Best AI tutors for students in 2027

Going into 2027, the big general chatbots all have a study mode. ChatGPT has study mode, Gemini has Guided Learning, and Claude has a learning mode. Each one asks the student a question before it explains. That is a change from the first chatbots, which answered whatever was pasted in. It also makes the field harder to compare, because a chatbot with a study toggle and a tutor built only for teaching now sound alike.

This guide sorts them by job. Aristotle is a voice AI tutor built for middle and high school students, and open to anyone who wants to learn. It talks with the student on a shared whiteboard and asks questions instead of handing over the answer. We make it, so weigh our pick accordingly. Every other price and age below comes from the vendor’s own site or help center, checked in October 2026.

What are the best AI tutors for 2027?

1. Aristotle: best for live voice tutoring across subjects, for middle school, high school, and anyone who wants to learn.
2. Khanmigo: best if Khan Academy is already the homework.
3. ChatGPT study mode: best free option for a teen who already uses ChatGPT, with parental controls on linked teen accounts.
4. Gemini Guided Learning: best for families already on Google accounts and Family Link.
5. Claude learning mode: best for adult learners and college students, since Claude is 18+.
6. Synthesis Tutor: best for elementary math, ages 5–11.
7. Photomath: best for checking the steps on one math problem.

How do they compare?

What should you look for in an AI tutor?

Four questions separate a tutor from a homework shortcut.

1. Does it hold back the answer by design, or only when a mode is switched on? A study toggle can be switched off.
2. Can the student talk? Explaining a step out loud shows what they understand faster than typing does.
3. Does it cover the subjects your student actually takes this year, not only math?
4. What does a parent see afterward: a summary, a history, alerts, or nothing?

Aristotle: best for live voice tutoring across subjects

Aristotle is a voice-first Socratic AI tutor. The student talks through a problem. Aristotle listens, draws on a shared whiteboard, and asks the next question instead of finishing the worksheet. It covers math, science, English, history, languages, AP, IB, and SAT/ACT prep. Parents get a summary after each session. Read how Aristotle tutors.

Intro is three free one-hour sessions. Scholar is $49 a month for eight sessions. Infinite is $199 a month for unlimited sessions, with a one-week free trial. See the published plans.

It is a weaker fit if your student only wants a fast answer to check, or if the work lives entirely inside Khan Academy.

Khanmigo: best if Khan Academy is already the homework

Khanmigo is Khan Academy’s AI tutor. If your child already does Khan math every week, or the district paid for seats, the tutor already knows the video and the exercise. The learner and family plans are $4 a month or $44 a year. Parents can see their children’s interaction history and get moderation alerts. Teachers sign up free, and districts buy seats for students.

It is a weaker fit if you want a live voice session on a whiteboard, or help with work that is not in the Khan library.

ChatGPT study mode: best free option for teens already on ChatGPT

Study mode is on every ChatGPT plan, including free. It asks questions, explains in layers, and quizzes the student. OpenAI’s own help page says it may still give direct answers at times, and a student can start an ordinary chat instead. Parents with a linked teen account can set study hours, which start new conversations in study mode during chosen times.

OpenAI’s terms require users to be 13 or older, with a parent’s permission under 18. Plus is $20 a month.

Gemini Guided Learning: best for Google families

Guided Learning is a mode in the Gemini app. Google says it breaks problems into steps and adapts explanations instead of giving a quick answer. Google rolled it out to everyone, and has offered students in the US and several other countries a free year of its AI Pro plan.

Parents can turn on Gemini for a child under 13 through Family Link, and switch it off at any time. Google’s help page notes that its filters are imperfect and that this access is not offered in the EEA, Switzerland, or the UK.

Claude learning mode: best for adult learners

Anthropic’s Claude has a learning style that asks questions and guides step by step instead of answering outright. It started in Claude for Education and was later opened to all users. Anthropic’s consumer terms require users to be 18 or older, so it is a fit for college students and adults, not for a middle or high school student’s own account.

Synthesis Tutor: best for elementary math

Synthesis Tutor is an adaptive math tutor for ages 5–11, covering the K–5 curriculum with spoken guidance. It offers individual and family plans and a seven-day free trial. Check synthesis.com for the current price, since the listings change with promotions. It is not a tutor for older students or other subjects.

Photomath: best for checking one problem

Photomath photographs a math problem and shows the steps, from arithmetic through calculus. The free version includes step-by-step explanations. The paid plan is $9.99 a month or $69.99 a year. It is useful when a student is stuck on one equation. The student does not have to explain anything, so it is a checker, not a tutor.

Which one should you start with?

Start with Khanmigo if Khan Academy is the homework. Start with Synthesis Tutor for elementary math. Use Photomath to check a single problem. If your teen already lives in ChatGPT or Gemini, turn on study mode or Guided Learning and set the parent controls. Claude’s learning mode suits learners who are 18 or older.

Start with Aristotle if you want a student to talk through the work on a whiteboard, across subjects, with a tutor that is built not to hand over the answer. The three free sessions are how most families try it.

Get started today — we’d love for you to meet Aristotle yourself.