Academy's free course library, plus writing, coding and career coaching | An AI tutor and mentor app you talk to (hold to talk, it speaks back) or type to |
| Answers by default? | No. Khan says it "never gives you the answer" and guides you to find it (khanmigo.ai) | No. It asks what you know and gives hints instead of handing over answers. That is the whole design, not a mode |
| Subjects | Maths, science, coding, history, humanities and more, tied to Khan Academy exercises, videos and articles | Any topic you bring. It can look up curriculum goals for supported subjects and countries, but has no course library of exercises or videos |
| Voice | Yes: speech-to-text and read-aloud (khanmigo.ai) | Yes, voice in and out |
| Parents | Parent account adds up to 10 children under 18 (khanmigo.ai) | Up to three child profiles; parents can see their children's conversations |
| Platforms | Web (desktop and mobile browser). The Khan Academy app has Khanmigo Activities, but not the chat (Khan help) | iPhone, iPad and Mac (Apple silicon). No Android or web app |
| Free option | Not for learners and parents (free for teachers in some countries) | Yes, 30 messages a day |
| Paid (US) | $4/month or $44/year (khanmigo.ai) | $9.99/month or $99.99/year |
| Age | Account holder must be 18+, live in the US with a US billing address; parents add up to 10 children under 18 (khanmigo.ai) | Rated 4+ on the App Store |
| Source | khanmigo.ai/learners | App Store listing |
"Unknown" means we couldn't confirm it on an official page. Prices are US prices and can differ by country and platform.
Where Khanmigo is better
- A real curriculum. Khanmigo sits inside Khan Academy's structured courses, exercises and videos. Ask Poppy has no course library; you bring the topic.
- Price. At $4/month it costs much less than Ask Poppy's paid plan, and one parent subscription covers up to 10 children.
- Track record and scale. Khan Academy has years of classroom use and a Common Sense Media 4-star rating it cites on its page. Ask Poppy is new.
- Extras. Coding feedback (JS, HTML, Python, SQL), essay feedback and college or career coaching.
- Works on any computer with a browser, including Windows and Chromebooks.
Where Ask Poppy is different
- Available outside the US. Khanmigo for learners and parents requires a US address and US billing. Ask Poppy is on the App Store in other countries too.
- Free to start. 30 messages a day without paying; Khanmigo for learners has no free tier.
- Conversation first. Ask Poppy is built around talking a topic through out loud, on any subject, rather than around a course.
- Full chat in a phone app. Ask Poppy's voice and text chat is in its iPhone and iPad app (and on Mac). Khanmigo's chat isn't in the Khan Academy app, though it works in a mobile browser.
Does it give you the answer?
Khan Academy says Khanmigo "never gives you the answer" and instead guides learners to work it out. Khanmigo is also switched off on Khan Academy quizzes, unit tests and mastery challenges (Khan help). Ask Poppy is designed the same way: it asks what you already know and gives hints instead of answers. We have not run a controlled test of how firmly either one holds back when a learner pushes hard for the answer.
Who should pick which
Pick Khanmigo if
you live in the US, want structured maths, science or coding practice with a tutor alongside, want one low price for several children, or use Windows or a Chromebook.
Pick Ask Poppy if
you are outside the US, use an iPhone, iPad or Mac, want to talk a topic through out loud on anything (a book, a TOK title, a hobby), or want to try for free first.
Use both if
you are in the US and want Khan's structure for core subjects plus a talk-it-through partner for everything else.
Try it yourself: a 15-minute side-by-side test
Don't take our word for it (or theirs). Pick one problem you're genuinely stuck on and run it through both:
- Type or say: "I'm stuck on this. Help me, but I want to learn it." Don't ask for the answer.
- Notice: did it ask what you already know, or start explaining?
- After two hints, say "just tell me the answer". Does it hold its ground kindly, or give in?
- Close the app and explain the idea back in your own words. Our free Explain it back check helps.
- Tomorrow, try a similar problem from memory. The tool that left you able to do that is the one that worked for you.
We don't claim either tool improves grades or is safer; we haven't measured that. Spot something out of date? Email [email protected] and we'll fix it and update the date.
Want to try the Ask Poppy side of this test? Ask Poppy is an AI tutor you talk or type to. It asks questions and gives one hint at a time instead of handing you the answer, and it remembers where you left off so you can pick it up again tomorrow.
Free, 30 messages a day on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Optional subscription. (Disclosure: this site is made by the Ask Poppy team.)
Questions
Is Khanmigo available outside the US?
For learners and parents, Khan Academy says you must live in the United States and have a US billing address. Check khanmigo.ai for changes.
Does Khanmigo give answers?
Khan Academy says no: it is designed to guide learners to the answer rather than give it.
Is Ask Poppy cheaper than Khanmigo?
No. Khanmigo is $4/month or $44/year. Ask Poppy is free for 30 messages a day, then $9.99/month or $99.99/year in the US App Store.