Ask Poppy vs Brainly
Two ways to get help without being handed the answer. Here's what each actually does, what it costs, who it's for, and where Brainly is the better choice. (Disclosure: we make Ask Poppy. Facts about Brainly come from Brainly sp. z o.o.'s own pages, as checked 18 Oct 2026, and are linked so you can verify them.)
Ask Poppy, the AI tutor that asks instead of tells. Free, 30 messages a day · iPhone, iPad, Mac
At a glance
| Brainly | Ask Poppy | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Brainly sp. z o.o. (Poland) | Poppy Labs AS (Oslo), a small, new team |
| What it is | A homework help app and community: verified answers, an AI tutor, test prep and optional human tutoring (brainly.com, App Store) | An AI tutor and mentor app you talk to (hold to talk, it speaks back) or type to |
| Answers by default? | Mixed. Brainly offers verified answers and textbook solutions; its AI picks between a full explanation, a nudge or a question back, and its Worksheets lock each step until the last one is right (brainly.com) | No. It asks what you know and gives hints instead of handing over answers. That is the whole design, not a mode |
| Subjects | All school subjects, grades 7–12 for the parent plan | Any topic you bring. It can look up curriculum goals for supported subjects and countries, but has no course library of exercises or videos |
| Voice | Unknown (not described on the pages we checked) | Yes, voice in and out |
| Parents | Parent account linked to the child's; a learning advisor keeps parents updated (brainly.com) | Up to three child profiles; parents can see their children's conversations |
| Platforms | Web, iPhone and iPad (App Store) and Android | iPhone, iPad and Mac (Apple silicon). No Android or web app |
| Free option | Yes, with a limited number of answers or features (terms) | Yes, 30 messages a day |
| Paid (US) | App Store: Brainly Plus $9.99/month or $39.99/year; Brainly Tutor $29.99/month or $95.99/year (App Store) | $9.99/month or $99.99/year |
| Age | Account 13+ (Brainly FAQ); under 13 only through a parent-created child account in supported countries (terms). App Store: 13+, contains ads | Rated 4+ on the App Store |
| Source | brainly.com | App Store listing |
"Unknown" means we couldn't confirm it on an official page. Prices are US prices and can differ by country and platform.
Where Brainly is better
- School-shaped. Help on the worksheet in front of you, in the method the class uses, then practice built from what was missed before a test.
- Step-locked worksheets. The next step stays shut until the current one is right.
- Parents in the loop. A learning advisor checks in, and you can add a weekly human tutor.
- A huge answer library and a 30-day money-back guarantee on the parent plan.
- Cheaper yearly plan on the App Store ($39.99/year for Plus).
Where Ask Poppy is different
- No answer library. Ask Poppy has nothing to look up and copy; every answer comes from the learner.
- Any topic, any age group, including adults learning for themselves, not only grades 7–12 homework.
- Voice conversation as the main way to learn.
Does it give you the answer?
Brainly says its AI chooses per moment between "a full explanation", "a nudge" and "a question back when the signals say they're trying to hand the work over", and that Worksheets keep the next step closed until the current one is right (brainly.com). Brainly also sells unlimited access to its Answers (terms). Ask Poppy has no answers to look up: it asks questions and gives hints. We have not run a controlled test of either.
Who should pick which
Pick Brainly if
you are a parent of a 7th to 12th grader who wants homework help tied to class methods, test prep, progress updates, and the option of a human tutor.
Pick Ask Poppy if
you want a tutor that never hands over an answer to copy, for any subject or age, by talking it through on an iPhone, iPad or Mac.
Watch out for
the answer library with either approach. Agree the rules at home first; our house rules generator helps.
Try it yourself: a 15-minute side-by-side test
Don't take our word for it (or theirs). Pick one problem you're genuinely stuck on and run it through both:
- Type or say: "I'm stuck on this. Help me, but I want to learn it." Don't ask for the answer.
- Notice: did it ask what you already know, or start explaining?
- After two hints, say "just tell me the answer". Does it hold its ground kindly, or give in?
- Close the app and explain the idea back in your own words. Our free Explain it back check helps.
- Tomorrow, try a similar problem from memory. The tool that left you able to do that is the one that worked for you.
We don't claim either tool improves grades or is safer; we haven't measured that. Spot something out of date? Email simon@askpoppy.ai and we'll fix it and update the date.
Want to try the Ask Poppy side of this test? Ask Poppy is an AI tutor you talk or type to. It asks questions and gives one hint at a time instead of handing you the answer, and it remembers where you left off so you can pick it up again tomorrow.
Free, 30 messages a day on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Optional subscription. (Disclosure: this site is made by the Ask Poppy team.)
Questions
Does Brainly just give answers?
Partly. Brainly has a library of answers and verified answers, while its newer AI tutor and Worksheets are designed to explain, nudge or question rather than hand over work.
How much is Brainly Plus?
On the US App Store, Brainly Plus is listed at $9.99/month or $39.99/year, and Brainly Tutor at $29.99/month or $95.99/year. Prices can vary by platform.
What age is Brainly for?
Brainly says you must be 13 or older to create an account. Under-13s can only use it through a child account created by a verified parent.