Best AI Tools for Students 2025 (Free & Paid): Study Smarter With ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, NotebookLM & More

informacja-lokalna.pl 6 dni temu

AI is now mainstream in student life. Surveys in 2025 suggest around 92% of students use AI tools for their studies, and nearly 9 in 10 use them for assessments. Programs.com
Big tech is racing to win the student market. OpenAI (ChatGPT + Study Mode), Google (Gemini + Guided Learning + NotebookLM), Microsoft (Copilot), Anthropic (Claude for Education), Quizlet (Q‑Chat), Khan Academy (Khanmigo), Perplexity, and others are rolling out education‑focused features, often with generous free or discounted student plans. GlobalGPT
“Guided learning” is the big trend for 2025. ChatGPT’s new Study Mode, Google Gemini’s Guided Learning, Anthropic Claude’s Learning Mode, and Khan Academy’s Khanmigo all emphasize step‑by‑step tutoring and Socratic questioning instead of just giving answers. khanmigo.ai
Student deals are unusually strong this year.
- Google AI Pro (Gemini 2.5/3 Pro + NotebookLM upgrades + 2 TB storage) is free for many higher‑ed students for 12 months in multiple regions. Lifewire
- Perplexity Pro has a free 12‑month education plan for students and educators. GlobalGPT
- GitHub Copilot Pro is free for verified students via GitHub Education. GitHub
- Notion’s Plus Plan is free for students and teachers, with AI discounts. kipwise.com
- OpenAI has run free ChatGPT Plus and ChatGPT Go offers for students in 2025 in some regions. TechRadar
Evidence on learning impact is mixed. A 2025 meta‑analysis of 51 studies finds that using ChatGPT can significantly improve learning performance and higher‑order thinking when integrated thoughtfully. Nature+2ResearchGate+2 Yet other research shows students who rely on ChatGPT as a shortcut do worse on math tests and show lower brain engagement. ResearchGate
Regulators and universities are scrambling to catch up. UNESCO urges a “human‑centred vision” for generative AI in education and calls for regulation, teacher training and clear guardrails. LinkedIn A 2025 report warns UK universities to “stress‑test” assessments as 92% of students now use AI. The Guardian
AI‑detection tools are not a reliable safety net. Multiple reviews find AI‑text detectors produce many false positives and false negatives, and tools like Turnitin’s AI detection are still evolving. lawlibguides.sandiego.edu
Legal and ethical questions are growing. The New York Times and other publishers have sued Perplexity and other AI firms over alleged copyright infringement, highlighting unresolved questions about how AI tools get their training data. Reuters

1. Why AI tools are now unavoidable for students in 2025

Whether you’re in high school, university, or adult education, AI tools are now woven into everyday study routines:

In 2025 surveys, about 92% of students report using AI tools, up from ~66% just a year earlier. Programs.com
Axios estimates close to 9 in 10 high‑school and college students use generative AI, even while many school districts still formally ban it. Axios

Students turn to tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Khanmigo, Perplexity, and NotebookLM to:

Translate dense readings into plain language
Generate practice questions, flashcards and quizzes
Get feedback on essay drafts, code, or lab reports
Summarize lecture notes or long PDFs

At the same time, institutions are experimenting with AI for grading, admissions and advising. For example, some universities now use AI to score parts of admissions essays and process transcripts, raising questions about fairness and transparency. AP News

In other words: the question for 2025 is no longer “Should students use AI?” but “How can they use it well and ethically?”

2. Expert guidance: AI should be “human‑centred” and tutor‑like

UNESCO has taken a clear stance: AI in education must follow a “human‑centred” vision, preserving human agency and core educational values. UNESCO The organisation urges governments to:

Regulate generative AI in schools
Train teachers in AI literacy
Build student and teacher competencies to use AI critically and creatively UNESCO

Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, frames the opportunity more optimistically: his goal is to “give every student on the planet an AI personal tutor.” YouTube Khan’s own AI tutor, Khanmigo, is built around detecting misconceptions and giving feedback rather than just answers. Khan Academy Blog

A key shift in 2025 is that major AI tools now offer explicit “learning modes”:

ChatGPT Study Mode walks students through problems step‑by‑step, using hints and Socratic questions instead of instant solutions. The Guardian
Gemini Guided Learning breaks questions into stages and adapts its explanations to the student’s level. blog.google
Claude’s Learning Mode is explicitly designed as a Socratic tutor that “guides you toward insights rather than providing immediate solutions.” Anthropic
Khanmigo offers guided, curriculum‑aligned tutoring on top of Khan Academy’s problem sets. khanmigo.ai

As Leah Belsky (OpenAI) put it, ChatGPT’s Study Mode is “the first step” toward ensuring “real learning” happens when students use AI. Education Week

Robbie Torney from Common Sense Media adds that instead of doing the work for students, study mode encourages them to think critically about their learning. OpenAI

3. What the research actually says about AI and learning

The evidence in 2025 is nuanced:

3.1 When AI helps

A 2025 meta‑analysis of 51 studies found that using ChatGPT in learning contexts can produce large positive effects on:

Learning performance
Learning perception
Higher‑order thinking skills Nature

These benefits tend to appear when:

AI is used over several weeks or months
Tasks require explanation, reflection or practice
Teachers scaffold AI use rather than leaving students to “figure it out” alone Nature

Pilot studies of course‑specific AI tutors at universities like UC San Diego, Texas, and Harvard Business School report higher student satisfaction and better exam performance when students use AI tutors as a supplement to class, not a replacement. EduNLP Lab

3.2 When AI hurts

On the other hand:

A study of Turkish high‑school students found that those allowed to use ChatGPT for math practice solved practice problems better but scored 17% lower on the final test than those who didn’t use it—because many simply asked for answers. The Hechinger Report
An MIT‑associated study using EEG scans found that participants writing essays with ChatGPT had the lowest brain engagement and consistently under‑performed compared with those using search or no tools. TIME

Journalistic analyses of thousands of ChatGPT logs from real students show how easily “study help” can slip into dependency, with AI doing the reading, the outlining, and sometimes the thinking. The Guardian

The takeaway:

AI helps when you still do the hard parts: planning, deciding, and practising. It hurts when you outsource those entirely.

4. How to choose AI tools as a student (or parent/teacher)

Before we dive into specific tools, here’s a quick 2025 “buying guide.”

4.1 Prioritise tutor‑style tools over answer‑dump tools

Look for features like:

Study / Guided / Learning Mode (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Khanmigo) Khan Academy Blog
Ability to generate questions, flashcards, and quizzes rather than just essays (NotebookLM, Quizlet, Doctrina, Gemini, ChatGPT) doctrina-ai-education-suite.en.softonic.com

4.2 Check privacy & data policies

Key questions:

Is there an education‑specific version (e.g., Gemini for Education, Claude for Education, ChatGPT Edu, campus‑licensed Claude or Copilot)? Perplexity AI
Are chats stored and used to train models? Is there a “no training” or enterprise mode your institution offers?
Does your school already provide a licensed AI tool? Many universities now offer Claude for Education, campus ChatGPT, or Gemini for Education. Google for Education

UNESCO’s guidance stresses that responsible AI in education must protect privacy and human agency, not just efficiency. UNESCO Documents

4.3 Compare pricing and student deals

In 2025 there are unusually generous student offers:

Google AI Pro / Gemini Student Plan – 12 months free in many regions, including Gemini Pro models, Gemini in Docs/Gmail, NotebookLM upgrades and 2 TB cloud storage. The Times of India
Perplexity Pro Education Plan – 12 months of Pro features (Study Mode, Labs, unlimited uploads) free with academic verification. GlobalGPT
GitHub Copilot Pro for students – free via GitHub Education. GitHub
Notion Plus for education – free plan for students and teachers; selected student offers include bonus AI credits. kipwise.com
NotebookLM Pro promos – limited‑time offers where students with .edu emails got Pro at no cost for back‑to‑school. Google NotebookLM
ChatGPT Plus / Go promos – free or discounted access for students in North America and India at certain times in 2025. TechRadar

Always check current eligibility and renewal prices on the official product pages; offers are time‑limited and region‑specific.

4.4 Be realistic about AI detection and academic integrity

Turnitin and others offer AI‑writing detection tools, but multiple analyses show AI detectors are not reliably accurate, with both false accusations and undetected cheating. turnitin.com

That means:

You cannot rely on “passing an AI detector” as proof your work is safe.
Nor can institutions rely solely on detectors to prove misconduct.

The safest path is to follow your institution’s AI policy, use AI transparently, and keep evidence of your own work (notes, drafts, revision history).

5. Best general‑purpose AI study companions (Free + Paid)

These are the “do‑almost‑anything” tools students use most in 2025.

5.1 ChatGPT (OpenAI) – now with Study Mode

Best for: general study help, writing feedback, concept explanations, languages, brainstorming.

Why it matters in 2025

Study Mode: a dedicated learning experience that guides you step‑by‑step through problems using questions, hints, and spaced reflection. Available on Free, Plus, Pro, Team and rolling out to ChatGPT Edu. The Verge
100 Chats for College Students: curated example chats built with real students to help with pre‑grading essays, reading tough papers, note‑talk‑throughs, and more. ChatGPT
Widely integrated in campus pilots and experiments, including course‑specific AI tutors and lab assistants. today.ucsd.edu

Free vs paid

Free: good for most text‑based tasks and Study Mode use.
Plus / Go / Pro: higher‑end models (e.g., GPT‑5‑class in some tiers), more messages, better reasoning, advanced tools (Deep Research, file uploads, voice). Some regions offered temporary free Plus or Go access for students during exam season. TechRadar

How to use it well as a student

Ask it to quiz you on your own notes before an exam.
Use Study Mode to do a first pass on a problem yourself; then ask for hints, not final answers. ChatGPT
Paste your draft essay and ask for structural feedback (“Where is my argument weak?”) rather than “Rewrite this for me.”

5.2 Google Gemini + Gemini for Education + Guided Learning

Best for: integrated use across Gmail, Docs, Slides, Sheets; multimodal study help; students already in Google ecosystems.

Gemini for Education is a free-of-charge generative AI add‑on schools can enable as part of Google for Education. Google for Education
Gemini Guided Learning provides a step‑by‑step tutoring mode with images, diagrams, and interactive quizzes, emphasising understanding over “just the answer.” blog.google
Google’s AI Pro / Student Plan for individuals bundles Gemini advanced models, Gemini in Docs/Sheets/Slides, upgraded NotebookLM, and 2 TB storage—and is available free for 12 months to eligible students in many countries (with auto‑renew afterward). The Times of India

Study use cases

Turn messy course materials into structured study guides with Gemini and NotebookLM. The Verge
Use Guided Learning to break down complex problems and generate practice questions. blog.google

5.3 Claude for Education (Anthropic)

Best for: step‑by‑step reasoning, long and complex reading, cautious institutions.

Anthropic’s Claude for Education initiative partners with universities (e.g., LSE) to provide a campus‑wide AI assistant with:

Learning Mode, which behaves like a Socratic tutor, asking probing questions rather than giving solutions outright. Claude
Strong emphasis on safety and “responsible AI,” which many CIOs see as more aligned with educational values. Claude

LSE reports that Claude access is free for all students and staff, supporting summarisation of complex readings, study plans, and data analysis. LSE Blogs

5.4 Perplexity AI – research‑grade search with citations

Best for: research, quick fact‑checking, building reading lists, “Google‑but-with-sources.”

Perplexity combines:

A conversational interface
Answer summaries with inline citations and links to the underlying sources
Upload features for documents and images Perplexity AI

For students and educators, the Perplexity Pro Education Plan provides 12 months of premium features at no cost after verification. GlobalGPT

Caution: Perplexity is currently being sued by The New York Times and other publishers over alleged copyright infringement and fabricated attributions, which is part of a broader fight over how AI tools use news content. Reuters You should still click through to original sources and cite them properly.

5.5 Microsoft Copilot Chat & Microsoft 365 Copilot

Best for: students in Microsoft‑centric institutions (OneDrive, Teams, Word, PowerPoint).

Copilot Chat is free for users with Microsoft 365 A1/A3/A5 licenses (including many students 13+), once admins enable it. Microsoft
A new academic offering for Microsoft 365 Copilot brings deeper integration into Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams, priced at $18/month for educators, staff and students starting December 2025. Microsoft

Use it to:

Turn lecture notes into summaries or slide decks
Draft lab reports from structured data in Excel
Ask Copilot Chat to explain your own documents back to you

5.6 Khanmigo (Khan Academy)

Best for: middle‑school to early university students, especially in math and science.

Khanmigo is an AI tutor tightly integrated with Khan Academy content. It:

Provides 24/7 Socratic tutoring aligned to exercises and videos
Offers a writing coach and teacher‑facing lesson tools Wall Street Journal

Pricing:

Free for teachers
Around $4/month for learners and parents, or discounted annual plans Khan Academy Blog

Teachers report that students ask more questions to Khanmigo than they might in class, suggesting it can support shy or anxious learners. khanmigo.ai

5.7 NotebookLM – your AI “second brain” for courses

Best for: reading‑heavy courses, thesis work, exam revision.

NotebookLM (Google) lets you:

Upload lecture notes, PDFs, readings, and even YouTube transcripts
Ask questions grounded only in those sources
Auto‑generate flashcards, quizzes, reports, and audio overviews The Verge

For 2025, NotebookLM is increasingly bundled into student AI Pro plans and is available as a core service for many Workspace for Education users. Indiatimes

6. Best AI writing, research & note‑taking tools (Free + Paid)

6.1 Grammarly / Superhuman writing suite

Best for: polishing essays, grammar, citations, and feedback on drafts.

Real‑time grammar and style suggestions in Word, Docs, email, and LMS tools
AI writing assistance (outlines, drafts, rephrasing)
Student‑focused tools like grade prediction, plagiarism checking, and citation help Grammarly

Many institutions explicitly allow Grammarly for editing but not for writing entire assignments—always check your local policy.

6.2 QuillBot – paraphrasing, summarising and citing

Best for: multilingual students, revising awkward prose, summarising readings.

A popular paraphrasing tool with multiple modes (formal, simple, creative)
Grammar checking, summarisation, translation, plagiarism checking
Free tiers with word limits, plus paid plans with higher limits

Used well, QuillBot can help you understand and re‑express complex ideas. Used badly, it can encourage patch‑writing (light paraphrase of sources), which many universities still treat as plagiarism.

6.3 Notion & Notion AI – all‑in‑one student workspace

Best for: organising courses, tasks, notes, group projects.

For students:

Notion Plus Plan is free for individual students and teachers with valid education emails. notion.com
GitHub‑verified students can get extra free AI responses as part of Notion’s partnership with the GitHub Student Developer Pack. Notion

Notion AI can:

Turn messy notes into structured summaries or todo lists
Generate outlines or first‑pass drafts directly inside your notes
Summarise long pages or meeting notes in‑place kipwise.com

6.4 Otter.ai – lecture and meeting transcription

Best for: students who struggle to take notes in real time; accessibility.

Real‑time transcription of lectures and meetings
Automatic summaries and highlights
AI chat over your transcripts

In 2025, Otter expanded to include AI “Meeting Agents” that can join virtual calls to record and summarise them; this is more relevant for group projects and online courses. The Verge

Always confirm recording is allowed in your class before using it.

6.5 Doctrina AI & similar “all‑in‑one” education suites

Tools like Doctrina AI package multiple student‑focused features:

Improving class notes, generating quizzes, drafting essays and study guides doctrina-ai-education-suite.en.softonic.com

These platforms can be handy if your school doesn’t yet provide a campus‑wide AI tool—but treat them like any AI: great for structure and ideas, not for copy‑paste answers.

7. Best subject‑specific AI tools for students

7.1 Quizlet Q‑Chat and Magic Notes – AI flashcards & tutor

Best for: flashcards, definitions, spaced repetition.

Q‑Chat, an AI tutor built with OpenAI’s models, that quizzes you conversationally using your sets
Magic Notes & Quick Summary, which convert messy notes into practice questions, outlines, and summaries

Together they turn standard flashcards into an interactive tutor—ideal for languages, biology, or any memorisation‑heavy course.

7.2 Photomath & Socratic‑style “scan your homework” apps

Best for: step‑by‑step math help and concept explanations.

Photomath lets you scan a math problem and see step‑by‑step explanations based on teacher‑approved methods. Wikipedia
Socratic by Google (and similar apps) allow you to snap a picture of homework questions and get structured explanations and web resources. socratic-by-google.en.download.it

These can be amazing for checking your work—if you attempt the problem first and then compare your reasoning to the solution.

7.3 Coding assistants: GitHub Copilot, AskCodi, Gemini Code Assist

Best for: CS students, bootcamp learners, or anyone learning to code.

GitHub Copilot Pro is free for verified students and teachers, providing real‑time code completions and explanations in your editor. GitHub
AskCodi offers specialised coding assistants for writing, explaining and testing code, and is often recommended as a learning companion for beginners. Real Python
Gemini Code Assist is now free for individual users (including students), with generous monthly limits, and supports many languages and IDEs. The Verge

Use these tools to:

Ask for explanations of unfamiliar code
Generate starter functions and then step through them line‑by‑line
Practise debugging by asking, “Why doesn’t this work?” rather than “Write this entire assignment for me.”

8. Responsible use: simple rules to avoid hurting your learning (or getting in trouble)

Based on current research and policy trends, here are practical guardrails:

Know your institution’s AI policy. Many universities now explicitly allow AI for brainstorming or feedback but forbid undisclosed AI‑written text in assessments. Others require disclosures. The Guardian
Use “tutor modes” first. When possible, enable Study Mode, Guided Learning, or Learning Mode instead of raw chat. They’re designed specifically to reduce cheating and increase understanding. LinkedIn
Do a “no‑AI pass” before using tools. Try at least one practice set, outline, or paragraph alone. Then ask AI to critique or extend your work.
Never paste in live exam questions or assessment prompts unless your teacher explicitly allows it. Besides being unethical, this is exactly the misuse that has triggered teacher backlash—such as Google pausing its new Chrome “homework help” button after educators protested it enabled cheating on quizzes. The Washington Post
Treat AI outputs as drafts or hints, not final products. Edit, re‑organise and fact‑check everything, especially citations.
Protect your data. Avoid entering sensitive personal information or unreleased research into public AI tools. Prefer education‑licensed versions (ChatGPT Edu, Claude for Education, Gemini for Education, campus Copilot). University at Buffalo
Watch for dependence. If you feel anxious trying to write or solve anything without AI, you may be drifting into the patterns researchers now link to lower brain engagement and poorer long‑term performance. The Guardian

9. A practical “starter stack” for different types of students

Here’s how you might combine tools responsibly in 2025.

Budget‑conscious student (all free or student‑discounted)

ChatGPT Free + Study Mode – core tutor and explainer. ChatGPT
Gemini for Education (if your school enables it) – alternative explainer, especially in Google Docs. Google for Education
NotebookLM (free version) – turn lecture slides and readings into flashcards and quizzes. Google NotebookLM
Notion Plus for education – course planning and notes, with limited AI help. notion.com
Quizlet + Q‑Chat – flashcards plus conversational quizzing. PR Newswire
Photomath / Socratic – math and science checkers (after you attempt the problem). socratic-by-google.en.download.it

Project‑heavy or research‑heavy student

Everything above, plus:
Perplexity Pro Education – for research questions and reading lists. GlobalGPT
NotebookLM Pro (where available) – to manage large numbers of PDFs and generate research overviews and audio summaries. blog.google

Coding or engineering student

GitHub Copilot Pro (student licence) – in‑editor code suggestions and explanations. GitHub
Gemini Code Assist – for additional language coverage and higher token limits. The Verge
AskCodi – for code explanation, debugging, and documentation practise. Real Python

10. Final thoughts

UNESCO reminds us that AI in education must stay “rooted in people” and human rights, not just efficiency or novelty. UNESCO The best AI tools for students in 2025 reflect that shift: they act less like ghostwriters and more like patient tutors, note‑taking assistants and research helpers.

If you: