Two of the most popular math solver apps from the last decade are dead. Microsoft Math Solver shut down in July 2025. Socratic by Google was retired and folded into Google Lens. Meanwhile, Chegg — which owns Mathway — has lost 99% of its stock value since 2021, cut 45% of its workforce in October 2025, and is suing Google for allegedly killing its business with AI Overviews. The homework help market is being rebuilt from the ground up.
What’s replacing these tools isn’t just a better calculator. The new generation of AI homework helpers can scan a handwritten equation with your phone camera, walk you through the solution step by step using Socratic questioning (asking you guiding questions instead of dumping the answer), generate practice problems calibrated to your weak spots, and explain concepts in multiple ways until one clicks. The best ones refuse to just give you the answer — they teach you how to solve it yourself, which is the difference between passing tomorrow’s test and actually understanding the material.
But “AI homework help” now covers everything from a free Khan Academy tutor backed by Microsoft’s Azure infrastructure to a $12/month app that solves problems from a photo. Some tools are math-only. Others cover science, writing, history, and coding. Some are built for elementary school kids. Others handle multivariable calculus and differential equations. A 92% majority of students now use AI while studying, according to a 2026 PlagiarismCheck.org survey — but only 18% use it to fully complete assignments. The tools that help you learn outperform the ones that just hand you answers, both academically and in long-term retention.
Below are the 9 AI homework help and math solver tools worth using in 2026 — ranked by teaching quality, solution accuracy, and value for the price. Every price listed is current as of August 2026.
Quick Summary: Best AI Homework Tool by Use Case
| Use Case | Top Pick | Price | Why It Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | Khanmigo | $4/mo (learners) | Socratic AI tutor from Khan Academy, backed by Microsoft, free for teachers, covers all subjects |
| Best Camera Scanner | Photomath | Free / $9.99/mo | Point your phone at a problem, get animated step-by-step solutions — now powered by Google |
| Best for Advanced Math | Wolfram Alpha | Free / $9.99/mo Pro | Computational engine that handles everything from algebra to differential equations to statistics |
| Best All-Subject Coverage | Mathway | $9.99/mo | Covers 10+ subject areas: basic math through calculus, chemistry, physics, graphing |
| Best Mobile App | Gauth | $11.99/mo | 50M+ installs, 14 languages, camera scanning with fastest response times on mobile |
| Best Community + AI | Brainly | Free / $3.99/mo | Human expert answers combined with GPT-4 AI — the hybrid model |
| Best Step-by-Step | Symbolab | ~$7–10/mo | The deepest step-by-step math breakdowns with integrated practice problems |
| Best Free Option | ChatGPT Study Mode | Free | Socratic-questioning mode built into ChatGPT, available on all plans since July 2025 |
| Best Ecosystem | Google Gemini | Free / AI Pro | Interactive simulations, practice quizzes, study guides from uploaded notes — free AI Pro for college students |
What to Look For in an AI Homework Tool
Before the reviews, five things separate AI homework tools that actually teach from ones that just do your homework for you:
- Teaching mode vs. answer mode — The most important distinction in 2026. Tools like Khanmigo and ChatGPT Study Mode use Socratic questioning: they ask you guiding questions, give hints, and walk you toward the answer rather than handing it to you. Tools like Mathway and Photomath default to showing the full solution. Neither approach is wrong — sometimes you need to learn, sometimes you need to check your work — but know which mode you’re getting before you pay
- Step-by-step solution quality — Every tool claims “step-by-step solutions.” The real test is whether each step explains the why, not just the what. “Distribute 3 across (x + 2)” is better than “3x + 6.” Symbolab and Wolfram Alpha show the mathematical reasoning. Cheaper tools often skip intermediate steps or explain them so tersely that you can’t follow the logic
- Subject coverage — Math-only tools (Photomath, Symbolab) go deep in mathematics but can’t help with chemistry, physics, or writing. All-subject tools (Khanmigo, Brainly, ChatGPT) handle broader homework but may give less rigorous math solutions. If you’re struggling specifically in calculus, a math-specialized tool is worth the narrower scope
- Camera scanning accuracy — Scanning handwritten problems is the killer feature for math apps. Photomath and Gauth lead here — they handle messy handwriting, multi-line equations, and word problems from textbook photos. Tools that only accept typed input (Wolfram Alpha, ChatGPT) add friction when you’re working from a physical worksheet or textbook
- Academic integrity features — This matters more than you think. Schools are increasingly monitoring AI tool usage, and some tools are designed to leave an audit trail. Khanmigo is built for classroom use — teachers can see what students asked and how the AI responded. ChatGPT Study Mode explicitly avoids giving direct answers. If your school has an AI policy, check whether the tool you’re considering aligns with it
1. Khanmigo (Khan Academy) — Best Overall AI Tutor
Price: Free (teachers) · Learners/Parents: $4/mo or $44/yr (covers up to 10 child accounts) Best for: Students who want to learn, not just get answers — especially K-12 and intro college courses Platforms: Web (integrated into Khan Academy)
Khan Academy spent 18 years building the most comprehensive free education platform on the internet, then layered an AI tutor on top of it. Khanmigo doesn’t give you the answer. It asks you what you’ve tried, identifies where your reasoning went wrong, and guides you toward the solution through a conversation. This is the Socratic method — the same approach a good human tutor uses — running on GPT-4o through Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service.
What makes it stand out:
- Socratic tutoring, not answer generation — Ask Khanmigo to solve a problem and it responds with “What do you think the first step is?” This is frustrating if you want a quick answer and transformative if you want to actually learn. The AI adapts its hints based on your responses — if you’re close, it nudges. If you’re lost, it backs up to the prerequisite concept
- Free for all U.S. teachers — Microsoft’s partnership with Khan Academy funds free teacher access, including lesson planning, rubric generation, student progress summaries, and exit ticket creation. 44 countries have access as of 2026
- Family pricing — One $4/month subscription covers up to 10 child accounts. For a family with multiple school-age kids, this is the best per-student value on the list
- Full Khan Academy integration — The AI tutor lives inside Khan Academy’s existing course library. It knows what lesson you’re on, what you’ve mastered, and what you’re struggling with. No other tool has this depth of curriculum context
- Microsoft-backed infrastructure — Running on Azure OpenAI with GPT-4o, Whisper (voice), and DALL-E 3 (visual explanations). Microsoft and Khan Academy are also co-developing a Phi-3-based small language model specifically tuned for math tutoring
What could be better:
- Only works within the Khan Academy ecosystem — you can’t upload your own textbook or paste a problem from an assignment. You’re limited to Khan Academy’s content library, which is excellent for standard curricula but doesn’t cover every niche topic
- The Socratic approach is slower than just getting an answer. If you’re checking 30 homework problems, Khanmigo is not the right tool — it’s designed for learning 3-5 concepts deeply, not verifying a worksheet
- Web-only — no native mobile app (though the Khan Academy app works on phones). The experience is optimized for desktop
Who it’s for: The default recommendation for K-12 students and parents who want a tutor, not a cheat sheet. At $4/month for 10 accounts, it’s cheaper than a single hour of human tutoring and available 24/7. If your goal is understanding the material — not just finishing the assignment — Khanmigo is the best tool on this list.
2. Photomath — Best Camera-Based Problem Solver
Price: Free (step-by-step solutions for standard problems, no ads) · Plus: $9.99/mo or $69.99/yr Best for: Students who want to scan handwritten or textbook problems and see animated solutions Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
Google acquired Photomath in 2023, and the investment has been quiet but steady. The core experience hasn’t changed — point your phone camera at a math problem, and Photomath recognizes it and shows the solution with step-by-step breakdowns. What has changed is the accuracy: Google’s handwriting recognition improvements have made the camera scanning noticeably more reliable, especially for messy handwriting and multi-line equations.
What makes it stand out:
- Camera scanning that actually works — This is Photomath’s core advantage and it’s still the best in class. Handwritten problems, printed textbook pages, even problems on a whiteboard at an angle — the recognition handles it. The free tier includes this for standard problem types
- Animated step-by-step solutions — Not just a list of steps, but animated walkthroughs that show each transformation happening visually. Particularly effective for algebra and equation solving where seeing the rearrangement helps build intuition
- Textbook-specific solutions (Plus) — Plus subscribers get solutions matched to specific textbook editions, showing the exact method your teacher is using. This matters when a teacher wants a specific approach (say, completing the square instead of the quadratic formula)
- Multiple solution methods — For problems with more than one valid approach, Photomath shows alternatives. See both factoring and the quadratic formula for the same equation, then pick the one that clicks
What could be better:
- Math-only — no science, no writing, no history. If you need help across subjects, you’ll need a second tool
- The free tier covers standard problem types (arithmetic, algebra, basic calculus) but locks advanced topics and textbook-specific solutions behind Plus at $10/month
- The “teaching” component is weaker than Khanmigo or ChatGPT Study Mode. Photomath shows you how to solve the problem — it doesn’t ask what you think or identify misconceptions. It’s a reference tool, not a tutor
- Google has signaled integration into Search and Workspace for Education, but the standalone app’s long-term roadmap is unclear. No features have been removed, but the acquisition creates some uncertainty about whether Photomath stays independent
Who it’s for: The go-to tool for checking your work and understanding solution steps. Best paired with a teaching-focused tool like Khanmigo — use Khanmigo to learn the concept, then Photomath to verify your practice problems. The free tier is generous enough that most students won’t need Plus unless they want textbook-specific solutions.
3. Wolfram Alpha — Best for Advanced Math & STEM
Price: Free (basic) · Pro: $9.99/mo or $60/yr · Pro Premium: $12/mo or $99/yr · Student discounts available (~30% off via UNiDAYS) Best for: College STEM students, engineering, physics, statistics — anyone past Calc I Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Wolfram Alpha isn’t an AI homework helper in the way the other tools on this list are. It’s a computational knowledge engine — a system that actually computes answers using curated algorithms and data, rather than predicting them with a language model. When you ask it to integrate a function, it runs the integration using Mathematica’s symbolic computation engine. When ChatGPT integrates a function, it’s pattern-matching against training data and sometimes gets it wrong. For advanced math, this distinction is critical.
What makes it stand out:
- Computational accuracy — Wolfram Alpha doesn’t guess. It computes. For calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, statistics, and discrete math, the answers are mathematically verified, not probabilistically generated. This matters when you’re past the level where ChatGPT reliably produces correct solutions
- Step-by-step solutions (Pro) — Pro subscribers get detailed solution breakdowns for most problem types, including intermediate steps that show the mathematical reasoning. The depth is comparable to a textbook solution manual
- Practice problems — Pro generates practice problems similar to what you just solved, with guided hints. Useful for exam prep when you’ve run out of textbook problems
- Wolfram Notebook Assistant — Released December 2024, this lets you describe what you want to compute in plain English and generates Wolfram Language code to execute it. Bridges the gap between “I know what I need to calculate” and “I don’t know the syntax”
- ChatGPT integration — Wolfram GPT (a Custom GPT) brings Wolfram Alpha’s computation into ChatGPT conversations. Ask ChatGPT to solve a problem and it can call Wolfram Alpha for the computation, giving you natural language explanation plus verified math
What could be better:
- The interface is functional, not friendly. It’s built for people who know what they’re looking for, not students who aren’t sure where to start. Typing “solve 3x + 5 = 20” works perfectly; typing “I don’t understand fractions” does not
- No camera scanning — you must type or paste problems. For students working from a physical worksheet, this adds friction compared to Photomath or Gauth
- The free tier is increasingly limited. Basic queries return results, but step-by-step solutions, practice problems, and extended computation time all require Pro
- Covers STEM subjects deeply but doesn’t help with humanities, writing, or social sciences
Who it’s for: The non-negotiable tool for college STEM students. If you’re in engineering, physics, statistics, or any math-heavy program, Wolfram Alpha Pro is worth the $5/month (with student discount). It’s not a tutor — it’s a computational reference that happens to explain its work. Pair it with Khanmigo or ChatGPT Study Mode for the teaching component.
4. Mathway (Chegg) — Best All-Subject Math Coverage
Price: Free (final answers only) · Premium: $9.99/mo or $39.99/yr Best for: Students who need help across multiple math subjects and want quick, reliable solutions Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Mathway covers more math subject areas than any other dedicated solver on this list: basic math, pre-algebra, algebra, trigonometry, precalculus, calculus, statistics, finite math, linear algebra, chemistry, and graphing. Type or scan a problem, select the subject area, and get a solution. Premium adds the step-by-step explanations that make it useful for learning, not just checking.
What makes it stand out:
- 10+ subject areas in one app — Switch between algebra, chemistry, and statistics without opening a different tool. The subject selector ensures the solver applies the right methods — a “simplify” request in algebra mode versus statistics mode gives different results
- Camera scanning — Scan handwritten or printed problems. Not quite as accurate as Photomath’s scanner, but functional for most standard problems
- Offline mode (Premium) — Download problem-solving capabilities for use without internet. Useful for studying in places with spotty connectivity
- Graphing calculator — Built-in graphing that visualizes equations, intersections, and transformations. Good enough to replace a handheld graphing calculator for most homework purposes
What could be better:
- The free tier only shows final answers — no steps, no explanations. This makes the free version nearly useless for learning. It’s essentially a $10/month tool with a demo mode
- Owned by Chegg, which is in serious financial trouble. Stock down 99% from its 2021 peak, 45% workforce reduction in October 2025, and an active antitrust lawsuit against Google. Mathway itself works fine today, but the parent company’s instability is a legitimate long-term concern
- No Socratic/teaching mode — Mathway shows you the solution, start to finish. It doesn’t ask what you think or guide you through the reasoning. It’s a reference tool
- The step-by-step explanations, while accurate, tend to be terse. They show what happens at each step but rarely explain why that step works — less useful for building mathematical intuition than Wolfram Alpha or Khanmigo
Who it’s for: Students who need a reliable all-subject math solver and are willing to pay $10/month. If you’re juggling multiple math-adjacent courses (calc + stats + chemistry), Mathway’s breadth is valuable. But watch Chegg’s financial situation — consider downloading your solution history periodically in case the service changes.
5. Gauth — Best Mobile Homework App
Price: Free (limited) · Plus: $11.99/mo, $21.99/quarter, or $99.99/yr · Tutor (live human help): ~$19.99/mo Best for: Students who do most of their homework on their phones and want fast answers Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
Gauth (formerly Gauthmath) has quietly become one of the most-used homework apps globally — 50 million+ installs on Google Play, 16.7 million monthly website visits, and support for 14 languages. The app is mobile-first in a way that the other tools on this list aren’t: the camera scanning, solution display, and navigation are all designed for a phone screen, not adapted from a desktop experience.
What makes it stand out:
- Speed — Gauth returns solutions faster than any other camera-scanning tool tested. Point, scan, answer — usually under 3 seconds for standard problems. When you’re working through a 40-problem worksheet, speed matters
- 14-language support — English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Indonesian, Filipino, Italian, Malay, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese. The broadest language coverage on this list, making it the default choice for non-English-speaking students
- Live tutor option — The Tutor tier ($19.99/mo) connects you with a human tutor for problems the AI can’t handle or when you need a real conversation. It’s expensive, but having the fallback is valuable for complex topics
- “Super Gauth” AI engine — The Plus tier uses a more capable model that handles multi-step word problems, proof-based questions, and advanced topics better than the free tier’s solver
What could be better:
- The most expensive tool on this list at $12/month for AI-only or $20/month with human tutors. Hard to justify when Photomath’s free tier covers many of the same problems
- Heavy advertising and upselling on the free tier — the experience feels designed to push you toward Plus rather than provide genuine value at the free level
- Solution explanations are adequate but not exceptional. The steps are correct but the explanations read like a textbook — functional, not engaging
- Covers math, science, and some humanities, but math is clearly the primary focus. Non-math subjects feel like afterthoughts
Who it’s for: Students who work primarily on their phones and value speed over depth. The 14-language support makes it the best option for international students or non-English speakers. If you’re price-sensitive, Photomath’s free tier covers similar ground at no cost.
6. Brainly — Best Community + AI Hybrid
Price: Free (ad-supported, limited AI) · Plus: $3.99/mo or $39/yr Best for: Students who want both AI answers and human-verified explanations Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Brainly’s model is unique on this list: it combines AI-generated answers (powered by GPT-4) with a community of human experts who answer questions and verify AI responses. Post a homework question and you’ll get an AI answer almost instantly, plus community responses from other students and verified experts. The AI answers are fast; the human answers add a layer of quality control and alternative explanations.
What makes it stand out:
- Hybrid AI + human model — AI gives you an immediate answer. Humans provide alternative explanations, catch AI errors, and offer perspectives that a language model can’t. For subjective questions (essay feedback, historical analysis), the human element is especially valuable
- All subjects — Math, science, English, social studies, history, foreign languages, arts, health, business, computers, geography, SAT prep. The broadest subject coverage on this list
- Community-driven — Over 350 million users globally. For popular subjects and common problems, someone has already asked and answered your exact question. The archive is searchable
- Affordable — At $3.99/month, Brainly Plus is the cheapest paid option on this list. Removes ads, unlocks unlimited AI answers, and adds expert-verified solutions
What could be better:
- Community answer quality varies widely. Expert-verified answers are reliable, but unverified community responses can be wrong — and there’s no obvious quality indicator at a glance
- The AI answers sometimes disagree with the community answers, which is confusing rather than helpful. The tool doesn’t always reconcile the conflict
- Math-solving capabilities are weaker than dedicated math tools. Brainly’s strength is breadth across subjects, not depth in any one of them
- The company appears to be contracting (headcount reportedly down from ~656 in 2024 to ~500 in 2026), though no major service disruptions have been reported
Who it’s for: Students who need help across many subjects and want the safety net of human verification. Best for middle and high school students working on homework that spans subjects. For math-specific help, use a dedicated math solver — Brainly is wider but shallower.
7. Symbolab (Course Hero) — Best Step-by-Step Math Breakdowns
Price: Varies by platform — approximately $7–10/mo (web) or $2.49/mo (mobile app annual); pricing discrepancies exist across sources, verify at symbolab.com Best for: Students who need the most detailed step-by-step math solutions available Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Symbolab’s step-by-step breakdowns are the most granular on this list. Where other tools might show 5 steps to solve a quadratic equation, Symbolab shows 8-10, with each algebraic manipulation explained individually. For students who are lost — not just stuck on one step but unsure how any of the steps connect — this level of detail is the difference between understanding and copying.
What makes it stand out:
- Granular step-by-step solutions — More intermediate steps shown than any other tool. Each step includes a brief explanation of the rule or property being applied (distributive property, combining like terms, isolating the variable). Particularly valuable for algebra, calculus, and trigonometry
- Practice problem generator — After solving a problem, Symbolab generates similar problems at the same difficulty level. The practice problems include hints and step-by-step solutions, creating a self-contained study loop
- Graphing and visualization — Interactive graphs that show how equations behave. You can manipulate parameters and see the graph update in real-time — useful for building geometric intuition
- AI chat — A chatbot that can explain concepts conversationally, answer follow-up questions, and work through problems interactively
What could be better:
- Pricing is confusing. Web and mobile subscriptions are different prices, annual and monthly rates vary across sources, and the Chegg/Course Hero corporate restructuring has created pricing inconsistencies. Check the current price directly on symbolab.com before subscribing
- Like Mathway, Symbolab is owned by Chegg — same financial instability concerns apply. Course Hero (which acquired Symbolab in 2022) is now under Chegg’s umbrella
- Math-only. No science, no writing, no humanities
- The AI chat feature feels bolted on rather than integrated. It works, but the step-by-step solver is clearly the core product
Who it’s for: Students who need exhaustive step-by-step math solutions and want integrated practice problems. If you’re failing a math class because you can’t follow the textbook’s solution jumps, Symbolab fills in the gaps. Watch the pricing — check the current price before committing, and consider Chegg’s corporate situation.
8. ChatGPT Study Mode — Best Free General-Purpose Option
Price: Free (available on all ChatGPT plans, including Free) Best for: Students who want a Socratic AI tutor across all subjects without paying for another subscription Platforms: Web, iOS, Android, Desktop
OpenAI launched Study Mode in July 2025, and it’s the most significant free homework tool released in the last year. Turn it on and ChatGPT shifts from its default “helpful assistant” behavior to a Socratic tutor: it asks you what you’ve tried, gives hints instead of answers, identifies misconceptions, and calibrates its responses to your demonstrated skill level. It works across every subject — math, science, writing, history, coding — with the same underlying model.
What makes it stand out:
- Free and available on all plans — No paywall. Study Mode works on ChatGPT Free, Plus, and Edu. This alone makes it the most accessible AI tutor on the list
- Socratic questioning across all subjects — The tutoring approach adapts to the subject. In math, it asks you to identify the first step. In writing, it asks you what argument you’re trying to make. In history, it asks you to consider alternative perspectives. The pedagogical approach is genuinely different from ChatGPT’s default mode
- Skill-level calibration — Study Mode adjusts difficulty based on your responses. Struggle with basic algebra and it backs up to prerequisite concepts. Handle calculus confidently and it moves to edge cases and applications. The adaptation happens mid-conversation without explicit input
- No separate app needed — If you already use ChatGPT (and statistically, you probably do), Study Mode is already there. No new account, no new subscription, no new interface to learn
What could be better:
- ChatGPT is a language model, not a computation engine. For advanced math (multivariate calculus, differential equations, complex proofs), it makes errors that Wolfram Alpha never would. Always verify math answers from ChatGPT against a computational tool
- No camera scanning. You must type or paste problems. For students working from physical textbooks or handwritten worksheets, this is a real friction point
- The Socratic approach can be slow when you genuinely just need to check an answer. There’s no “just tell me” shortcut in Study Mode — you have to engage with the process. Switch back to normal ChatGPT mode when you want direct answers
- Solution quality depends on the model tier. Free users get GPT-4o mini, which is capable but less reliable on hard problems than GPT-4o (Plus) or GPT-o3 (Pro)
Who it’s for: Every student should try Study Mode — it’s free and immediately available. It’s the best first-line homework helper for most students. For math verification, pair it with Wolfram Alpha or Photomath. For structured curriculum-aligned tutoring, Khanmigo is more focused. But as a free, all-subject AI tutor, nothing else comes close.
9. Google Gemini Study Tools — Best Ecosystem Integration
Price: Free (Gemini) · AI Pro: free for eligible U.S. college students (1 year) · AI Plus: free for international students Best for: Students already in the Google ecosystem who want AI study tools integrated into Search, Docs, and Lens Platforms: Web, iOS, Android, integrated into Google Search and Workspace
Google announced a wave of AI study features on August 19, 2026 — the most aggressive education push from any big tech company this year. Gemini’s “Guided Learning” mode (launched August 2025) already walked students through problems step by step, but the 2026 additions go further: interactive visualizations in AI Overviews, custom practice quiz generation, study guide creation from uploaded documents, and a dedicated “Learning Hub” for students.
What makes it stand out:
- Interactive simulations in Search — Search for “pH scale” or “cell mitosis” and get an interactive visual in the AI Overview, not just a text explanation. This is new as of August 2026 and transforms Google Search from an answer engine into a learning tool for science concepts
- Practice quiz generation — Describe what you’re studying and Gemini generates a practice quiz with multiple choice, short answer, and open-ended questions. Quizzes include explanations for wrong answers
- Document-to-study-guide — Upload a PDF, lecture slides, or class notes, and Gemini generates a structured study guide with key concepts, summaries, and review questions. Similar to what Quizlet and StudyFetch offer, but integrated into the Google ecosystem
- Google Lens homework scanning — Point your camera at a homework problem and get an explanation, not just an answer. This is essentially what Socratic used to do, rebuilt natively into Lens with Gemini’s capabilities
- Free AI Pro for students — Eligible U.S. college students get one year of Google AI Pro free. Students outside the U.S. get AI Plus free. No other company is offering their top AI tier for free to students at this scale
What could be better:
- Brand new (August 2026). These features are weeks old and the quality will likely vary as Google iterates. Early adopters should expect rough edges
- The features are scattered across multiple Google products (Search, Gemini app, Lens, Workspace, Learning Hub) rather than unified in one study interface. There’s no single “Google Study” app — you piece together features from different Google surfaces
- Google’s track record with education products is mixed. Google Classroom is solid; Socratic got killed; Google’s AR glasses education initiative came and went. Long-term commitment is an open question
- The AI study tools live inside Google’s ecosystem, which means Google has visibility into what you’re studying, what you’re struggling with, and how you use the tools. Privacy-conscious students may prefer standalone tools
Who it’s for: Students who already live in the Google ecosystem (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Chrome) and want study tools that integrate naturally. The free AI Pro/Plus tier for students is the best deal on this list if you qualify. But it’s too early to rely on Google’s study tools as your primary helper — treat them as a supplement until the features mature.
How to Choose the Right Tool
If you want to learn, not just get answers: Khanmigo ($4/mo for up to 10 accounts) or ChatGPT Study Mode (free). Both use Socratic questioning that builds understanding. Khanmigo is more structured; ChatGPT is more flexible.
If you need to check a worksheet fast: Photomath (free for standard problems). Camera scan, see the solution, move on. Add Wolfram Alpha Pro ($5/mo with student discount) if the problems are past Calc I.
If you’re struggling in math specifically: Symbolab (~$7–10/mo) for the most detailed step-by-step breakdowns, then Mathway ($10/mo) if you need multiple math subjects in one tool.
If you need help across many subjects: Brainly ($3.99/mo) for the cheapest all-subject option with human verification. ChatGPT Study Mode (free) if you want AI-only.
If you’re on a phone most of the time: Gauth ($11.99/mo) for the best mobile experience, or Photomath (free) if you just need camera scanning.
If you’re a parent choosing for your kids: Khanmigo ($4/mo for 10 accounts) — it’s designed for supervised learning, teachers can see interactions, and the Socratic approach prevents answer-copying.
If budget is the only factor: ChatGPT Study Mode (free) + Photomath free tier + Khan Academy (free). Three free tools cover tutoring, camera scanning, and structured courses. No credit card required.
FAQ
Are AI homework tools cheating?
It depends on how you use them — and your school’s policy. A 2026 survey found that 92% of students use AI while studying, but only 18% use it to fully complete assignments. Using Khanmigo or ChatGPT Study Mode to understand a concept you’re stuck on is analogous to asking a tutor — most schools allow it. Using Photomath to copy 30 answers you never looked at is plagiarism by any definition. The practical test: if you can solve a similar problem without the tool after using it, you learned something. If you can’t, you copied. Check your school’s specific AI policy — many now distinguish between “AI as tutor” (allowed) and “AI as author” (prohibited).
Can AI math solvers handle advanced topics like differential equations or linear algebra?
Wolfram Alpha handles these reliably because it computes rather than predicts — its symbolic math engine is the same one used by professional mathematicians and engineers. ChatGPT and Gemini can handle many advanced problems but make errors on edge cases, especially with multi-step proofs, unusual boundary conditions, and symbolic manipulation of complex expressions. For anything past Calc I, verify ChatGPT’s math answers against Wolfram Alpha. Photomath and Mathway handle calculus and some linear algebra but struggle with proof-based problems and abstract algebra.
Which tool is best for elementary and middle school kids?
Khanmigo is the clear winner for younger students. The Socratic approach prevents answer-copying, the curriculum aligns with K-12 standards, and the $4/month family plan covers up to 10 children. For parents who want their kids to learn independently, Khanmigo’s refusal to just give answers is a feature, not a limitation. Photomath is a reasonable second choice for checking math homework, but it shows full solutions — which means kids can copy without learning if unsupervised. Avoid Brainly and Gauth for young kids — the community aspects and advertising are designed for older students.
What happened to Microsoft Math Solver and Socratic?
Both are gone. Microsoft officially discontinued Math Solver in July 2025, shutting down the mobile apps and math.microsoft.com. The functionality was absorbed into Microsoft Copilot, which offers general math help but not as a dedicated solver. Socratic by Google was retired around 2024, with its camera-based homework features folded into Google Lens. Many “best tools 2026” articles still list both as active products — they’re not. If you were using either, Photomath (camera scanning) and ChatGPT Study Mode (conversational help) are the closest replacements.
Should I worry about Chegg’s financial troubles affecting Mathway and Symbolab?
It’s worth monitoring. Chegg’s stock has fallen 99% from its 2021 peak, the company cut 45% of its workforce in October 2025, and it’s actively suing Google. Both Mathway and Symbolab work fine today — the apps are stable, the solutions are accurate, and there’s been no degradation in service. But Chegg’s revenue dropped more than a third year-over-year, and the company’s long-term viability is an open question. Practical advice: if you’re a paying subscriber to either tool, export or screenshot any saved solution history periodically. If Chegg restructures or sells these products, your data may not transfer. For new subscribers, the tools are still worth using — just be aware of the corporate context and have a backup plan (ChatGPT Study Mode + Wolfram Alpha covers most of what these tools do).