The best AI tools for students (that won't break the bank)

Managing deadlines, lectures, and endless reading lists isn't easy. There are only so many hours in the day, and it's easy to feel like you're constantly playing catch-up. The right AI tools can help - making studying simpler, faster, and a little less overwhelming.

A recent study found that 86% of students are already using AI tools in their schoolwork, and it's easy to see why. Used thoughtfully, AI can help you organize your work, find reliable information, and improve your writing - without replacing your own effort. Think of these tools as study helpers, not shortcuts: a way to support your learning and save you valuable time.

Here are 8 of the best AI tools for students - beyond ChatGPT. They're either free or low-cost, so they won't break the bank.

Jump to:

• 1. Transcribe - for turning lectures into clear notes
• 2. Notion AI - for keeping your studies on track
• 3. Grammarly - to strengthen your writing and catch mistakes
• 4. QuillBot - to paraphrase, summarize, and sharpen your work
• 5. Perplexity AI - for fast, reliable research with linked sources
• 6. Consensus - to find academic evidence with ease
• 7. SciSummary - to break down complex research papers
• 8. Canva Magic Design - for creating polished presentations

1. Transcribe - for turning lectures into clear notes

When you're trying to take notes during fast-paced lectures, it's all too easy to miss important details. Enter Transcribe.

With Transcribe's fast and affordable AI transcription software, you can turn recordings of lectures, seminars, and interviews into clear and accurate lecture notes. This means that instead of frantically scribbling during class, you can focus on listening and learning - knowing you'll have notes to review within minutes of the lecture ending.

Once you've got the transcript, you can search, skim, and edit the content, and use built-in AI tools to summarize the transcript and extract key points. You can even share the notes with your classmates for extra kudos!

Here's how to record and transcribe a lecture.

Pricing

Transcribe's pricing is simple and student-friendly. You get 30 minutes of free transcription time to start. After that, you can buy additional time for just $5 per hour - roughly the cost of a campus coffee! If you plan to use it regularly, you can save even more by purchasing a 10-hour package for $30. No subscriptions, no hidden fees - just pay for what you need.

2. Notion AI - for keeping your studies on track

Staying organized is half the battle when it comes to studying. Notion helps you manage your notes, projects, and deadlines all in one place - and its built-in AI is there to help you write, think, and study with ease. You can ask it to summarize reading materials, brainstorm ideas, check your work, or generate to-do lists based on your workload - which all help to make studying that much easier.

Pricing

The Education Plus Plan is free for students, and you may also be eligible for 50% off Notion AI if you're on this plan, which would make it just $5/month.

3. Grammarly - to strengthen your writing and catch mistakes

Clear, mistake-free writing is essential for essays, assignments, and even everyday emails. Grammarly is a go-to AI tool for checking spelling and grammar and improving your clarity and style.

Simply download the app or add it as a browser extension, and Grammarly's free version will highlight errors, awkward phrasing, and wordy sentences so that you can sharpen your work before submitting it. It's particularly useful when you're working under pressure and to tight deadlines - flagging things that are easy to miss when you're in a hurry.

Pricing

There's a free version that's great for students, or paid plans with more advanced features start at $12/month.

4. QuillBot - to paraphrase, summarize, and sharpen your work

Sometimes your first draft isn't quite right - and that's where QuillBot comes in. This AI tool for students is on hand to paraphrase sentences, summarize long texts, and even help you reword essays to sound more natural.

It's perfect for explaining ideas more clearly, cutting down word counts, or avoiding repetition without starting over.

Pricing

Its free tier offers access to essential features like the standard paraphraser and summarizer. For more advanced features, including unlimited paraphrasing and plagiarism detection, the premium plan starts at $8.33/month.

5. Perplexity AI - for fast, reliable research with linked sources

Need quick answers for an assignment? Perplexity AI provides concise, sourced responses to research questions. Unlike a standard search engine, it gives you clear explanations along with links to original sources so that you can verify the accuracy of the information.

It's great for getting an overview of a topic, finding starting points for deeper research, or double-checking facts before you start writing.

Pricing

Perplexity AI is free to use - no expensive database subscriptions required.

6. Consensus - to find academic evidence with ease

Whether you're working on a literature review or just looking for one solid source to back up an argument, Consensus makes research more manageable. It searches across thousands of published studies to find evidence-based answers to your questions - saving you hours of time.

Instead of skimming through endless PDFs, you'll get quick, straightforward summaries - perfect for adding weight to essays and assignments.

Pricing

There's a free version which should keep you going each month, and students also get a three-month premium subscription for free with a school email.

7. SciSummary - to break down complex research papers

Scientific papers are, of course, packed with valuable information. But they're often super-long and time-consuming to read. SciSummary helps by condensing long articles into short, clear summaries.

Just upload the paper or paste the text, and the tool generates a more digestible version. It's ideal for STEM students, or anyone who needs to quickly understand detailed research without getting bogged down in page after page of technical jargon.

Pricing

There's a free one-month trial for students, then it costs $6.99/month for unlimited summaries.

8. Canva Magic Design - for creating polished presentations

A good presentation can make all the difference when it comes to coursework. Whether you're preparing for a class talk or a group project, Canva's Magic Design feature helps you create smart, professional-looking slides quickly - no design experience needed.

Just tell it what you need and it will suggest layouts, images, and templates, which you can then customize. That means more time to focus on the content, and less on how it's presented.

Pricing

The best part? It's free!

Ready to make studying easier with AI?

Used well, AI can lighten your workload and help you study more efficiently - without cutting corners. These tools are designed to support your learning, boost your confidence, and save you time. Try a few and see which ones are the most helpful!

We haven't included ChatGPT in this list because chances are, you're already using it. But if you're looking for new ideas, check out our guide to discover seven smart ways to use ChatGPT for studying.