---
title: "Best Free AI Tutor in 2026: Free Tiers Compared"
description: "What you get free from ChatGPT study mode, Gemini, Claude, Khan Academy, Ask Poppy, Photomath and Brainly: limits, ages, upgrades. Checked Oct 2026."
canonical: https://learn.askpoppy.ai/best-ai/free-ai-tutor/
last_updated: 2026-10-20
---

# The best free AI tutor in 2026: free tiers compared

The most generous free AI tutors are ChatGPT study mode and Gemini Guided Learning: both are included on free accounts for ages 13 and up, and both guide with questions instead of just answering. Khan Academy's exercises and videos are free, but its Khanmigo tutor isn't free for families. Ask Poppy's free tier is 30 messages a day of voice or text tutoring on Apple devices, and Photomath's free tier shows basic step-by-step maths solutions.

[![Download Ask Poppy on the App Store](/assets/appstore-badge.svg)](https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6757080904?ct=learn-best-free-ai-tutor&mt=8)**Ask Poppy**, the AI tutor that asks instead of tells. **Free, 30 messages a day** · iPhone, iPad, Mac

Disclosure: this page is written by the Ask Poppy team, and Ask Poppy is one of the options. Competitor facts come from each company's own pages or its US App Store listing (checked Oct 2026) and are linked so you can verify them. We haven't run a controlled test of any of these tools, ours included.

## Free tiers side by side

|  | What's free | Limits on free | Guides instead of answering? | Paid upgrade (US) | Age |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ChatGPT study mode | Study mode on the Free plan | Limited uploads, voice chats and memory on Free | Yes, in study mode (toggle) | App Store: Go $8.00, Plus $19.99/month | 13+; parent permission under 18 |
| Gemini Guided Learning | Guided Learning "for everyone" | Not specified on the pages we checked | Yes, in Guided Learning | App Store: AI Plus $4.99, AI Pro $19.99/month | 13+; under 13 via Family Link (not EEA, CH, UK) |
| Claude (Learning style) | Free plan includes chat on web and apps | Usage limits reset in 5-hour windows | Yes, when you pick the Learning style | Pro $20/month | 18+ |
| Khan Academy | All exercises, videos and articles, with hints | Khanmigo AI tutor not included | Exercises give step-by-step hints | Khanmigo $4/month or $44/year (US) | See Khan Academy |
| Ask Poppy | Voice and text tutoring, any topic | 30 messages per 24 hours, no card | Built to ask questions and give hints instead of answers; it isn't a mode you switch on | $3.99/week or $9.99/month | App Store 4+; a parent can add up to 3 child profiles |
| Photomath | Scan a maths problem; basic step-by-step explanations | Animated and deeper explanations are Plus | No: shows the solution and steps | $9.99/month or $69.99/year | 13+ per terms |
| Brainly | Limited answers and features | "Limited number of Answers" per period | Mixed: answer library plus AI tutor | App Store: Plus $9.99/month or $39.99/year | 13+; under 13 via parent account |

Sources for each row are listed below. More detail on Photomath: [Ask Poppy vs Photomath](/compare/ask-poppy-vs-photomath/).

## Which free tier fits

### Most capable for free

ChatGPT study mode or Gemini Guided Learning, if the learner is 13+. Expect a general assistant one click away.

### Most structured for free

Khan Academy's free exercises and videos, with hints on every problem.

### Best for talking it through

Ask Poppy's 30 free messages a day, on iPhone, iPad or Mac.

### For checking maths you've already tried

Photomath's free step-by-step solutions. Cover the steps and try first.

Want the full picture? [Compare all tools](/compare/) · [AI tutors that don't just give answers](/best-ai-tutors-that-dont-give-answers/)

**Sources (checked Oct 2026):** [OpenAI: study mode](https://openai.com/index/chatgpt-study-mode/) · [ChatGPT pricing](https://openai.com/chatgpt/pricing/) · [OpenAI terms](https://openai.com/policies/row-terms-of-use/) · [ChatGPT on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/chatgpt/id6448311069) · [Google: Guided Learning](https://blog.google/products/gemini/new-gemini-tools-students-august-2025/) · [Gemini Help: sign-in](https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/13278668) · [Gemini Help: children](https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/16109150) · [Gemini on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/google-gemini/id6477489729) · [Engadget, Aug 2025](https://www.engadget.com/ai/anthropic-brings-claudes-learning-mode-to-regular-users-and-devs-170018471.html) · [Claude pricing](https://claude.com/pricing) · [Anthropic consumer terms](https://www.anthropic.com/legal/consumer-terms) · [khanmigo.ai](https://www.khanmigo.ai/learners) · [Khan Academy on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/khan-academy/id469863705) · [photomath.com](https://photomath.com/) · [Photomath terms](https://photomath.com/terms) · [Photomath on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/photomath/id919087726) · [Brainly terms](https://brainly.com/pages/terms_of_use) · [Brainly on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/brainly-your-personal-tutor/id745089947) · [Ask Poppy on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ask-poppy-ai-tutor-mentor/id6757080904). Ask Poppy facts are from the current app (version 1.8.3) and its App Store listing. US prices; they vary by country and platform. Spot something out of date? Email [simon@askpoppy.ai](mailto:simon@askpoppy.ai).

**Want to try the voice option free?** Ask Poppy is an AI tutor you talk or type to. It asks questions and gives one hint at a time instead of handing you the answer, and it remembers where you left off so you can pick it up again tomorrow.

**Free, 30 messages a day** on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Optional subscription. (Disclosure: this site is made by the Ask Poppy team.)

[![Download Ask Poppy on the App Store](/assets/appstore-badge.svg)](https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6757080904?ct=learn-best-free-ai-tutor&mt=8) [About Ask Poppy](https://askpoppy.ai/?utm_source=learn&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=best-free-ai-tutor&utm_content=end)

## Questions

### Is there a completely free AI tutor?

Yes. ChatGPT study mode and Gemini Guided Learning are included on free accounts, and Claude's free plan includes its Learning style. Free plans have usage limits. Khan Academy's course library is free, though its Khanmigo tutor is paid for families.

### What is the best free AI tutor for kids under 13?

ChatGPT is 13+ and Claude is 18+. Gemini allows under-13s through a parent's Family Link account outside the EEA, Switzerland and the UK. Ask Poppy's free tier works with parent-created child profiles. Khan Academy's free exercises have step-by-step hints.

### How many free messages does Ask Poppy give?

30 messages in each 24-hour window, with no credit card. Unlimited use is $3.99 a week or $9.99 a month in the US App Store.

## Related questions

- [Khanmigo alternatives](/compare/khanmigo-alternatives/)
- [ChatGPT study mode vs Gemini Guided Learning](/compare/chatgpt-study-mode-vs-gemini-guided-learning/)
- [Khanmigo vs ChatGPT study mode](/compare/khanmigo-vs-chatgpt-study-mode/)
- [Is ChatGPT study mode good for homework?](/guides/is-chatgpt-study-mode-good-for-homework/)
- [Best AI tutor for homeschoolers](/best-ai/homeschool-ai-tutor/)
- [Is Khanmigo worth it?](/guides/is-khanmigo-worth-it/)
- [Photomath alternatives that teach the method](/compare/photomath-alternatives/)
- [Best voice AI tutor you can talk to](/best-ai/voice-ai-tutor/)
- [Is it cheating to use AI for homework?](/guides/is-using-ai-for-homework-cheating/)
- [All AI tutors side by side](/compare/)
- [Best AI tutors that don't just give you the answer](/best-ai-tutors-that-dont-give-answers/)

By **Simon Dreyer**, founder of Ask Poppy · Last updated 20 October 2026 · [How we write these pages](/about/)

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