Best Free Websites for Homework Help in 2026

TL;DR

The best free homework help websites in 2026: Gradily (all subjects, step-by-step help), Khan Academy (video lessons + practice), Wolfram Alpha (math/science), SparkNotes (literature), Google Scholar (research papers), and Desmos (graphing). Most are 100% free. This guide organizes everything by subject so you can find help fast.

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Why This List Exists

It's 10:47 PM. You have a math problem that makes no sense, a history essay due tomorrow, and your textbook might as well be written in ancient Sumerian.

You need help. Right now. For free.

The internet is full of homework help resources, but half of them are paywalled, covered in ads, or straight-up sketchy. So I went through and found the ones that are actually free, actually helpful, and won't get you in trouble.

Here's everything organized by subject, so you can jump straight to what you need.

🔢 Math Websites

1. Gradily

Cost: Free Best for: All math levels — step-by-step problem solving and explanations

Gradily breaks down math problems step by step, explaining the WHY behind each step. It's not just "here's the answer" — it's "here's HOW to get the answer and why this method works."

What it covers:

• Pre-algebra through calculus
• Statistics and probability
• Word problems
• Geometry proofs

Why students love it: It's like having a patient tutor who never judges you for asking "but why?" for the fifth time.

2. Khan Academy

Cost: 100% free (forever, they're a nonprofit) Best for: Learning concepts from scratch with video lessons

Khan Academy is the OG of free online education. Their math section alone has thousands of videos and practice problems covering:

• Arithmetic → Calculus
• SAT/ACT math prep
• AP math courses
• Linear algebra and multivariable calc

Pro tip: Use the course mastery system. It tracks what you know and what you need to review, like a personal study plan.

3. Wolfram Alpha

Cost: Free (basic) / $5.49/month (step-by-step solutions) Best for: Checking answers and exploring math concepts

Type in any math expression and Wolfram Alpha will solve it, graph it, and show you related information. The free version gives you answers; the paid version shows step-by-step work.

Best uses:

• Checking your homework answers
• Graphing functions
• Solving equations
• Unit conversions

4. Desmos

Cost: Free Best for: Graphing calculator in your browser

Desmos is the best free graphing calculator on the internet. Period. You can:

• Graph multiple functions with different colors
• Create sliders to see how changing values affects the graph
• Build tables
• Explore geometric constructions

Many standardized tests (including the SAT) now use Desmos as their built-in calculator, so getting familiar with it is genuinely useful.

5. Mathway

Cost: Free (answers only) / Paid for step-by-step Best for: Quick answer checking across all math levels

Type in or photograph a math problem, and Mathway solves it. Free version gives the answer; paid version shows the work. Covers:

• Basic math through calculus
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Statistics

6. Paul's Online Math Notes

Cost: Free Best for: College-level math (Algebra, Calc I-III, Differential Equations)

Written by a college math professor, these notes are incredibly clear and well-organized. Each section has:

• Explanations
• Worked examples
• Practice problems with solutions

If you're in pre-calc or above, bookmark this site.

📖 English & Literature Websites

7. SparkNotes

Cost: Free (with ads) Best for: Understanding books you're reading for class

SparkNotes has summaries, chapter analysis, character guides, and theme breakdowns for hundreds of books. Perfect for when you:

• Need context before reading a chapter
• Want to double-check your understanding
• Are studying for a literature exam
• Honestly just didn't finish the book (we've all been there)

Important: Use SparkNotes to SUPPLEMENT your reading, not replace it. Teachers know when you only read the summary.

8. CliffsNotes

Cost: Free online / Paid study guides Best for: Literature summaries and study guides

Similar to SparkNotes, CliffsNotes offers:

• Book summaries and analysis
• Character lists
• Theme and motif breakdowns
• AP exam prep guides

Their test prep resources are particularly solid.

9. Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab)

Cost: Free Best for: Writing help, citations, and grammar

Purdue OWL is THE resource for academic writing. It covers:

• MLA, APA, and Chicago citation formatting
• Grammar and mechanics
• Essay structure and development
• Research paper writing
• Resume and cover letter writing

Every student should bookmark this. It's the gold standard for writing help, and it's been saving students since 1995.

10. Grammarly (Free Tier)

Cost: Free basic / $12/month premium Best for: Grammar and spelling checking

Install the browser extension and it checks your writing everywhere — Google Docs, email, discussion posts. The free version catches:

• Spelling errors
• Grammar mistakes
• Punctuation issues
• Basic clarity suggestions

11. Hemingway Editor

Cost: Free (web version) Best for: Making your writing clearer and more readable

Paste your essay into Hemingway and it highlights:

• Sentences that are too long
• Passive voice usage
• Adverb overuse
• Readability grade level

It's a great tool for editing after your first draft is done.

🔬 Science Websites

12. Gradily

Cost: Free Best for: Science homework help across subjects

Gradily isn't just for math — it helps with biology, chemistry, and physics problems too. Get explanations that actually make sense instead of staring at a textbook paragraph that reads like stereo instructions.

13. Khan Academy (Science)

Cost: Free Best for: AP science courses and concept reviews

Khan Academy's science sections cover:

• Biology (including AP Bio)
• Chemistry (including AP Chem)
• Physics (including AP Physics 1 & 2)
• Organic chemistry
• Health and medicine

The videos are perfect for when your teacher's explanation went over your head.

14. PhET Interactive Simulations

Cost: Free Best for: Science and math simulations

Created by the University of Colorado Boulder, PhET offers interactive simulations for:

• Physics (circuits, waves, motion)
• Chemistry (molecular structures, reactions)
• Biology (natural selection, gene expression)
• Math (graphing, probability)

Actually playing with a simulation of how circuits work is 10x more effective than staring at a diagram in your textbook.

15. The Organic Chemistry Tutor (YouTube)

Cost: Free Best for: Math and science video explanations

Despite the name, this YouTube channel covers WAY more than organic chemistry:

• Algebra through calculus
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Statistics
• Biology

The videos are clear, well-paced, and go through multiple example problems. If Khan Academy's style doesn't click with you, try this channel.

16. LibreTexts

Cost: Free Best for: Free online textbooks for science courses

LibreTexts offers free, peer-reviewed textbooks covering:

• Chemistry
• Biology
• Physics
• Geosciences
• Mathematics
• Engineering

It's literally free college-level textbooks. If your textbook sucks, check if LibreTexts has a better explanation of the same topic.

🌍 History & Social Studies Websites

17. Crash Course (YouTube)

Cost: Free Best for: Entertaining overviews of history and social studies topics

Crash Course videos are 10-15 minutes of fast-paced, engaging content. Series include:

• World History (I and II)
• US History
• European History
• Government and Politics
• Economics
• Psychology
• Sociology

They're great for getting the big picture before diving into details. Watch these BEFORE reading your textbook and you'll understand the chapter way faster.

18. AP Classroom / College Board

Cost: Free (with AP enrollment) Best for: AP exam prep resources

If you're in AP classes, you already have access to AP Classroom. Make sure you're using:

• Practice questions by unit
• Progress checks
• AP Daily videos
• Past free-response questions (FRQs)

These are made by the people who write the exam. Use them.

19. Gilder Lehrman Institute

Cost: Free Best for: US History primary sources and essays

A treasure trove of primary source documents, essays by historians, and teaching resources. Perfect for DBQ essays and research papers on US History.

20. History.com

Cost: Free (with ads) Best for: Quick historical overviews and timelines

Not the most academic source, but great for getting basic context. Their "This Day in History" feature and topic pages provide solid starting points for research.

🔍 Research & Citation Websites

21. Google Scholar

Cost: Free Best for: Finding academic sources for research papers

When your teacher says "use scholarly sources," this is where you go. Google Scholar searches:

• Academic journals
• Conference papers
• Books and dissertations
• Court opinions

Pro tip: Click "Cited by" to find more recent papers that reference a source you like. Click the quotation marks for auto-generated citations.

22. JSTOR (Free Access)

Cost: Free for up to 100 articles/month (individual access) Best for: Academic journal articles

JSTOR used to be paywall-only, but now offers free individual access. You can read up to 100 articles per month. It's one of the most respected databases for humanities and social science research.

23. MyBib

Cost: Free Best for: Generating accurate citations in MLA, APA, and Chicago

MyBib is the best free citation generator I've found. It handles:

• Websites
• Books
• Journal articles
• Videos
• Podcasts

Way more accurate than most free alternatives, and the interface is clean.

🌐 General Homework Help

24. Gradily

Cost: Free Best for: All subjects, all levels

I keep mentioning Gradily because it genuinely works across subjects. Whether it's a math equation, a science concept, an essay outline, or a history analysis — you can get personalized help that teaches you the material.

Think of it as your universal homework helper that's available at 2 AM when nobody else is.

25. Quizlet

Cost: Free (with ads) / Plus subscription available Best for: Pre-made flashcard sets for studying

Search for your textbook or topic and chances are someone has already made flashcards. Great for:

• Vocabulary
• Science terms
• Historical figures and dates
• Foreign language

26. Chegg Study (Limited Free)

Cost: Limited free / $14.95/month Best for: Textbook solutions and Q&A

Chegg's free features are limited, but they offer:

• Expert Q&A (some free answers)
• Textbook solutions
• Flashcards
• Math solver

Fair warning: Using Chegg to copy answers without understanding them is a recipe for disaster on exam day. It's also been involved in academic integrity cases at many schools.

📱 Honorable Mentions

• Slader / Mathleaks — Textbook solution manuals
• Symbolab — Math equation solver with steps
• GeoGebra — Dynamic math software (geometry, algebra, calculus)
• Coursera / edX — Free university courses (audit mode)
• OpenStax — Free college textbooks (biology, chemistry, physics, more)
• Socratic by Google — Point your camera at a problem, get explanations

How to Use These Websites Without Cheating

Let's address the elephant in the room. There's a fine line between getting help and getting answers:

This is learning:

• Watching a Khan Academy video to understand a concept, then solving problems yourself
• Using Gradily to see step-by-step explanations, then trying similar problems independently
• Reading SparkNotes AFTER reading the chapter to check your understanding

This is NOT learning:

• Copying Chegg answers word for word
• Submitting SparkNotes analysis as your own
• Using Mathway to get answers without understanding the process

The test is the truth. If you can't solve problems or write essays without these tools, you haven't actually learned the material. Use these websites to LEARN, and the grades will follow naturally.

My Top 5 Recommendations (If You're Overwhelmed)

If you're not sure where to start, here's my short list:

1. Gradily — Your go-to for homework help across all subjects
2. Khan Academy — For learning concepts from scratch
3. Purdue OWL — For any writing or citation questions
4. Google Scholar — For research papers and finding sources
5. Desmos — For anything involving graphs

Bookmark these five and you're set for 90% of homework situations.

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Final Thoughts

The internet has made it possible to get world-class education for free. These websites aren't shortcuts — they're tools that help you learn better, faster, and more independently.

The students who do best aren't the ones who never need help. They're the ones who know WHERE to get help and use it to actually understand the material.

Now go finish that homework. You've got the tools — time to use them.