AI study tool that turns lecture recordings, PDFs and videos into notes, summaries, flashcards and quizzes with a 24/7 AI tutor.
Full profile · Official website (opens in a new tab)
Verified Nov 9, 2026
Category guide
Best AI Homework Helpers: Free and Paid
Need help on your homework? A good AI work helper does two jobs: it explains the work step by step so you can actually do it, and it checks your answers before you submit. Treat it as your homework helper — not your ghostwriter. Every tool below is a verified directory profile — the free row states exactly what each free plan covers, from unlimited question-answering on Gemini to Khanmigo's tutor experience. One rule applies everywhere: use the helper to understand the work, and follow your school's AI policy before anything you submit.
8 verified tools7 with a free plan4 with API access
The comparison at a glance
| Criterion | Mindgrasp AI | Google Gemini | Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) | ChatGPT | Claude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | Mindgrasp AI | OpenAI | Anthropic | ||
| What it is for | AI study tool that turns lecture recordings, PDFs and videos into notes, summaries, flashcards and quizzes with a 24/7 AI tutor. | Google's AI assistant, bundled with Google One storage and Workspace apps on paid Google AI plans. | Google's source-grounded research notebook, renamed from NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook in July 2026. | OpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant for chat, writing, coding, research and file work, built on OpenAI's GPT models. | Anthropic's AI assistant for writing, analysis, coding and research, available on web, desktop and mobile. |
| Main capabilities | — |
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| Free plan | No | Yes Base limits | Yes 100 notebooks per user; 50 sources per notebook | Yes Limited usage; exact caps not published on the pages checked | Yes Usage aimed at everyday questions; up to 5 projects |
| Cheapest paid plan | Pricing not verified | Google AI Plus: $4.99/mo | No monthly list price | Go: $8/mo US price; localised elsewhere | Pro: $20/mo $17/mo billed annually $200 billed up front annually |
| Learning curve | — | Beginner-friendly | Beginner-friendly | Beginner-friendly | Beginner-friendly |
| Last verified | Nov 9, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | Oct 19, 2026 | Oct 19, 2026 |
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Tools in this category
Profiles with verified plan details, pricing and limitations — editorial order, not a ranking.
Google's AI assistant, bundled with Google One storage and Workspace apps on paid Google AI plans.
Limitations: Free plan uses the Flash-Lite model
Full profile · Official website (opens in a new tab)
Verified Oct 23, 2026
Google's source-grounded research notebook, renamed from NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook in July 2026.
Limitations: Free tier capped at 100 notebooks and 50 sources per notebook
Full profile · Official website (opens in a new tab)
Verified Oct 23, 2026
OpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant for chat, writing, coding, research and file work, built on OpenAI's GPT models.
Limitations: Model names and rollout change often
Full profile · Official website (opens in a new tab)
Verified Oct 19, 2026
Anthropic's AI assistant for writing, analysis, coding and research, available on web, desktop and mobile.
Limitations: Session-based limits can run out during heavy use
Full profile · Official website (opens in a new tab)
Verified Oct 19, 2026
Which tool fits your situation
Recommendations based on each tool's verified features, plans and documented use cases — where we cannot recommend confidently, we say so.
Science homework with full working
ChatGPT and Claude both explain problems step by step and show their working — ask for the method, not just the answer, then redo the problem yourself. Gemini's free tier also handles photo-based questions.
Understanding the material, not just finishing it
Khanmigo is built as a tutor — it coaches through problems instead of handing over answers, but learner tutoring needs a paid plan. NotebookLM answers only from your own textbook pages and class notes.
Essays and written assignments
Grammarly's free plan checks grammar and clarity; QuillBot's free paraphraser rewords up to 125 words at a time. Use them to tighten your own draft — undisclosed AI writing can breach school policy.
Free options first
Gemini's free tier and ChatGPT's free plan cover unlimited homework questions; Mindgrasp AI offers a free study session at signup for turning lectures and PDFs into notes. Paid plans add tutoring, longer context and LMS integration.
How we would choose
- Free plan must cover real homework sessions, not two questions a day.
- Explainers must show their working — an answer without a method teaches nothing.
- Tutor-style tools that coach instead of copying are the safer choice for learning.
Advantages
- Instant step-by-step explanations for any subject
- Free tiers cover most homework workflows
- Photo-based questions work on the go
Limitations
- AI shows plausible wrong answers — rework the problem yourself
- Submitting AI output as your own work can breach school policy
- Photo-solver habits undermine exam performance
Practical use cases
Illustrative scenarios for this category — not customer case studies.
- Checking your answer before submitting science homework
- Breaking an essay task into an outline you write yourself
- Turning a confusing worksheet question into a worked example
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best free AI homework helper?
- Google Gemini and ChatGPT's free plans answer homework questions with explanations at no cost, and NotebookLM works from your own textbook pages and notes for free. Khanmigo is the strongest tutor experience but needs a paid plan.
- Which AI app helps with science homework?
- ChatGPT and Claude both handle science problems step by step — ask them to show the working and explain each step rather than just the final answer. Always redo the problem yourself; AI shows plausible wrong answers too.
- Is there a free homework helper that works from photos?
- Google Gemini's free tier answers photo-based questions, which suits printed worksheets. For long problem sets, ChatGPT's free plan handles typed questions without a daily cap.
- Can AI do my homework for me?
- AI can explain, check and coach — and most schools treat submitted AI work as misconduct. Use a helper that teaches the method (Khanmigo coaches instead of answering), then write the final answer yourself.
- What's the best AI for exam answers and assignments?
- For assignments, Grammarly and QuillBot improve your own drafts; for exam answers, practise with step-by-step explainers like ChatGPT, Claude or Khanmigo. Check your institution's AI policy first.
- Do I need a paid plan for homework help?
- No — the free tiers of Gemini, ChatGPT, NotebookLM and QuillBot cover most homework sessions. Paid plans add tutor-style coaching (Khanmigo), longer documents (Mindgrasp AI) and higher limits during exam periods.
- What is the best AI for maths homework?
- ChatGPT and Gemini's free tiers show step-by-step working for maths problems; Khanmigo coaches Socratically on paid plans. Re-do every problem yourself — AI arithmetic can be confidently wrong.
- Which AI homework helper is best for college students?
- NotebookLM for source-grounded revision from your own materials, Mindgrasp AI for turning recorded lectures into study packs, and ChatGPT or Gemini for quick explanations — all covered in the table.
Also in this category
Grammarly
An AI writing assistant that checks grammar, tone and clarity wherever you type and can rewrite or generate text on request.
QuillBot
A suite of writing tools for paraphrasing, summarising, grammar checking and AI detection, popular with students.
Khanmigo
Khan Academy's AI tutor for learners and free AI teaching assistant for teachers.
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