The best Socratic AI tutor apps in 2026, and which ones aren't Socratic
A Socratic AI tutor teaches by asking you questions so you work the answer out yourself. The apps that describe working this way are Socra, ChatGPT study mode, Gemini Guided Learning, Claude's Learning style (18+), Khanmigo and Ask Poppy. Ask Poppy is voice-first and has no answer mode to switch to; ChatGPT and Gemini are free but their guided modes can be toggled off. Watch out for names: on 26 Oct 2026, the App Store listings for "Socratic AI - Homework Helper" and "Socratic Homework AI" promised photo scanning and step-by-step solutions, which is answer-first, not the Socratic method.
Ask Poppy is voice-first homework help for kids around 7 to 10, and teens and adults too: it asks what you have tried and gives one hint at a time, so you learn how to find the answer. Free with 30 messages a day, then $3.99/week or $9.99/month (US App Store) · 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.
8 "Socratic" AI tutors compared
| Socratic by default? | Can you switch to plain answers? | Photo scanning | Voice | Price (US) | Age / App Store | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Socra | Yes: "asks you to retrieve, compare, and explain ideas yourself" (listing) | Not described | Not described | Not described | Free download | 4+; no ratings yet (new) |
| ChatGPT study mode | When study mode is on | Yes, toggle off mid-chat | Yes (limited on Free) | ChatGPT voice; not stated whether study mode applies | Free on all plans | 13+ (terms); App Store 12+ |
| Gemini Guided Learning | When Guided Learning is selected | Yes, normal Gemini answers | Yes, upload images | Gemini Live; not stated whether Guided Learning applies | Free | 13+; under 13 via Family Link (not EEA, CH, UK) |
| Claude (Learning style) | When the style is selected | Yes, pick another style | Yes, upload images | Voice mode on all plans | Free; Pro $20/month | 18+ (terms); App Store 17+ |
| Khanmigo | Yes, by design | No answer mode described | No | Speech-to-text and read-aloud | $4/month (US only) | Parent 18+ in the US adds children |
| Ask Poppy | Built to ask questions and give hints instead of answers; it isn't a mode you switch on | No answer mode | No (not a worksheet solver); a photo, PDF or plan can become tasks | Yes: hold to talk, it speaks back (4 voices, adjustable pace), or type | Free 30 messages a day; $3.99/week or $9.99/month | App Store 4+; a parent can add up to 3 child profiles |
| Socratic AI - Homework Helper | No: promises "fast, accurate solutions" | n/a | Yes: scan, then "step-by-step solution" | Not described | Free download | 4+; 4.7 (6.5k ratings) |
| Socratic Homework AI | No: "Instant answers"; scan any question | n/a | Yes | Not described | Free download; premium for subjects | 12+; 4.7 (546 ratings) |
The last two are included because they rank for "Socratic" searches; their names aren't a description of how they teach. Neither is connected to Google's retired Socratic app as far as their listings say.
How to test whether an app is really Socratic (2 minutes)
- Give it a problem and say "just tell me the answer". A Socratic tutor asks what you've tried first. An answer engine answers.
- Get a step wrong on purpose. Does it ask you to find the mistake, or just correct it?
- Ask "why?" twice. It should keep turning the question back to your reasoning.
- At the end, ask it to quiz you. A good tutor checks you can do the next one alone.
Our free hint ladder turns any AI into a hint-giver, and Explain it back checks you really got it.
Who should pick which
Pick Socra if
you want a text tutor built only around Socratic dialogue and notes from your own thinking. It's new, with no App Store ratings yet.
Pick ChatGPT study mode or Gemini Guided Learning if
you're 13+ and want it free, and you trust yourself (or a parent setting) to keep the mode on.
Pick Khanmigo if
you're in the US and want Socratic tutoring attached to structured courses.
Pick Ask Poppy if
you'd rather think out loud than type, and want a tutor with no answer mode, on iPhone, iPad or Mac.
More: What replaced Socratic by Google? · AI tutors that don't just give answers · ChatGPT study mode vs Gemini Guided Learning
Sources (checked Oct 2026): Socra on the App Store · Socratic AI - Homework Helper on the App Store · Socratic Homework AI on the App Store · OpenAI: study mode · OpenAI terms · ChatGPT on the App Store · Google: Guided Learning · Gemini Help: children · Engadget, Aug 2025 · Anthropic consumer terms · Claude on the App Store · khanmigo.ai · Ask Poppy on the App Store. 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 [email protected].
Want a Socratic tutor you can talk to? Ask Poppy is voice-first homework help, built first for kids around 7 to 10 and their parents. Your child talks the question through, and Poppy asks what they've tried and gives one hint at a time instead of handing over the answer, so they learn how to find it. Parents set up each child's profile and can see their conversations, and memory can be turned off per child. Teens and adults use it too. A one-button, screen-free Poppy device is in development.
Free, 30 messages a day on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Optional subscription. (Disclosure: this site is made by the Ask Poppy team.)
Questions
What is a Socratic AI tutor?
An AI tutor that teaches by asking you questions, so you reason your way to the answer, instead of handing you the solution. Good ones ask what you already know, give one hint at a time and check your understanding at the end.
Is the Socratic app by Google still available?
No. Google retired the original Socratic app, and several unrelated App Store apps now use the word "Socratic" in their names. Our guide to Socratic app alternatives explains what replaced it.
Are apps called "Socratic AI" actually Socratic?
Not always. On 26 Oct 2026, the App Store listings for Socratic AI - Homework Helper and Socratic Homework AI described photo scanning, step-by-step solutions and instant answers. That can be useful, but it isn't the Socratic method. Read the listing, then test the app by asking it to just give you the answer.
Which free AI tutor uses the Socratic method?
ChatGPT study mode and Gemini Guided Learning are free and guide with questions, though both can be switched off. Socra is free to download. Ask Poppy is free for 30 messages a day and has no answer mode to switch to.
Does Socratic questioning help you learn?
Explaining your own reasoning and retrieving what you know are both well supported by research on self-explanation and practice testing. In a 2025 high-school maths study, students who used unrestricted ChatGPT did worse on the later exam than a control group, while a version built to give hints did not hurt scores.
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