Brainly’s AI homework tool is all over the chat – providing instant answers, step-by-step explanations, and this pretty handy ‘Scan to Solve’ feature designed to make life a heck of a lot easier for students.
But how reliable is it, really?
I put Brainly AI through its paces, covering subjects like math, science, and English to see just how well it performs and how it stacks up against the bigger AI guns like ChatGPT and Google Bard.
Whether you’re a student, parent or just plain curious about how AI is shaking things up in education – this review’s got all the info you need on Brainly AI.
Why You Should Trust This Review
I spent my time personally testing Brainly AI across 12 subjects and read through over 100 user reviews from places like Reddit, Trustpilot and student forums.
I compared it head-to-head with ChatGPT, Bard and other education tools. All my findings are 100% unbiased, up to date, and based on my firsthand use and verified data.
Brainly AI: The Quick Lowdown
Best for: Students who are looking for a quick answer to standard homework questions
Not great for: In-depth learning or any custom, open-ended assignments
Is Their Free Plan Any Good?: Yep
Does Their Paid Plan (Brainly Plus) Worth It?: $18/month or $96/year
The Good and The Bad of Brainly AI
The Good:
- Instant answers for standard school questions
- Camera-based homework solving
- Step-by-step math explanations
- Clean interface, easy to use
The Not-So-Good:
- Struggles with complex or custom prompts
- Many answers feel vague or generic
- Answers not always fact-checked
So What Is Brainly AI?
Brainly started out back in 2009 as a community-powered Q&A platform where students could post questions and get answers from their peers.
Then in 2023 Brainly threw some AI into the mix to provide faster, more consistent help without relying on user responses.
The AI side of Brainly includes things like:
- AI Tutor: Gives you short, step-by-step answers for math and science
- Scan to Solve: Take a picture of your homework and get instant help
- Auto-Suggestions: Recommends similar questions and explanations
The idea behind Brainly AI is to help middle and high school students solve routine homework questions in no time.
It uses a mix of AI-generated responses and curated community answers, but to be honest, you’re not always sure which is which.
Who Is Brainly AI Best For?
From my experience, Brainly AI works a treat for:
- Students in grades 6-12 who need fast answers to standard textbook questions
- Parents who are trying to help their kids with homework
- Tutors or teachers who are interested in seeing what their students are using
However, it’s not ideal for:
- College-level or AP students
- Custom-written essays or open-ended responses
- Learners who are after deep understanding of the subject
| User Type | Why They Use It | What Works Well | What Falls Short |
| Students | Homework help | Speed, simplicity | Weak depth |
| Parents | Support kids | Easy-to-use UI | Inconsistent accuracy |
| Educators | Monitor AI use | Quick reference | No source links |
The Key Features of Brainly AI
1. Scan to Solve
The standout feature here is the ability to upload a photo of a homework problem. The app extracts the text, identifies the topic and gives you an instant answer.
- Works fine for printed questions or worksheets
- Not always perfect with handwritten notes or complex formatting
- Can get confused if the image is blurry or cluttered
2. AI-Powered Explanations
Brainly AI gives you brief, structured explanations – particularly in subjects like math, chemistry and physics.
- For example, a question like ‘Solve 2x + 5 = 11’ will get you a clear, step-by-step breakdown
- More complex prompts like ‘Explain the significance of the Cold War’ will probably get you a generic, surface-level answer
3. Auto Suggestions & Search
The search tool surfaces similar past questions and often pre-fills suggested topics. It works fine when the platform already has a good match in its database but poorly for niche questions.
How Accurate Is Brainly AI?
I put the AI through its paces across multiple subjects and here’s what I found:
| Subject | Accuracy | Quality of Explanation |
| Math | High (85%+) | Strong |
| Science | Medium | Mixed |
| History | Medium-Low | Generic |
| English | Low | Often vague or incorrect |
Testing Notes:
- Math answers were mostly correct but could be overly simplified.
- Science explanations lacked citation or deeper context.
- Literature and English questions were hit-or-miss — often rephrased summaries without actual insight.
My take is that Brainly AI is a starting point, not the final answer.
How Does Brainly AI Compare to ChatGPT and Google Bard
To put Brainly through its paces, I submitted the same 10 homework questions to ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Brainly – just to see how they’d stack up against each other.
| Feature | Brainly AI | ChatGPT (Free) | Google Bard |
| Answer Speed | Fastest | Medium | Fast |
| Depth | Low | High | Medium |
| Personalization | None | High | Medium |
| Citations | No | No | Yes (some) |
| Best For | Standard homework | Essays, custom prompts | Fact-based research |
The Bottom Line:
If you’re after a quick fix for some routine homework problems, Brainly is probably your best bet.
But if you’re looking for help with essays, in-depth explanations or just some good old-fashioned personalized tutoring, then ChatGPT is the way to go.
Can Teachers Spot AI-generated Brainly Responses?
Yes they can – many teachers have reported being able to spot a Brainly AI answer a mile off, thanks to their tell-tale signs such as vague or repetitive phrasing, a lack of examples, and a general feeling of being “off”.
It’s worth pointing out that it’s not a matter of “if” teachers will spot AI-generated content, but more that it’s bound to happen.
Submitting a straight-up AI answer from Brainly without doing any editing is probably a recipe for disaster.
Free vs Brainly Plus – Is the paid option worth it?
Brainly is free for casual use but, if you want to unlock all the AI features and verified answers, you’ll need to cough up some cash – either by taking out a Brainly Plus subscription or shelling out for the annual fee.
Let’s take a look at the options:
| Plan | Price | Features |
| Free | $0/month | Limited AI help, ads, slower access |
| Brainly Plus (Monthly) | $18/month | Ad-free, faster AI, unlimited explanations |
| Brainly Plus (Annual) | $96/year | Same features at a discount |
So is it worth shelling out for Brainly Plus? Probably, if you’re a regular user who wants fewer ads and priority AI help, but for casual users the free version will probably be just fine.
What do users really think of Brainly?
To get a better idea of how users really feel about Brainly, I pored over over 100+ reviews from Trustpilot, Reddit, and student communities.
What users like about Brainly
- “Quick answers when I’m stuck on homework”
- “Helpful for checking math steps”
- “Camera feature is great for worksheets”
What users don’t like about Brainly
- “Answers are often wrong or make no sense”
- “They charge my card even after I cancel”
- “AI answers are super vague – not helpful for essays”
What can you use instead of Brainly?
If Brainly isn’t cutting it for you, here are a few alternatives that might be a better fit depending on your learning style:
| Tool | Best For | Cost |
| ChatGPT | Custom questions, explanations | Free / $20+ |
| Khan Academy | Video lessons, quizzes | Free |
| Wolfram Alpha | Math and science queries | Free / $5.49+ |
| Socratic by Google | Camera-based help | Free |
| Course Hero / Chegg | Textbook answers, tutoring | $15–$30/month |
Each of these options is stronger in its own way – for deeper learning, I find Khan Academy or ChatGPT to be a more useful resource than Brainly.
Final Verdict: Is Brainly worth using?
If you’re a middle or high school student who just needs a quick fix for some basic homework problems, Brainly can be a lifesaver – especially if you’re a visual learner and you make use of the camera feature.
But for essay writing, critical thinking, or college-level questions, it falls short – and relying too heavily on it could be a bad habit.
Use Brainly if:
- You want a fast fix for some routine homework questions
- You’re working under pressure and need something quick
- You’re already familiar with the material but need a bit of a refresher
Avoid Brainly if:
- You want to really understand the subject (not just get the answers)
- You need to write or analyze
- You’re submitting written work for a grade
Brainly is a convenient tool for getting quick homework help – but use it as a support tool, not a replacement for studying.
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