An honest look at EconoFlo, Khan Academy, Investopedia, and WAMLI — interactive vs. video vs. text, what each is good for, and where each falls short.
EconoFlo is the free, in-browser option where you do the math by playing with it — change a rate, a term, a payment, and watch the curve move. Khan Academy and WAMLI are better if you want structured video lessons. Investopedia is better as a reference to read. The BA II Plus wins when a teacher demands a calculator. They all solve different parts of the problem.
| EconoFlo | Khan Academy | Investopedia | WAMLI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free | Free (ads) + paid subscription | Free |
| Format | Interactive simulators & visualizations | Videos + practice questions | Articles, glossary, courses | Video courses |
| Time Value of Money (TVM) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (basic) |
| See the effect of a variable instantly | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Structured curriculum / progression | ✗ | ✓ | Paid tracks | ✓ |
| Works on a phone, no account | ✓ | Account recommended | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ideal for | Building intuition by experimentation | Structured self-study | Looking up a term or formula | Personal-finance video learning |
The experiment-first option. A free, browser-based companion that teaches economics fundamentals — TVM and IRR front and center — by letting you drag the numbers and watch the result change live.
The structured self-study option. Free video lessons and practice questions from a well-known non-profit. If you want to work through economics the way you'd work through a course, this is the default.
The reference option. The place to look up what an IRR actually means. Articles and glossary entries are excellent; deeper courses sit behind a paid subscription.
The personal-finance video option. Well-regarded free video courses on money and markets, aimed at building everyday financial literacy rather than classroom economics.
Learning a course? Start with Khan Academy's structured path, and keep EconoFlo open in a second tab — every time a lesson mentions compounding or discounting, reproduce it in the simulator. That loop (watch → experiment) is where the intuition actually forms.
Just need to understand a number? Open EconoFlo directly. Type in the loan, the rate, the years, and move one variable at a time.
Lost on a term? Investopedia's glossary, then come back to see it in motion.
Exam requiring a BA II Plus? Buy the calculator. No app — free or otherwise — shows up on a locked-down exam hall.
Interactive TVM and economics simulators. No account, no ads, no paywall. It stays free because people like you keep it that way.
Open EconoFloAll Nine Free Apps