- Free AI tools for teachers compared
- Ten free AI tools for teachers
- Protecting student data when you use AI tools
- Keeping teacher judgement in charge of AI
- How to choose a free AI tool for your classroom
- Which type of AI teaching tool suits which job
- Getting colleagues on board with AI tools
- Mistakes teachers make with free AI tools
- Why smaller AI teaching tools are worth trying
- Building your AI teaching toolkit
- Frequently asked questions
Good free AI tools for teachers save time on lesson planning, quizzes, differentiation and feedback while leaving the final decisions with you. Check your school's approved list, the privacy commitments on student data and the free plan limits. This page lists ten options in no particular order, with guidance on keeping teacher judgement in charge.
Teachers don't need another thing to learn, so I'll keep this practical. The right AI tool can take an evening of planning down to half an hour, help you adapt a text for a mixed class, or give students feedback while you're still circulating. The wrong one can leak student data or make lessons feel generic. Your judgement stays at the centre either way.
Below are ten free AI tools for teachers in no particular order, listed alphabetically. They cover planning, quizzes, differentiation, feedback and language teaching, and every description comes from the tool's own website. If you'd like the student side of the picture too, my guide to free AI tools for students covers what your learners might be using.
Free AI tools for teachers compared
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site offers a free teacher sign-up or a free plan you can start with. Free versions often have limits, and school or district versions add more, so check the details before you plan a whole term around one.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brisk Teaching | Browser extension | Feedback and levelled resources inside your browser | Yes |
| Conker | Quiz maker | Standards-aligned quizzes and formative checks | Yes |
| Curipod | Interactive lessons | Teacher-led lessons with instant writing feedback | Yes |
| Diffit | Differentiation tool | Adapting materials for different levels and languages | Yes |
| Khanmigo | Teaching assistant | Lesson ideas from a nonprofit education provider | Yes |
| MagicSchool | Teacher toolkit | A wide set of planning and admin tools | Yes |
| SchoolAI | Guided learning spaces | Teacher-controlled AI activities with live insight | Yes |
| Snorkl | Spoken explanation tool | Feedback on students' spoken explanations | Yes |
| Twee | Language teaching tool | Texts and exercises for language lessons | Yes |
| Wayground | Assessment and activities | Quizzes, flashcards and video questions in one place | Yes |
Ten free AI tools for teachers
Brisk Teaching
Best for: Teachers who live in Google Docs and the browser and want feedback in their own voice and resources at different reading levels.
Conker
Best for: Teachers who need quick formative quizzes with mixed question types, read-aloud support and export to Google Forms or Canvas.
Curipod
Best for: Classrooms where the teacher leads and students write, discuss and revise, with no student accounts or chatbots needed.
Diffit
Best for: Teachers adapting one text or topic for several reading levels and languages, with print-ready resources and no student logins.
Khanmigo
Best for: Teachers who want an AI assistant from a nonprofit education provider that guides students rather than handing over answers.
MagicSchool
Best for: Busy teachers after one place for lesson plans, rubrics, emails and student-facing tools, with a clear stance on student data.
SchoolAI
Best for: Teachers who want to set up controlled AI activities and see in real time where each student is getting stuck.
Snorkl
Best for: Maths, science and humanities teachers who want students to explain their thinking out loud and receive instant feedback.
Twee
Best for: Language teachers who want texts, dialogues, gap-fills and writing prompts pitched at the right level for their learners.
Wayground
Best for: Teachers who used Quizizz and want quizzes, flashcards, presentations and video questions built from their own materials.
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Protecting student data when you use AI tools
This is the part I'd never skip. Before any tool goes near your class, find out what happens to the information students and staff put into it.
- Check your school's approved list. Many schools and districts keep one. If a tool isn't on it, ask before you use it with students.
- Look for clear privacy commitments. Read whether the tool follows the student privacy laws that apply to you, and whether it uses student work to train its AI.
- Share as little as possible. Remove names and personal details from anything you paste in, especially reports, behaviour notes and support plans.
- Prefer tools with no student logins when you only need teacher-side planning. Fewer accounts means less data to protect.
- Know how to delete. Find out how to remove uploaded files and close accounts at the end of the year.
Keeping teacher judgement in charge of AI
The tool drafts. You decide. Treat every lesson plan, quiz or comment it produces as a first draft that needs your eye before it reaches a child.
- Read every generated question for accuracy, bias and level before you set it.
- Edit feedback so it sounds like you and fits what you know about the student.
- Keep high-stakes marking and anything sensitive in your own hands.
- Watch for confident mistakes, especially facts, dates and maths working.
- Tell students how and why you're using AI, so they see a healthy example.
If you've ever wondered why AI can sound sure of itself and still be wrong, my explainer on where ChatGPT gets its information is a useful primer to share with colleagues.
How to choose a free AI tool for your classroom
- Start with your biggest time drain. Planning, differentiation, quizzes and feedback each have specialist tools. Solve one problem first.
- Check it fits your platforms. Look for exports to the tools your school already uses, such as Google Classroom, Microsoft 365 or your learning platform.
- Test it on a lesson you know well. You'll spot weak output quickly when you already know what good looks like.
- Look at what students see. Some tools are teacher-only, others put AI in front of students. Decide which you're comfortable with.
- Read the free plan limits. Make sure the free version covers a normal week before you build routines around it.
Which type of AI teaching tool suits which job
- Lesson planning suits broad teacher toolkits that draft plans, rubrics and parent emails.
- Mixed-ability classes suit differentiation tools that rewrite one text at several levels or languages.
- Formative assessment suits quiz makers and activity builders that export straight to your class.
- Writing and reasoning suits feedback tools that respond to student drafts or spoken explanations.
- Language teaching suits specialist tools that pitch texts and exercises at the right level.
Getting colleagues on board with AI tools
- Share one small win, such as a quiz made in minutes, rather than a long list of tools.
- Agree as a department which tools are approved and how student data is handled.
- Swap prompts and templates that worked, so nobody starts from scratch.
- Review together after a few weeks and drop anything that isn't helping.
Mistakes teachers make with free AI tools
- Pasting student names or support details into a tool that hasn't been approved.
- Setting generated questions without reading them first.
- Letting AI feedback replace the conversations students need with you.
- Signing up for lots of tools and never settling on a routine.
- Forgetting to check accessibility, such as read-aloud and reading levels, for every learner.
For a look at AI that can take on bigger, multi-step jobs, my round-up of AI agents you can try for free is a good next read.
Why smaller AI teaching tools are worth trying
Many of the most thoughtful classroom tools come from small teams, often founded by former teachers, who focus on one job and do it well. They can be quicker to adapt to feedback than bigger platforms. Just check that they're still active, have a clear privacy policy and let you export your work.
Do you make an AI tool that supports teachers or classrooms? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Building your AI teaching toolkit
Pick one tool for planning, one for assessment and one for feedback, and check each against your school's data rules. Use them for a few weeks on lessons you know well, keep what saves time without lowering quality, and let your own professional judgement have the final word.
Frequently asked questions
Are free AI tools safe to use with students?
Some are designed with student privacy in mind, but always check. Read the privacy policy, look for clear commitments on student data and follow your school's approved list before using any tool with a class.
Will AI replace teachers?
No. AI can draft plans, quizzes and feedback, but it can't know your students, build relationships or make the judgement calls a classroom needs. It works best as an assistant you check and edit.
What should I never put into an AI tool?
Avoid student names, contact details, behaviour notes, health information and support plans unless your school has approved the tool for that use. Remove personal details from anything you paste in.
Which tasks suit AI tools best?
First drafts of lesson plans, quiz questions, levelled texts, rubrics and routine emails are common starting points. Keep high-stakes marking and sensitive conversations in your own hands.
Do free AI tools for teachers have limits?
Usually. Free plans often limit how much you can create or keep some features for school versions. Check each tool's own site for what the free version includes.


