5 online services to get help with homework

As students prepare to go back to school, finding reliable online homework help services can be a challenge.

Websites touting "homework help," for example, are often obscuring dicey services that simply complete assignments for you (done both by human and robot hands), while self-proclaimed "tutors" peddle possible money-grabbing scams. Educators are becoming increasingly suspicious of any third-party help. 

But learners of all ages are still seeking legitimate options — both free and at a cost — for when those lessons just aren't clicking, and online platforms are just a click away. 

The Princeton Review

Known as the biggest name in standardized test prep, the Princeton Review offers 24/7 online tutoring provided by a network of 3,000 vetted tutors. Help can be found for more than 40 subjects, both K-12 and college level. 

The service isn't cheap, however. Monthly subscriptions start at $39.99 for one hour per month. Sessions can be purchased in bulk, as well, starting at $349.99 for ten hours. Students can sign up for a free trial on the Princeton Review website to see if it's right for them. 

MySuperGeek 

MySuperGeek is a Europe-based homework help company that offers personal tutoring across subjects like math, economics, statistics, accounting, chemistry, and even law and society. Learners create an account, get matched with a live tutor, and then work through assignments in real time.

MySuperGeek is a paid service, but not subscription-based, with customers paying for homework help per tutor and per session. Rates start at around $10 per hour. 

Khan Academy

The highly popular nonprofit Khan Academy was established in 2006, based on an online educational video series that has since ballooned in scale. It now offers an expansive set of free practice exercises, hundreds of instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard for learners of all ages. Khan Academy launched its own AI learning assistant, powered by OpenAI's GPT-4, that's been recommended by the likes of Bill Gates and parent review organization Common Sense Media. 

Like Khan Academy, other free online education hubs like YouTube phenomenon Crash Course can offer learning aids and subject-focused videos that can be helpful for general topics. 

Chegg

Chegg is an oft-talked about (and controversial) textbook and academic support service, which offers subscription-based tutoring across subjects. Chegg homework help doesn't connect users to live tutors, instead learners upload their homework questions and are then served with "expert-backed" explanations and textbook examples. Users can also access a library of similar questions and answers, as well as a recently added AI study helper, too. 

But the multi-million dollar company has recently come under fire for enabling a widespread wave of cheating during a global shift to online learning during the pandemic lockdown. Many educators now consider Chegg assistance a case of academic dishonesty, so review your class's policies closely before using.

If Chegg is still calling your name (maybe for non-assignment help): The platform offers several mobile apps, like it's 24/7 homework help app, Chegg Study; a math-focused assignment helper, Mathway; and a language learning platform, Busuu. Subscription pricing is based on the number of questions a learner expects to submit each day. The basic Chegg Study plan starts at $14.95 for five questions. 

Your local library

Before subscribing to an online service at a cost, or wading into some academically murky waters, check out what your local library has to offer. Many library systems host in-person and virtual tutoring through online services like Brainfuse and national board-ran sites like Tutor.com (a Princeton Review service). 

Some cities even offer educator-led assistance on demand, like New York's Dial-A-Teacher. And don't forget: Your teachers are there for you, too.