Best AI for homework help
What is the best AI to help with homework?
ChatGPT is the best all-round AI for homework help because its free study mode guides you step by step instead of just giving answers. Gemini is excellent when you snap a photo of a worksheet, and Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) is best for revising from your own class notes. Always follow your school's rules on AI.
Our shortlist
| # | Tool | Best for | Free plan? | Paid from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ChatGPT | Best overall | Yes | US$8/month (Go, may include ads) |
| 2 | Gemini | Best for photo questions | Yes | US$4.99/month (Google AI Plus, in 160+ countries) |
| 3 | Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) | Best for revising your own notes | Yes | Not sold on its own – higher limits come with Google AI Plus (from US$4.99/month) and above. |
1. ChatGPT – best overall
Study mode is listed on the free plan; it asks questions and explains steps, which supports learning rather than copying.
Free plan: Free plan: everyday text chats with fair-use limits, plus limited uploads, image creation, voice and deep research. Full ChatGPT profile →
2. Gemini – best for photo questions
Free with a Google account; you can upload a picture of a question and get a step-by-step breakdown.
Free plan: Free with a Google account, including Deep Research, Gemini Live and image generation, with lower usage limits. Full Gemini profile →
3. Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) – best for revising your own notes
Answers only from the documents you upload, which reduces made-up facts, and can turn notes into audio overviews.
Free plan: Free with a Google account; higher limits with Google AI plans. Full Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) profile →
Try it now: step-by-step guides
Each guide has a copy-and-paste prompt you can use with any of the tools above.
Help your child with homework (without doing it for them)
Rough guide only: 15 minutes a session
📚 Study & learningGet step-by-step help with a maths problem
Rough guide only: 15–30 minutes of being stuck
📚 Study & learningGet any topic explained simply
Rough guide only: 1 hour
📚 Study & learningPlan an essay structure
Rough guide only: 30–60 minutes
📚 Study & learningTurn your notes into a study guide and podcast
Rough guide only: 2–3 hours
📘 Get 20 ready-made prompts for homework help and more
20 copy-and-paste prompts for everyday life, as a free PDF – plus one friendly AI tip a week. Unsubscribe any time.
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Things to watch out for
- AI can sound confident and still be wrong.
- Check age limits in each tool's terms.
- Don't paste passwords, bank details or other people's private information into any AI tool.
How we chose
These are editorial picks by Amara Lewis, based on what each tool's free and paid plans include, how easy it is for a beginner, and how well it suits this task. We have not run formal benchmark tests for this page, and no company paid to be listed. Read how we review.
Frequently asked questions
Is using AI for homework cheating?
It depends on the school and the task. Using AI to understand a topic is usually fine; submitting AI-written work as your own usually isn't. Check the rules.
Which AI is best for maths homework?
ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude can all explain maths step by step from a photo. Ask them to check their working, as arithmetic slips still happen.
Is AI safe for children?
Most assistants require users to be 13+ (and some 18+) – check each tool's terms and supervise younger children.
Not sure where to start?
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