Best AI for maths
What is the best AI for maths?
For everyday and school maths, ChatGPT is the best free AI because it explains each step and its study mode lets you try the next step yourself. Gemini is great for photographing a printed question, and Claude gives clear written explanations. Always double-check the final answer – AI tools still make arithmetic slips.
Our shortlist
1. ChatGPT – best overall
Free plan with step-by-step explanations, study mode and the ability to run calculations.
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 photographed questions
Upload a picture of a worksheet and get a guided breakdown; free with a Google account.
Free plan: Free with a Google account, including Deep Research, Gemini Live and image generation, with lower usage limits. Full Gemini profile →
3. Claude – best for clear explanations
Free plan; gives patient, well-structured explanations and can run code to check sums.
Free plan: Free plan on web, desktop and mobile, with web search, memory and file creation; usage limits reset every five hours. Full Claude 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.
Get step-by-step help with a maths problem
Rough guide only: 15–30 minutes of being stuck
👨👩👧 Parenting & familyHelp your child with homework (without doing it for them)
Rough guide only: 15 minutes a session
📚 Study & learningGet any topic explained simply
Rough guide only: 1 hour
💷 MoneyBuild a simple monthly budget
Rough guide only: 1–2 hours
📘 Get 20 ready-made prompts for maths 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
- Arithmetic slips happen – verify answers.
- Exam boards and schools may restrict AI use.
- 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
Can AI solve any maths problem?
Not reliably. They're good at school-level maths but can make mistakes – check with a calculator.
Is there an AI that shows the working?
Yes – ask any of these to show each step and explain why.
Is it OK for homework?
Follow your school's rules. Using AI to learn the method is usually fine.
Not sure where to start?
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