Best AI tools for Students

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Being a student is tough. Trust me; I've seen it firsthand. Between endless assignments, exam prep, group projects, and trying to have some kind of social life, students today face enormous pressure. That's precisely why I decided to see if AI could help make student life easier.

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Fredrick Eghosa

The Best ChatGPT Plugins for Students

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Best AI tools for Students

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Being a student is tough. Trust me; I've seen it firsthand.

Between endless assignments, exam prep, group projects, and trying to have some kind of social life, students today face enormous pressure. That's precisely why I decided to see if AI could help make student life easier.

I spent weeks working with students, having them test various AI tools for their coursework. I observed how they used these tools for assignments, exam prep, and research projects to see which ones helped and which were just hype.

In this article, I'll share the five best AI tools for students that genuinely improved their grades and stress levels. Whether they struggled with writing papers, organizing notes, or understanding complex topics, these tools provided real help.

Key Takeaways

AI can save you hours of study time by summarizing readings, organizing notes, and helping with research.

Most AI tools have free versions that are useful enough for basic help with assignments and studying.

Different AI tools are effective at different things. Some help with writing, others with research, or flashcards.

The best AI adapts to how you learn, focusing more help on areas where you struggle.

You don't need to pay for everything. I'll show you which free options work well and when it's worth upgrading to the paid version.

5 Best AIs for Students (Tested and Trusted Review)

If you want to enhance your academic performance, several AI solutions can help streamline your studies and improve your results. Here are some of the best ones for students:

AskYourPDF

ChatGPT

Perplexity AI

Quizlet

Evernote AI

As you check out these AI tools, remember they're here to help make your studies easier, not do the work for you. Try out one or two that fit what you need right now, and see how they can simplify studying and help you get better results.

1. AskYourPDF

AskYourPDF is an incredible tool that transforms how you interact with PDF documents. It's like having a personal research assistant that helps you extract information, summarize complex texts, and even assist with writing tasks. I've seen firsthand how it can change how students and professionals work with documents.

When I worked with students using AskYourPDF, they were amazed by its ability to answer questions directly in PDFs. This AI understands context and provides precise answers, making it easier to grasp complex concepts without manually searching through documents.

The document summarization feature is a transformative tool that enables users to swiftly grasp the essence of extensive texts without having to read every detail.

One of the standout features is the Knowledge Base Interaction. Users can upload multiple documents into a single knowledge base and ask questions across all of them simultaneously. It is beneficial for research projects where you want to gather insights quickly from multiple sources.

AskYourPDF also offers a range of tools to support academic writing. The Writer Co-pilot feature simplifies the writing process by helping with essay writing and citation generation. Integrations like Zotero and GPT allow users to streamline their research and writing workflows seamlessly.

Pricing

Free Plan: Basic features with limited interactions

Premium Plan: $11.99/month for enhanced features and more chats

Pro Plan: For $14.99, it offers additional benefits like simultaneous document uploads and queries

Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing for high-volume needs

What I Liked

Engage with PDFs conversationally, getting instant answers to your questions.

Quickly grasp key points from lengthy documents.

Extract insights from multiple documents at once.

It includes text-to-speech and screen reader support for better accessibility.

It works with Chrome, mobile apps, and tools like Zotero.

If you want more PDF chat apps similar to AskYourPDF, refer to my post on Top 5 ChatPDF Alternatives.

2. ChatGPT

ChatGPT is one of the most versatile AI tools I've seen, especially for students. It's excellent for simplifying challenging concepts, helping with assignments, and preparing for exams. ChatGPT can save you a lot of time and effort if you're stuck on a math problem, need help brainstorming essay ideas, or want a summary of a long article.

When I used ChatGPT with students, it was impressive how quickly it could break down complex concepts into something understandable. It's also great for language learners, as it can translate text and help with writing in different languages.

The Pro version offers even more benefits, like access to real-time web browsing and plugins to improve your learning experience.

For example, the Wolfram plugin is terrific for math and science homework, while the Canva plugin helps quickly create presentations or study guides. The GPT Store in the Pro version allows you to explore task-specific tools developed by others, making it incredibly flexible for different needs.

Pricing

Free Version: It is available for basic use but might be slower during peak hours.

ChatGPT Plus: Offers consistent access to the latest models, new features like web browsing, and priority access during peak times. It generally costs around $20/month.

ChatGPT Pro: The product offers everything in ChatGPT Plus but provides extended access to each feature.

What I Liked

It breaks down tough topics into easy-to-understand explanations.

The browsing feature in Pro makes research easier.

The GPT Store adds so much flexibility with tools tailored to different needs.

Adapts to your learning style and helps with practice questions or essay drafts.

I am always ready to help, no matter the time.

What I Didn’t Like

Slower during peak hours and has no access to advanced tools or web browsing.

Occasionally, they give wrong or outdated information confidently.

You need to phrase questions clearly for the best results.

3. Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI is a powerful tool that can revolutionize research and learning. It helps you find accurate information quickly and efficiently, especially for students with complex research projects or writing tasks.

When I used Perplexity AI with the students, it was impressive how easily they could get detailed answers to their questions. Unlike traditional search engines, Perplexity provides direct answers with citations, which helps verify sources and avoid plagiarism.

Plus, it allows you to ask follow-up questions, making it feel like a conversation rather than just a search.

I liked the ability to choose from different AI models, like GPT-4 and Claude, each with its strengths. This flexibility is beneficial for tasks that require more understanding or creative writing. The Pro version also includes image-generation tools and file-analysis capabilities, which are great for multimedia projects or analyzing data from PDFs and CSVs.

Pricing

Standard Plan: Free with unlimited quick searches and five pro searches per day.

Professional Plan: It costs $20/month for advanced AI models, unlimited Pro searches, image generation, and file analysis.

Enterprise Pricing: Custom plans start at $40/month for businesses.

What I Liked

It is easy to use with simple queries.

It provides references for its answers, making it a great tool for research.

The platform offers multiple AI models to suit different needs.

It assists in the process of writing and summarizing texts.

It helps create visual aids or multimedia projects.

What I Didn’t Like

The free plan allows only 5 Pro searches per day, which can be restrictive for heavy users.

It needs straightforward questions for accurate results.

Like any AI, it can provide incorrect information if not verified.

If you need more tools like Perplexity AI, refer to my other post on the 7 Best AI Tools for Postgraduate Research.

4. Quizlet

Quizlet has evolved from a simple flashcard app into an AI-powered learning platform that adapts to your study habits and learning style. Its innovative learning tools help you memorize facts, understand concepts, and prepare for exams more efficiently.

When one of my students used it to learn anatomy, we uploaded his class notes to Quizlet and were impressed by how quickly it generated accurate flashcards and practice questions. The spaced repetition system was particularly effective as it tracked which concepts he struggled with and automatically prioritized them in future study sessions.

With such a tool, you can save countless hours when you struggle to understand a concept. This tool provides clear, concise explanations rather than just showing you the correct answer, helping you build a better understanding rather than relying on rote memorization.

What amazed me was Quizlet's pronunciation and adaptive learning features. The app adjusts to your progress, focusing more time on words you struggle with and less on those you’ve mastered.

Pricing

Free: Basic flashcards and study modes

Quizlet Plus: $39.13/year for AI features and personalized study paths

Quizlet Plus (Monthly): $8.69/month for all premium features

What I Liked

Adaptive learning that zeroes in on your weak spots

AI explanations that help you understand

Great mobile app for studying anywhere

Tons of pre-made study sets from other students

What I Didn’t Like

Need to pay for the best AI features

Some user-created study sets have mistakes

Doesn't handle complex, open-ended questions well

5. EverNote

Evernote is a powerful tool for organizing your life and studies. It's like having a personal assistant who keeps everything in one place. When I used Evernote with students, it was wonderful how easily they could capture and organize information. Whether snapping photos of whiteboard notes, recording audio lectures, or clipping articles from the web, Evernote made it simple to keep everything organized and accessible.

Evernote syncs across all your devices to access your notes anywhere. It also has a robust search function and a tagging system that helps you categorize your notes. The web clipper feature is helpful for research, allowing you to save articles or web pages directly into your notebooks.

Pricing

Free Plan: Basic features with limited sync and sharing.

Personal Plan: $14.99/month

Professional Plan: $16.31/month

Teams Plan: $21.71/month

Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing for businesses.

What I Liked

It keeps all your notes in one place.

Syncs across devices.

Quickly find specific notes.

It saves web pages directly into your notebooks.

What I Didn’t Like

Takes time to get used to.

It had restrictions on sync and sharing.

AskYourPDF vs Other AI Tools for Students

After testing multiple AI tools with students across various disciplines, I've found clear differences in how each helps with academic challenges. Here's how they stack up against each other:

When working with course materials, AskYourPDF offers something the others don't—direct interaction with your textbooks and readings. Unlike ChatGPT, which requires you to type in information manually, AskYourPDF lets students upload their PDFs and ask specific questions about the content. For example, a physics student I worked with could ask questions about complicated equations in their textbook and get immediate, contextual explanations.

While Perplexity AI excels at finding current information online with citations, it doesn't help you work directly with your assigned readings. Students found this distinction crucial—AskYourPDF helped them understand the specific materials they'd be tested on, while Perplexity was better for supplementary research.

AskYourPDF's automatic practice question generation gives it a significant edge over Quizlet. Instead of spending hours creating flashcards manually, students could upload a chapter and instantly generate quiz questions to test their understanding. One engineering student noted that while Quizlet helped them memorize formulas, AskYourPDF better explained when and why to apply those formulas by referencing examples from their textbook.

Unlike Evernote, which primarily helps you organize notes you've already taken, AskYourPDF transforms passive reading into active learning. A medical student who used both told me they still spent hours reviewing their organized Evernote notes before exams. With AskYourPDF, they could directly ask targeted questions about complex concepts from their reading materials.

For most students I worked with, AskYourPDF provided unique advantages:

It worked with their actual assigned course materials, not generic information

It saved enormous time with automatic question generation for test prep

Answers came directly from course materials, ensuring relevance to the test questions

It enhanced existing study habits rather than requiring students to learn entirely new systems

While each tool has its strengths, AskYourPDF consistently emerged as the most transformative for core academic tasks: understanding readings, preparing for exams, and engaging with course content. It delivered the highest academic return on investment for students with limited budgets who can only invest in one premium tool.

That said, the ideal approach for students with diverse needs often involves combining AskYourPDF for document interaction with ChatGPT for general explanations or Quizlet for repetitive memorization practice. This combination creates a comprehensive learning system that addresses multiple aspects of academic success.

How I Selected and Tested These Tools

When I thought about creating a post on the best AI tools for students, I didn't just want to recommend whatever was popular or trending. I tried to find what works for real student problems.

Here's how I tested each AI:

I used them for actual coursework: I recruited students from high school through graduate school to use these AIs for their assignments, research papers, and exam prep across different subjects, from English Literature to Calculus.

I checked if they helped grades: I tracked whether students' scores improved when using these tools compared to when they worked without them.

Tested how easy they were to use: If an AI takes forever to learn, students probably won't stick with it. I focused on user-friendly options that pupils could start using right away.

Verified accuracy: I worked with these students and cross-checked information from these AIs against their course materials to see how often they got things wrong.

I evaluated the free vs. paid value. Since most students have tight budgets, I carefully assessed whether premium features are worth the money.

Some AI tools impressed students with their ability to explain complex concepts, while others were wonderful at organizing information but terrible at explaining it. I eliminated tools that were confusing to use or frequently provided incorrect information.

The seven options I'm recommending have consistently performed well in real-world testing and improved academic results.

Conclusion

After testing these five AI tools with real students, I recommend AskYourPDF as my top choice. Its ability to transform static course materials into interactive learning resources, generate practice questions automatically, and provide contextual explanations makes it uniquely valuable for improving understanding and grades.

Try these tools to discover the best for your needs and learning style. Every student is different, and the right tool can make a huge difference in your academic journey.

But for now, try AskYourPDF for free today, and share your experience in the comments below!

I will see you next time.