App Showcase: Brilliant

What it does

Brilliant is a learning platform designed to teach math, science, and computer science through interactive problem-solving. Instead of traditional video lectures, the app presents concepts in bite-sized, engaging lessons that require active participation. The core idea is to help users develop an intuitive understanding of complex subjects by tackling challenges and getting immediate feedback.

Where it shines

Brilliant excels at making abstract concepts tangible. The 'Understanding Variables' lesson (02:11) uses simple, visual weight-scale puzzles to introduce algebraic thinking without overwhelming the user. This hands-on approach is consistent throughout the app. Another strength is its multi-layered motivation system. After completing a lesson (03:48) and practice session (05:11), the user earns XP, builds a daily streak, and eventually unlocks competitive leagues (09:25), catering to various engagement styles.

UX highlights

• Competency-based onboarding: The app uses actual math problems (00:30) to gauge a user's skill level, making personalization feel more accurate and earned.
• Thematic loading animations: Instead of generic spinners, Brilliant uses tangram-style animations (02:05) that reinforce its problem-solving brand identity.
• Interactive explanations: When a user gets a problem wrong, the explanation often includes interactive elements (02:43), allowing them to explore the solution actively rather than just reading it.
• Clear lesson pathways: The course structure is visualized as a clear, branching path (02:01), showing the user exactly where they are and what comes next.
• Celebratory feedback: Completing lessons or practice sessions triggers satisfying animations and XP counters (03:49, 05:12), positively reinforcing progress.

Monetization & growth

After a detailed onboarding quiz and account creation, Brilliant presents a paywall at 01:04. It offers a single annual plan with a 7-day free trial. The paywall itself is well-structured, featuring a visual trial timeline to build trust, user testimonials for social proof, and a clear feature comparison table. This is a classic 'free trial' model, gating the core content to drive high-intent users to subscribe early in their journey. The app uses Apple's native subscription flow for a frictionless checkout experience (01:24).

Who it’s for

Brilliant targets lifelong learners, students, and professionals who want to sharpen their analytical and problem-solving skills. The content ranges from foundational math to advanced topics like quantum computing, suggesting a broad audience. Its interactive, game-like format is particularly well-suited for individuals who find traditional, passive learning methods unengaging. The focus on building habits through streaks makes it ideal for users seeking consistent, daily brain exercise.

Notes & opportunities

The onboarding flow is long and places both a sign-up wall and a paywall before the user can experience the core product. While this likely qualifies for highly motivated users, it could also lead to a significant drop-off. Exposing users to a full interactive lesson before the paywall could be a powerful test to improve conversion. Additionally, the initial course recommendation screen (01:41) could benefit from explaining why a specific path was chosen based on the user's quiz answers, further closing the personalization loop.