10 Best Free AI Homework Helper Tools in 2026

TL;DR

• ChatGPT's free tier remains the most versatile option but lacks student-specific features
• Dedicated homework AI tools like Gradily, Gauth, and Brainly offer better subject-specific help
• No single free AI homework helper is great at everything; the best approach is using 2-3 tools
• Always verify AI answers, especially in math and science, where even the best tools make errors

Table of Contents

• What Makes a Good Free AI Homework Helper
• The 10 Best Free AI Homework Helper Tools
• Quick Comparison Table
• How We Evaluated Each Tool
• Best Free AI Homework Helper by Subject
• What Free AI Homework Helpers Can't Do
• Tips for Getting Better Results from Any AI Homework Tool
• FAQ

What Makes a Good Free AI Homework Helper

Before we get into the list, let's define what actually matters when you're evaluating a free AI homework helper. Not all tools are created equal, and "free" can mean very different things.

Accuracy matters more than speed. A tool that gives you a wrong answer in 2 seconds is worse than one that takes 10 seconds to give you a correct one. This is especially true for math and science, where a single wrong step leads to the wrong answer.

Explanations beat answers. If a tool just hands you "x = 7" without showing how it got there, you're going to bomb the exam. The best free AI homework helpers walk you through the reasoning.

Subject coverage varies wildly. Some tools crush math but fumble writing assignments. Others are great for essay help but can't solve a quadratic equation. Knowing each tool's strength saves you time.

"Free" has limits. Almost every tool on this list has a paid tier. The question is whether the free version is genuinely useful or just a demo that forces you to upgrade after one question.

Here's what we looked at for each tool:

• What subjects it handles well
• Quality of step-by-step explanations
• How generous the free tier actually is
• Whether it cites real sources or makes them up
• Student-specific features (photo scanning, practice problems, flashcards)
• User interface and ease of use

The 10 Best Free AI Homework Helper Tools

1. Gradily (Best Overall for Students)

Best for: Essay writing, homework completion in your writing style, voice-matched assignments

Gradily is built specifically for students, and it shows. Unlike general-purpose AI chatbots, Gradily learns your actual writing style by analyzing your past assignments. When you upload homework, it generates responses that sound like YOU wrote them, not like a robot.

What it does well:

• Learns your writing voice from uploaded essays and past work
• Three modes: Complete My Homework (full AI), Fix My Work (corrections), and Hybrid (refine your ideas)
• Output passes AI detection because it matches your actual writing patterns
• Downloads as .docx ready for submission
• Grade prediction tells you what score to expect
• Handles essay writing, short answers, research papers, and more

Where it falls short:

• Newer tool, so the user community is still growing
• Math and STEM problem-solving isn't the primary focus (use Wolfram Alpha for that)

Free tier limits: 3 free assignments with full features. Pro is $9.99/month for unlimited.

Verdict: If your biggest struggle is essay writing or written homework, Gradily is the best tool available. The voice matching feature alone puts it ahead of everything else on this list. Most AI tools give you text that screams "AI wrote this." Gradily gives you text that sounds like you on a good day.

Try Gradily free →

2. ChatGPT (Free Tier)

Best for: General homework across all subjects

OpenAI's ChatGPT remains the go-to for students who need a versatile AI homework helper. The free tier gives you access to GPT-4o mini and limited GPT-4o access, which handles everything from essay brainstorming to physics problems.

What it does well:

• Explains complex concepts in simple language when you ask it to
• Handles virtually every subject
• Conversational format lets you ask follow-up questions
• Can analyze images (upload a photo of your homework problem)

Where it falls short:

• Math accuracy is inconsistent, especially for multi-step calculus
• Fabricates citations and sources regularly
• No student-specific features like flashcards or progress tracking
• Free tier has usage limits during peak hours

Free tier limits: You get a certain number of GPT-4o messages per day (the exact number fluctuates), then it drops to GPT-4o mini. The mini model is noticeably weaker for complex problems.

Verdict: If you only download one AI tool, ChatGPT is the safe default. It's a generalist that handles most homework questions reasonably well. Just don't trust its math without double-checking.

3. Google Gemini

Best for: Research-heavy assignments and fact-checking

Google's Gemini has a major advantage over ChatGPT: it's connected to Google Search. That means it can pull in current information and link to actual sources rather than making them up.

What it does well:

• Provides links to real sources
• Strong at summarizing articles and research papers
• Handles multi-step reasoning better than many alternatives
• Integration with Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets) is helpful for students

Where it falls short:

• Sometimes overly cautious, refusing to help with legitimate homework
• The interface is less intuitive for back-and-forth tutoring conversations
• Math problem-solving is decent but not exceptional

Free tier limits: Generous. The free tier includes Gemini 2.0 Flash with no hard daily limit for most users.

Verdict: Your best pick when you need to write a research paper and want sources that actually exist. Pair it with ChatGPT for the best of both worlds.

4. Claude (Free Tier by Anthropic)

Best for: Writing assignments and long-form essays

Claude handles nuanced writing tasks better than most competitors. It's less likely to produce generic, AI-sounding text, which matters when your professor reads 60 papers and can spot cookie-cutter prose.

What it does well:

• Produces higher-quality writing with more natural voice
• Excellent at analyzing literature and providing thoughtful interpretations
• Handles very long documents (you can paste an entire chapter for analysis)
• Strong at following complex assignment instructions

Where it falls short:

• Free tier is more limited than ChatGPT's (fewer messages per day)
• Not great for math compared to specialized tools
• No image upload on the free tier

Free tier limits: Approximately 10-15 messages during high-traffic periods, more during off-peak. Resets regularly.

Verdict: The best free option for humanities, essay writing, and anything that requires careful, thoughtful analysis. If you're an English or History major, Claude should be your first choice.

5. Wolfram Alpha

Best for: Math, science, and quantitative subjects

While most AI tools struggle with math accuracy, Wolfram Alpha was built for computation. It doesn't "predict" answers like language models do. It actually computes them.

What it does well:

• Extremely accurate for math, physics, and chemistry calculations
• Shows step-by-step solutions (partial access on free tier)
• Handles everything from basic algebra to differential equations
• Also great for unit conversions, statistics, and data analysis

Where it falls short:

• Step-by-step solutions require Wolfram Alpha Pro ($7.25/month for students)
• Useless for writing, humanities, or anything non-quantitative
• Input requires specific formatting; natural language queries sometimes confuse it

Free tier limits: You get answers and basic solution steps for free. Detailed step-by-step breakdowns require the paid tier, though you can sometimes get around this by asking it to "show work" in creative ways.

Verdict: Non-negotiable if you're taking calculus, physics, or statistics. The accuracy gap between Wolfram Alpha and language models for math is massive.

6. Brainly

Best for: Quick answers with community verification

Brainly combines AI answers with a community of students and tutors who verify and add to responses. This hybrid approach means you often get multiple perspectives on the same problem.

What it does well:

• Community answers provide different approaches to the same problem
• AI "Ginny" assistant gives instant responses while you wait for human answers
• Covers a wide range of subjects and grade levels
• Photo upload for scanning homework questions

Where it falls short:

• Quality of community answers varies significantly
• AI answers are often shallow compared to ChatGPT or Claude
• Free tier shows ads and limits daily questions
• Some answers are poorly formatted or incomplete

Free tier limits: A handful of free questions per day before you hit the paywall. You can extend this by answering other students' questions.

Verdict: Great for quick, factual questions where you just need a clear answer. Less useful for complex analysis or essay help. The community element adds real value when you get a good explanation from another student.

7. Gauth (formerly Gauthmath)

Best for: Math homework with photo scanning

Gauth started as a math-specific tool and expanded to other subjects. Its photo-scanning feature is the standout: snap a picture of your math problem and get a step-by-step solution.

What it does well:

• Photo scanning accurately reads handwritten and printed math problems
• Step-by-step math solutions are clear and well-formatted
• Covers algebra, geometry, calculus, and statistics
• Also offers live tutoring connections

Where it falls short:

• Best features are behind the paywall
• Non-math subjects are noticeably weaker
• Free questions per day are limited

Free tier limits: A few free scans and questions per day. The paid tier ($9.99/month) unlocks unlimited access.

Verdict: If math is your main struggle, Gauth's photo scanner is legitimately useful. It's faster than typing out complex equations, and the solutions are generally reliable.

8. Perplexity AI

Best for: Research and cited answers

Perplexity combines AI reasoning with real-time web search, and it shows its sources inline. Every claim comes with a numbered citation you can click to verify.

What it does well:

• Every answer includes linked, verifiable sources
• Strong for research papers and fact-based assignments
• "Focus" modes let you search specific source types (academic, Reddit, news)
• Clean, ad-free interface

Where it falls short:

• Not designed for math problem-solving
• Step-by-step explanations are less detailed than dedicated tutoring tools
• Free tier limits the number of "Pro" searches with the best model

Free tier limits: Unlimited basic searches. Pro searches (using the strongest AI model) are limited to about 5 per day on the free tier.

Verdict: The best tool for any assignment that requires citations. When your professor says "cite at least 5 sources," Perplexity is where you start your research.

9. QuestionAI

Best for: Quick homework answers with photo upload

QuestionAI positions itself as a fast, no-signup homework helper. Upload a photo or type a question, and you get an answer almost immediately.

What it does well:

• No account required for basic use
• Fast responses across multiple subjects
• Photo upload works reasonably well
• Clean interface without clutter

Where it falls short:

• Explanations tend to be brief
• Math accuracy is hit-or-miss for complex problems
• Limited conversational depth (hard to ask good follow-ups)
• Quality doesn't match ChatGPT or Claude for nuanced questions

Free tier limits: Several free questions per day without signup. Creating an account extends your limit.

Verdict: Useful when you need a quick answer and don't want to create an account. Not the tool for deep understanding or complex assignments.

10. Socratic by Google

Best for: High school students who need visual explanations

Google's Socratic app is specifically designed for students. Point your phone camera at a homework problem, and it pulls relevant explanations from educational sites and textbooks.

What it does well:

• Camera-based input is extremely easy to use
• Pulls explanations from curated educational sources
• Visual explanations with diagrams for math and science
• Completely free with no paywall

Where it falls short:

• Best for high school level; struggles with college-level material
• Can't handle essay writing or complex analysis
• Explanations are sometimes too basic
• Mobile-only (no desktop version)

Free tier limits: Completely free. No paid tier.

Verdict: Ideal for high school students, especially for math and science homework. If you're in college, you'll probably need something more powerful.

Quick Comparison Table

Tool	Best Subject	Free Tier	Step-by-Step	Photo Scan	Citations
ChatGPT	General	Good	Yes	Yes	Unreliable
Gemini	Research	Very good	Yes	Yes	Linked
Claude	Writing	Limited	Yes	Paid only	Moderate
Wolfram Alpha	Math/Science	Basic	Paid	No	N/A
Brainly	Quick Q&A	Limited	Community	Yes	No
Gauth	Math	Limited	Yes	Yes (great)	No
Perplexity	Research	Good	Partial	No	Excellent
QuestionAI	Quick Q&A	Good	Brief	Yes	No
Socratic	HS Math/Sci	Full	Visual	Yes (great)	Educational
Gradily	Personalized	Good	Yes	Yes	Verified

How We Evaluated Each Tool

We tested each tool with the same set of problems across five categories:

1. Algebra problem (solve for x in a multi-step equation)
2. Essay prompt (generate an outline for a persuasive essay on school uniforms)
3. History question (explain the causes of the French Revolution with specific evidence)
4. Chemistry problem (balance a redox reaction)
5. Reading comprehension (analyze a passage from The Great Gatsby)

We graded on accuracy, depth of explanation, and whether the response would actually help a student understand the material rather than just copy an answer.

No tool aced every category. That's exactly why using multiple tools is the smartest strategy.

Best Free AI Homework Helper by Subject

Math: Wolfram Alpha + Gauth

Use Wolfram Alpha for accurate calculations and Gauth for photo-scanning handwritten problems. Cross-check with ChatGPT if an explanation doesn't make sense.

Essay Writing: Claude + Perplexity

Use Claude to brainstorm ideas and get feedback on your drafts. Use Perplexity to find citable sources. This combination covers the two biggest challenges in essay writing: quality prose and real citations.

Science: ChatGPT + Wolfram Alpha

ChatGPT explains concepts well, and Wolfram Alpha handles the calculations. Together, they cover both the conceptual and quantitative sides of science courses.

History and Social Studies: Gemini + Perplexity

Both tools connect to real sources, which is essential for history assignments where you need to cite primary and secondary sources.

Foreign Languages: ChatGPT + Claude

Both are strong at explaining grammar rules and helping with translation practice. Claude tends to produce more natural-sounding translations.

What Free AI Homework Helpers Can't Do

Let's be honest about the limitations:

They can't replace understanding. If you use AI to skip learning, you'll fail the exam. These tools should make your study time more productive, not make studying optional.

They fabricate information. This is the biggest risk, especially with ChatGPT. Always verify facts, quotes, and citations. A made-up source in your bibliography is an automatic credibility killer.

They don't know your professor's expectations. Your assignment might have specific requirements that a general AI tool can't account for. Always read the rubric first and use AI to meet those specific criteria.

They struggle with recent events. AI models have training cutoff dates. If your assignment involves current events, you'll need to supplement with actual news sources.

They can't do hands-on work. Lab reports, physical experiments, in-class presentations, and group projects all require your actual presence and participation.

Tips for Getting Better Results from Any AI Homework Tool

These tips work regardless of which tool you pick:

Be Specific in Your Prompts

Bad: "Help me with my essay"

Good: "I'm writing a 5-page persuasive essay for my English 101 class arguing that school lunch programs should be expanded. My thesis is [X]. Help me outline three body paragraphs with specific evidence."

The more context you give, the better the response.

Ask for Explanations, Not Just Answers

Add phrases like "explain your reasoning," "walk me through this step by step," or "why does this work?" to every prompt. This transforms a homework-completion tool into a learning tool.

Verify Everything

Make it a habit to fact-check AI responses, especially citations, statistics, and scientific claims. This takes extra time but saves you from submitting errors.

Use Multiple Tools

No single free AI homework helper does everything well. Build a personal toolkit of 2-3 tools that cover your main subjects. It takes a few extra seconds to switch tools but gives you significantly better results.

Keep Your Voice

If you use AI to help draft writing, always rewrite the output in your own words. This protects you from detection concerns and, more importantly, helps you process and understand the material. Your professors know how you write. Keep it consistent.

FAQ

What is the best completely free AI homework helper?

ChatGPT's free tier offers the best overall value for a single tool because it covers the widest range of subjects. For math specifically, Wolfram Alpha's free version is more accurate. For research with real sources, Perplexity's free tier is excellent.

Are free AI homework helpers safe to use?

The tools themselves are safe to use, but the way you use them determines whether you're following your school's policies. Using AI to understand concepts and check your work is almost universally accepted. Submitting AI-generated text as your own written work may violate academic integrity policies. Check your school's guidelines.

Can AI homework helpers solve math by taking a photo?

Yes. Gauth, Socratic, ChatGPT (with image upload), and QuestionAI all support photo-based math problem solving. Gauth and Socratic are generally the most reliable for this specific feature. Accuracy is higher for printed text than handwritten problems.

Why do AI homework tools sometimes give wrong answers?

Large language models generate text by predicting the next most likely word, not by actually computing answers. This means they can confidently state incorrect things, especially in math. Wolfram Alpha avoids this problem by using actual computation rather than prediction, which is why it's more reliable for quantitative work.

Is it cheating to use a free AI homework helper?

It depends on how you use it and what your school's policy says. Using AI to understand concepts is generally treated the same as using a textbook or tutoring center. Using AI to generate the work you submit is where most schools draw the line. The safest approach is to ask your teacher directly and to use AI as a learning tool rather than a ghostwriter. We cover this topic in depth in our post about whether using AI for homework is cheating.

How much do paid versions of these tools cost?

Most tools range from $5-20/month for student plans. ChatGPT Plus is $20/month, Wolfram Alpha Pro is $7.25/month for students, and Brainly Plus is about $6/month. Whether the upgrade is worth it depends on how often you use the tool and whether the free tier's limits are holding you back.