AI tutors and homework apps, side by side
Six popular tools, one question that matters most: does it do the thinking, or help you do it? Every cell is checked against the company's own page or App Store listing. (Disclosure: we make Ask Poppy, the first column.)
Ask Poppy, the AI tutor that asks instead of tells. Free, 30 messages a day · iPhone, iPad, Mac
| Ask Poppy | Khanmigo | ChatGPT study mode | Gemini Guided Learning | Photomath | Brainly | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Answers by default? | No (by design) | No (by design) | Mode; toggle off for answers | Mode; Gemini answers outside it | Yes, solution plus steps | Mixed: answer library + step-locked worksheets |
| Voice | Yes | Yes | ChatGPT yes; study mode in voice unknown | Gemini Live yes; in Guided Learning unknown | Tutorial voice-over only | Unknown |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Mac | Web (chat); KA app has Activities | Web, iOS, Android | Web; mobile rolling out | iPhone, iPad, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Free option | 30 messages/day | No (learners/parents) | Yes | Yes | Yes (basic steps) | Limited |
| Paid (US) | $9.99/mo, $99.99/yr | $4/mo, $44/yr | Go $8, Plus $19.99/mo (App Store) | AI Plus $4.99, AI Pro $19.99/mo (App Store) | Plus from $9.99/mo | Plus $9.99/mo or $39.99/yr |
| Age | App Store 4+ | 18+ US account; kids via parent | 13+, parent OK under 18 | 13+; under 13 via Family Link (not EEA/UK) | 13+ per terms | 13+; under 13 via parent account |
| Good at | Talking any topic through out loud | Structured Khan courses, coding, writing | Free, studying from your own files | Free, visuals, flashcards | Maths solutions and methods | Grades 7–12 homework, test prep, human tutors |
Checked 18 Oct 2026. US prices; they vary by country and platform. "Unknown" means not confirmed on an official page. Full sources are on each comparison page.
How to read this table
- "By design" vs "mode". A mode inside a general assistant is free and powerful, but the plain answer is one switch away. A tool built only to guide is less flexible, and harder to shortcut.
- Solvers aren't bad. Photomath and answer libraries are great for checking work you've already tried. The trouble starts when they come first.
- Age rules differ a lot. Check before setting up an account for a child.
Head-to-head comparisons
Ask Poppy vs Khanmigo
Where Khanmigo is better, the price, the age rules, and who should pick which.
Ask Poppy vs ChatGPT study mode
Where ChatGPT study mode is better, the price, the age rules, and who should pick which.
Ask Poppy vs Gemini Guided Learning
Where Gemini Guided Learning is better, the price, the age rules, and who should pick which.
Ask Poppy vs Photomath
Where Photomath is better, the price, the age rules, and who should pick which.
Ask Poppy vs Brainly
Where Brainly is better, the price, the age rules, and who should pick which.
Not sure which to try?
Run the same stuck problem through two tools using our five-question test, then do the Explain it back check. See also our best AI tutors that don't just give you the answer list.
Want to try the one that never switches into answer mode? 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.)
Questions
Which AI tutors don't give you the answer?
Khanmigo, ChatGPT study mode, Gemini Guided Learning, Claude's learning mode and Ask Poppy are all designed to guide with questions and hints. In ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude it is a mode you can switch off; in Khanmigo and Ask Poppy it is the default.
Is Photomath an AI tutor that gives answers?
Photomath is a maths solver: it shows the solution with step-by-step explanations. It is very good for checking work and seeing methods, but it does lead with the answer.
How did you check these facts?
Each fact links to the company's own page or its US App Store listing, checked on 18 Oct 2026. Where we couldn't confirm something, the table says Unknown.