AI isn’t just a buzzword anymore, it’s something students are using every day. Whether you’re buried in deadlines, staring down a research paper, or want to make essay writing a little easier, the right AI tools can seriously lighten the load.
From transcription to data analysis, these six tools are designed to help you study smarter not harder. Here are the best AI tools for students to improve their academic workflow.
What it does: Otter.ai records lectures, interviews, and group study sessions and transcribes them in real-time so you can read and search your notes later. Just be sure to get permission before recording anyone, like your professor or classmates.
Why it's useful: It helps you focus on the lecture without worrying about missing key points. It's perfect for review sessions or when preparing for exams.
How to use it: Download or use the app on the web, start a recording, upload audio files for transcription, and Otter does the rest.
Pricing: The company offers a free plan with 300 minutes/month. Premium plans, with more transcription hours and features, start at $8.33/month.
What it does: SciWeave is an AI-powered research assistant that delivers academic answers to your questions, complete with citations and related literature.
Why it's useful: It drastically speeds up academic research by cutting through irrelevant results and surfacing reliable, citable information - ideal for essays and projects.
How to use it: Visit the website, type your question, and get instant results sourced from scholarly publications.
Pricing: 20 free Pro searches per month and unlimited free Basic searches. Subscription is $7.99/month or $5.58/month, if paid annually.
What it does: ChatGPT helps with idea generation, summarizing texts and lecture notes, creating outlines, and simplifying complex concepts - all through natural conversation.
Why it's useful: It’s a go-to tool when you’re stuck at the beginning of an assignment or need help rewording tricky sentences.
How to use it: Download the app or use it directly in your browser. Type a question or task, and the AI will respond in seconds.
Pricing: Free version available (GPT-3.5). ChatGPT Plus with GPT-4 costs $20/month.
What it does: Scholarly reads academic articles and produces concise summaries. It also auto-generates properly formatted citations in styles like APA and MLA.
Why it's useful: It saves time when reviewing academic papers and ensures your references are correctly formatted without the hassle.
How to use it: Upload a PDF or paste a DOI, and Scholarly will provide a summary and citation options.
Pricing: Offers a free plan with up to ten summaries. Their paid plan is $8/month.
What it does: Julius AI allows students to upload spreadsheets or datasets and analyze them using natural language; no coding skills are required.
Why it's useful: It’s a fast way to extract trends, build charts, and generate insights for research projects and presentations.
How to use it: Sign up, upload your dataset, and ask questions like "What are the top trends?" or "Create a summary chart."
Pricing: Offers a free trial. Paid plans begin at $15/month.
What it does: Grammarly is an AI-powered writing tool that checks your grammar, spelling, punctuation, and clarity - while also giving tone and style suggestions tailored to your audience.
Why it's useful: It helps you write clearly and confidently, whether you're drafting an essay, emailing a professor, or submitting a personal statement. You’ll catch small mistakes and learn to write more effectively over time.
How to use it: Install the browser extension, use the desktop app, or write directly in the Grammarly editor. It gives real-time feedback as you type.
Pricing: Free version with essential writing suggestions. Premium plans (with advanced features) start at $12/month.
Using AI tools well can seriously boost your productivity. Whether you’re recording lectures, finding sources, analyzing data, or writing better essays, AI tools for students can help you get more done with less stress.
It's worth trying a few of these tools and seeing what clicks with your study style. Using AI well won’t just save you time- it’ll help you study smarter and feel more in control of your workload.
Have our latest blogs, stories, insights and resources straight to your inbox
