Claude

Claude is an AI assistant for writing, research, and coding with a genuinely usable free tier. Students at universities with a Claude for Education license get Pro-level features free by signing in with their school email; there's no personal student discount otherwise.

Best for: Long documents and careful writing help

What you get

• Free tier ($0): chat, web search, file uploads, memory, and Projects, but with capped usage limits that tighten during high demand
• Pro is $20/mo billed monthly, or $17/mo on annual billing (per claude.com/pricing) — check their site as prices change
• No individual student discount; Claude for Education gives free Pro only if your university holds a license — sign in with your .edu email to check
• No time-limited free trial on Pro; the free tier is the way to try it

How students use it

• Upload a long PDF or reading packet and question it chapter by chapter
• Get essay feedback that engages with your argument, not just your grammar
• Work through coding assignments with explanations of the why, not just the fix