The best AI tools for teachers

By Web Tool Ratings editors · Updated Oct 10, 2026 · How we rate

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Teachers save the most time on lesson planning, differentiated materials, rubrics and parent emails. Keep student data out of consumer tools.

The full list

Best for lesson planning

ChatGPT

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.7 · Best for most people: the best all-round AI assistant

Lesson plans, quizzes and rubrics in minutes.

Category: AI assistant
Free plan: Yes
Paid from: $8/mo

From $8 /moVisit ChatGPT Full review

Best for Google Classroom schools

Google Gemini

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.6 · Best for people who live in Gmail, Docs and Android

Works alongside Google Workspace.

Category: AI assistant
Free plan: Yes
Paid from: $20/mo

From $20 /moVisit Google Gemini Full review

Best for Microsoft schools

Microsoft Copilot

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.3 · Best for microsoft 365 users who want AI inside Word, Excel and Outlook

Copilot in Word, PowerPoint and Teams.

Category: AI assistant
Free plan: Yes
Paid from: $9.99/mo

From $9.99 /moVisit Microsoft Copilot Full review

Best for feedback on writing

Claude

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.6 · Best for writers, analysts and developers working with long documents or code

Careful, detailed feedback suggestions.

Category: AI assistant
Free plan: Yes
Paid from: $20/mo
Billed yearly: $17/mo

From $20 /moVisit Claude Full review

Best for classroom materials

Canva

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.6 · Best for non-designers making social posts, presentations and marketing

Worksheets, slides and posters.

Category: AI image & design
Free plan: Yes
Paid from: $15/mo
Billed yearly: $10/mo

From $15 /moVisit Canva Full review

Best for quick research

Perplexity

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.5 · Best for research and questions where you want sources

Sourced answers for background reading.

Category: AI assistant
Free plan: Yes
Paid from: $20/mo
Billed yearly: $16.67/mo

From $20 /moVisit Perplexity Full review

Compared at a glance

Tool	Our rating	Category	Free plan	Paid from	Year 1 (cheapest paid)
ChatGPT	4.7/5	AI assistant	Yes	$8/mo	$96
Google Gemini	4.6/5	AI assistant	Yes	$20/mo	$240
Microsoft Copilot	4.3/5	AI assistant	Yes	$9.99/mo	$120
Claude	4.6/5	AI assistant	Yes	$20/mo	$204
Canva	4.6/5	AI image & design	Yes	$15/mo	$120
Perplexity	4.5/5	AI assistant	Yes	$20/mo	$200

Checked Oct 10, 2026. Details change: confirm on the provider’s site.

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Don’t paste student names, grades or records into consumer AI tools. Use your district’s approved tools and education plans where available: see AI privacy settings.