Best AI · Students
The best AI for students, from our test runs
On our study prompts (math with a checked answer, writing graded against a rubric, summaries and translations), GPT-6 Astra passed the most: 20 of 20. Here's every model's result, and which ones you can use free.
Test runs and prices checked . Updated .
Short answer
GPT-6 Astra passed the most: 20 of 20; the best everyday model was DeepSeek V4.1 Flash, 19 of 20. This is our own test, run on September 27, 2026: every prompt, reply and score is published.
Ranked by our test runs
This is our own test: the same prompts sent to every model through llmwise, each reply checked the same way, with every prompt, reply and score published. The study prompts test math, writing, summarization, and translation; they don't test a model's knowledge of any one course.
| # | Model | Passed | Hard ones | Free trial | On Pro | Cost per reply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GPT-6 AstraOpenAI | 20 of 20 | 8 of 8 | No | 31 a month | $0.0108 |
| 2 | DeepSeek V4.1 FlashDeepSeek | 19 of 20 | 8 of 8 | Yes | 60 a day | $0.0002 |
| 3 | Claude Haiku 4.5Anthropic | 19 of 20 | 7 of 8 | Yes | 250 a month | $0.0013 |
| 4 | Gemini 3.1 Pro (preview)Google | 19 of 20 | 7 of 8 | Yes | 125 a month | $0.0105 |
| 5 | Claude Opus 5.5Anthropic | 19 of 20 | 7 of 8 | No | 62 a month | $0.0112 |
| 6 | GPT-6 LunaOpenAI | 18 of 20 | 8 of 8 | Yes | 60 a day | $0.0001 |
| 7 | Grok 4.7xAI | 18 of 20 | 8 of 8 | Yes | 250 a month | $0.0048 |
| 8 | GLM 5.3Z.ai | 18 of 20 | 7 of 8 | Yes | 250 a month | $0.0005 |
| 9 | Gemini 3.8 FlashGoogle | 18 of 20 | 7 of 8 | Yes | 250 a month | $0.0011 |
| 10 | Claude Sonnet 5Anthropic | 17 of 20 | 8 of 8 | Yes | 125 a month | $0.0031 |
| 11 | GPT-6 SolOpenAI | 17 of 20 | 7 of 8 | Yes | 125 a month | $0.0023 |
| 12 | Kimi K3Moonshot | 17 of 20 | 7 of 8 | Yes | 125 a month | $0.0036 |
| 13 | DeepSeek V4 ProDeepSeek | 17 of 20 | 6 of 8 | Yes | 250 a month | $0.0007 |
| 14 | Claude Fable 5.1Anthropic | 16 of 20 | 6 of 8 | No | 31 a month | $0.0156 |
| 15 | GLM 5.3 FlashZ.ai | 15 of 20 | 6 of 8 | Yes | 60 a day | $0.0002 |
The prompts, every reply and how each was scored: our test runs.
The best pick at each price
The same results, by what a message counts as on Pro: the best model at each size of message, then the rest of that size.
31 a month on Pro
GPT-6 Astra, 20 of 20 passed; then Claude Fable 5.1 16 of 20.
60 a day on Pro (everyday models)
DeepSeek V4.1 Flash, 19 of 20 passed; then GPT-6 Luna 18 of 20 and GLM 5.3 Flash 15 of 20.
250 a month on Pro
Claude Haiku 4.5, 19 of 20 passed; then Grok 4.7 18 of 20, GLM 5.3 18 of 20, Gemini 3.8 Flash 18 of 20, and DeepSeek V4 Pro 17 of 20.
125 a month on Pro
Gemini 3.1 Pro, 19 of 20 passed; then Claude Sonnet 5 17 of 20, GPT-6 Sol 17 of 20, and Kimi K3 17 of 20.
62 a month on Pro
Claude Opus 5.5, 19 of 20 passed.
Every limit is published. Paid plans also have a monthly fair-use limit on AI cost: Pro $7.50, Max $20, Ultra $42, Studio $85. Using every message on your plan at typical sizes stays under it; very large messages and heavy research use it faster. Every limit, explained.
Where the top models differ
The top 5, job by job.
| Job | GPT-6 Astra | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash | Claude Haiku 4.5 | Gemini 3.1 Pro | Claude Opus 5.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Math | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
| Writing | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| Summarization | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
| Translation | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
One prompt, side by side
A everyday math prompt, “Pens at 3 for $4”, where the models didn't all pass.
The prompt: Pens at 3 for $4 (everyday)
A shop sells pens at 3 for $4, or $1.50 for a single pen. What's the cheapest way to pay for exactly 10 pens, and what does it cost? Show your working briefly, then end with a line that says "Final answer: " followed by the answer alone.
GPT-6 Luna
Failed: Final answer 2 bundles and 4 singles for 12; expected 13.5.
For 10 pens, compare buying 0–3 bundles of 3: - 0 bundles: 10 singles = $15 - 1 bundle: 7 singles = $14.50 - 2 bundles: 4 singles = $12 - 3 bundles: 1 single = $13.50 Final answer: 2 bundles and 4 singles for $12
402 tokens in, 198 out (111 of them reasoning) · 2.9 s · $0.0001 · 1 message on Pro · answered by openai/gpt-6-luna via OpenAI ·
Claude Sonnet 5
Passed: Final answer Buy 3 packs of 3 pens ( 4 each) plus 1 single pen ( 1.50), total 13.50.: right.
Compare unit costs: 3-for-$4 = $1.33/pen, cheaper than the $1.50 single price. So maximize the number of 3-packs. 10 pens = 3 packs of 3 (9 pens) + 1 single pen Cost = 3×$4 + 1×$1.50 = $12 + $1.50 = $13.50 Check alternative (2 packs + 4 singles): 2×$4 + 4×$1.50 = $8 + $6 = $14 (worse) Check buying an extra pack for surplus: 4 packs = $16 for 12 pens (worse, and you don't need 12) Final answer: Buy 3 packs of 3 pens ($4 each) plus 1 single pen ($1.50), total $13.50.
545 tokens in, 505 out (250 of them reasoning) · 6.3 s · $0.0061 · 1 message on Pro · answered by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 via Claude Platform on AWS ·
Kimi K3
Passed: Final answer Buy three 3-for- 4 packs and one single pen; 13.50: right.
Three 3-for-$4 packs give 9 pens for $12; add 1 single for $1.50 to reach exactly 10. Total = $12 + $1.50 = $13.50. Final answer: Buy three 3-for-$4 packs and one single pen; $13.50
489 tokens in, 322 out (247 of them reasoning) · 5.4 s · $0.0046 · 1 message on Pro · answered by moonshotai/kimi-k3 via Phala ·
How we ranked them
Ranked by how many prompts each model passed, then how many of the hard ones, then by the smaller message (the everyday models first), then by the lower cost per reply. No ranking is chosen by hand.
Questions
What is the best AI for students?
In our own test runs on September 2026, on the study prompts: GPT-6 Astra passed the most: 20 of 20, and DeepSeek V4.1 Flash did best of the everyday models (19 of 20).
Is there a free AI for students?
To try: 5 free messages on sign-up, once, on 12 of the 15 models, with no card. After that, Pro is $20 a month.
Can I use AI for homework?
Check your school's rules first: many allow AI for explaining and practice but not for graded work. A model that shows its steps, as the math prompts here ask, is easier to learn from than a bare answer.
Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, Grok, Kimi, and GLM, in one chat.
See what a message costs before you send it. Free is 5 messages to try; sign in with an email link, no password or card.