The best AI tools for teachers in 2026, and what each one is actually good for
A lot changed this year. ChatGPT and Claude both have free versions for US teachers, and Google and Microsoft now build AI into the tools your school already pays for. Here are ten tools teachers actually use, what each is best for, what it costs and how it treats your students' data.
We make SchoolGPT, one of the tools on this list. We've tried to be fair, and to say plainly where another tool is the better choice. Prices and plans were checked on October 21, 2026, with sources at the end.
Sarah Chen, EdTech Researcher & Former K-12 Educator
12 min read
The short answer
Start from where you already work. The best tool is often the one your school already gives you.
An assistant that knows your classes, and writing about a whole class at report time
1 whole-class job/month
$79/year
Names hidden from the AI
1.
Gemini in Classroom
Best for: teachers whose school already runs Google Workspace for Education
Google built Gemini into Google Classroom at no extra cost for Workspace for Education accounts.[1] It drafts lesson plans, quizzes, rubrics and vocabulary lists, turns your own materials into study guides for students, and since April 2026 it works in every language Classroom supports.[2]
What it does well
Nothing new to buy or sign in to if your school uses Google
Works with your Classroom assignments and materials
Student features stay off until you turn them on
Where it falls short
Your school admin controls whether you get it
Gemini inside Docs, Sheets and Slides needs a paid upgrade
Report cards, progress notes and parent emails aren't its focus
Free
Included with Google Workspace for Education.
Paid
Paid Gemini add-ons for schools unlock it in Docs, Slides and Sheets.
Privacy
Google says Workspace for Education data isn't used to train its models. It runs under your school's Google agreement.[1]
Best for: teachers in Microsoft 365 schools who live in Word and Teams
Teach is a section of the Microsoft 365 Copilot app for educators. It creates lesson plans, quizzes, rubrics and flashcards, can adjust a text's reading level, and saves straight to Word.[7]
What it does well
Built into the Microsoft tools many schools already license
Can align to standards and change reading level
Output lands in Word, ready to edit
Where it falls short
Which licence includes it depends on your school's Microsoft setup
Focused on materials, not on writing about individual students
Full Copilot inside Word and Outlook is a paid add-on
Free
Included with Microsoft 365 Education licences, depending on your school's plan.
Paid
Microsoft 365 Copilot for education is a separate per-user add-on.
Privacy
Runs inside your school's Microsoft 365 tenant, under its data protection terms.
Best for: uS K-12 teachers who want a strong general assistant for free
OpenAI's secure ChatGPT workspace for teachers, with projects, custom GPTs and admin controls for schools. It's free for verified US K-12 educators through June 2027, and OpenAI says pricing may change after that.[3][4]
What it does well
The latest ChatGPT models at no cost if you qualify
Great for thinking through a lesson, a tricky email or a unit
Schools can manage accounts centrally
Where it falls short
Only for staff at accredited US K-12 schools
No roster or student records, so you explain your class again in each chat
You decide yourself what student details are safe to paste
Free
Free for verified US K-12 educators through June 2027.
Paid
Outside the program, ChatGPT has its usual free and paid plans.
Privacy
OpenAI says teacher workspace content isn't used to train models by default, under its education privacy and FERPA support.[3]
Best for: uS K-12 teachers who want careful writing help and standards-aware planning
Anthropic launched Claude for Teachers in July 2026. Verified US K-12 educators who sign up by June 30, 2027 get a year of premium Claude free, with teaching skills tied to the standards of all 50 states.[5] Since August 2026 schools and districts can also get it as a free managed account with a K-12 data agreement.[6]
What it does well
Strong at clear, natural writing and long documents
Lesson and check-for-understanding skills built with Learning Commons
District version comes with a signed data processing agreement
Where it falls short
US only, and free for one year rather than for good
Like ChatGPT, it doesn't keep a record of your students across the year
Free
One year free for verified US K-12 educators who sign up by June 30, 2027.
Paid
Outside the program, Claude has free and paid individual plans.
Privacy
Anthropic says Claude for Teachers data isn't used for model training, and school accounts are covered by a K-12 data agreement.[6]
Best for: free lesson materials in many countries, plus student tutoring from Khan Academy
Khan Academy's AI assistant writes lesson hooks, rubrics, exit tickets and differentiated activities. Thanks to a partnership with Microsoft it's free for teachers, and it's now available in more than 180 countries and territories.[8]
What it does well
Free for teachers well beyond the US
Ties in with Khan Academy content and its student tutor
Made by an education nonprofit
Where it falls short
Mostly about materials and tutoring, not documents about your students
The student tutor needs district access or a paid learner plan
Free
Free for teachers.
Paid
Learner plans for students and families are paid.
Privacy
Run by Khan Academy, a nonprofit. Student use runs through Khan Academy accounts.
Best for: teachers who want a big menu of ready-made AI tools
MagicSchool offers more than 80 tools for teachers, from lesson plans to IEP drafts and report card comments, plus student rooms where students use AI with teacher oversight. Plus costs $12.99 a month or $99.96 a year, and districts buy Enterprise by quote.[9]
What it does well
A tool for almost every teaching task
Student-facing AI with teacher controls
Widely adopted by US districts
Where it falls short
Each tool is a fresh form, so it keeps little about individual students
The sheer number of tools can feel like a lot
Free
A free plan with access to the core teacher tools.
Paid
Plus is $12.99/month or $99.96/year. Enterprise by quote.
Privacy
Built for schools, with admin controls and district agreements on Enterprise.
Best for: writing feedback and quick materials right inside Google Docs and Classroom
Brisk is a Chrome and Edge extension that works on whatever is in front of you: it gives feedback on student writing in Docs, levels a text, and turns a web page or video into a quiz or lesson. Its free plan has daily limits, and paid plans are now priced by quote.[10]
What it does well
No new site to visit, it sits in your browser
Fast feedback on a stack of student essays
Makes materials from any article or YouTube video
Where it falls short
Chrome or Edge only
Works on one document at a time, not on your class over the year
Free
Free for teachers, with daily usage caps.
Paid
Premium and school plans by quote.
Privacy
It reads the documents you open it on, including student work, so check your school's agreement.
Best for: leveled readings and resources for mixed-ability classes
Diffit takes a topic, article or video and gives you a reading at the level you choose, with vocabulary, questions and activities to match. Individual Premium is $14.99 a month or $149.99 a year after a free trial, and schools buy it by quote.[10][12]
What it does well
The quickest way to get one text at several reading levels
Handy for English learners and intervention groups
Where it falls short
Does one job very well and not much else
The free plan only keeps your recent resources
Free
A free basic plan after the trial.
Paid
Premium is $14.99/month or $149.99/year. School plans by quote.
Best for: letting students use AI in a space you set up and can watch
SchoolAI lets you build Spaces, guided AI activities your students work through while you see every conversation, plus an assistant called Dot for your own planning. The free plan now includes 5 Space sessions a year, and paid plans are sold mostly to schools.[11]
What it does well
Teacher visibility into every student conversation
Safety alerts and guardrails built for students
Where it falls short
Needs student accounts and some setup
The free plan is tight if you want students using it weekly
Free
A free plan with 5 Space sessions a year.
Paid
Pro and school plans by quote.
Privacy
Student-facing, so it's designed around school privacy reviews and teacher oversight.
Best for: an assistant that knows your classes, and writing about a whole class at report time
We make SchoolGPT, so read this one with that in mind. It's an AI assistant that keeps your classes, your notes on each student and the way your school writes reports. When reports or parent emails come due, it drafts one for every student in one go, tells you who you haven't written about yet, and swaps names for placeholders before anything reaches the AI.
What it does well
Whole-class jobs: a separate comment or note for every student at once
Student names are replaced with placeholders before the AI sees them
Writes in 8 languages and in the terms your school uses for reports
Works for teachers anywhere, not just the US
Where it falls short
No student-facing features
A small team, with fewer integrations than Google or Microsoft
If you only need one-off materials, the free tools above may be enough
Free
Chat and single tools for everyday use, plus one whole-class job a month. No credit card.
Paid
Teacher Pro is $79/year for unlimited use.
Privacy
Names are swapped for placeholders before anything goes to the AI model, and your content isn't used to train models.
If your school is on Google or Microsoft, try what's built in first. It's free and already covered by your school's agreements.
Do students need to use it?
For student-facing AI you want teacher oversight and a school agreement. SchoolAI, Khanmigo and MagicSchool are built for that. ChatGPT and Claude for Teachers are for staff.
Is it a one-off task or a whole class?
For one worksheet or one email, any of these will do. When you're writing about 28 students at report time, a tool that keeps your class and notes saves the most time.
Will it touch student information?
Use only tools your school has approved for student data, share only what you need, and prefer tools that hide or remove names before the AI sees them.
Free tools for teachers that don't need AI
Some jobs just need a quick tool before the bell. These work in your browser without an account.
It depends on where you teach. If your school uses Google, Gemini in Classroom is included at no cost. In a Microsoft school, Teach in the Microsoft 365 Copilot app is included with education licences. Verified US K-12 teachers can get ChatGPT for Teachers free through June 2027 and Claude for Teachers free for a year. Khanmigo for Teachers is free in more than 180 countries. MagicSchool, Brisk, Diffit, SchoolAI and SchoolGPT all have free plans with limits.
What are the best AI apps for teachers right now?
For general help, the free teacher versions of Gemini, Copilot, ChatGPT and Claude are the strongest. For ready-made tools, MagicSchool. For feedback inside Google Docs, Brisk. For leveled readings, Diffit. For student-facing AI, SchoolAI or Khanmigo. For an assistant that remembers your classes and writes report comments for every student with names kept private, SchoolGPT.
Is ChatGPT free for teachers?
ChatGPT for Teachers is free for verified staff at accredited US K-12 schools and districts through June 2027. OpenAI says it may introduce pricing after that, with notice. Teachers outside the US use the regular ChatGPT plans.
Is AI allowed in the classroom?
It depends on your school or district policy. Many schools allow teachers to use AI for planning, feedback and communication, and set stricter rules for students. Use AI as an assistant rather than a replacement, keep student data within what your school's agreements allow, and check your local policy.
Is it safe to put student information into an AI tool?
Only into tools your school has approved, and only what you need. Teacher editions from Google, Microsoft, OpenAI and Anthropic don't use your data for training, and some come with school data agreements. SchoolGPT goes a step further for class jobs by swapping student names for placeholders before anything reaches the AI. Either way, leave out health, disability and behaviour details unless your school's agreement covers them.
Which AI tool is best for report card comments?
Most tools can draft one comment at a time. If you need a comment for every student, SchoolGPT is built for that: you add your class and a short note per student, and it drafts all of them in one go, flags anyone you haven't written about and hides names from the AI. MagicSchool also has a report card comment tool if you're happy to do one student at a time.
What tools do teachers use every day besides AI?
Plenty of everyday jobs don't need AI at all: a seating chart, random groups, a grade calculator or a bank of report card comments. SchoolGPT has free versions of all four that work without an account, and our tools for teachers guide lists more.
Sources
Prices and plan details change often. Where a vendor didn't publish a price, we say so, and third-party sources are marked.
Report season is coming. Let SchoolGPT write the first draft for every student.
Add your class and a line about each student. It drafts every comment in your school's style, tells you who's missing and keeps names away from the AI.
