When you’re doing homework late at night, sometimes you come across a question (or two, or three…) that can leave you feeling defeated.
So where do you go when you’re feeling stuck at midnight on an assignment? Probably online or on your phone, and—not surprisingly—you’re not alone.
A 2023 survey showed that out of 1,000 college students, 51% have turned to TikTok for homework help. In November 2022, another survey found that almost a third of students have used ChatGPT for study help.
The number of students turning to AI tutors, online homework help sites, and user-generated media like TikTok and YouTube continues to rapidly increase.
With the recent release of hundreds of generative AI study tools and apps, getting on-demand, personalized homework help has never been more accessible. But with so many options, it can be difficult to understand where to find the best AI tools for students and which AI homework answers you can trust.
Course Hero and ChatGPT are two such tools that have gained popularity as homework helpers for college students. While ChatGPT is relatively new, Course Hero has been around for years as an online homework helper and uses the power of AI to help students learn with course-specific content shared by the community.
In summer 2023, Course Hero launched its new AI-powered Homework Help feature, which offers learners the chance to find step-by-step explanations directly in their document in seconds. Learners can also send questions from their uploaded document that need additional clarity to a human tutor to verify.
In this article, we will compare and contrast the features of these two AI homework tools to help you decide which one is the best fit for your needs.
Which Is the Best AI Study Tool for Students: Course Hero or ChatGPT?
Course Hero, an online homework help site, and ChatGPT, an AI-powered language model, both aim to assist students in their academic journey.
However, understanding the strengths and limitations of each platform is crucial for students seeking the most effective study aid. In this article, we will delve into a comprehensive comparison of Course Hero and ChatGPT, examining their features, functionalities, and suitability for college students looking for study assistance.
By the end, you will have a clearer understanding of which platform aligns best with your unique academic needs.
Using Course Hero for Online Homework Help
When it comes to studying for your college courses, wouldn’t it be great to have a personalized study guide that focuses exactly on what you need?
That’s where Course Hero comes in, offering AI Homework Help that allows you to upload your study documents and receive tailored content recommendations based on your specific questions related to homework and exam preparation. This feature is a game-changer for college students, providing targeted resources from Course Hero’s document library built by millions of students and educators from around the world.
By uploading documents you’re studying—like ones with lots of multiple choice, open-ended, or essay questions—Course Hero’s intelligent algorithms work behind the scenes to analyze your content to pinpoint the key concepts and topics you’re struggling with and to generate personalized content recommendations that directly address your questions.
This means no more endless scrolling or having a hundred tabs open trying to pinpoint the information you need. Course Hero streamlines your learning process by presenting available study guides, explanations, and practice problems that are tailored to the exact questions in your document.
These recommendations are designed to help you dive deeper into your coursework, gain a better understanding of the subject matter, and ultimately excel in your studies. With Course Hero’s AI Homework Help, you can study smarter, focus on areas that require attention, and boost your academic performance with confidence.
Using ChatGPT for Online Homework Help
As an AI-powered language model, ChatGPT is designed to provide helpful answers and guidance for a wide range of academic subjects.
Simply type in your question or describe the problem you’re facing, and ChatGPT will generate a response to assist you in finding the right solution. It’s like having a knowledgeable virtual tutor available 24/7 to help you out when you need it most.
However, it’s important to recognize the limitations of relying solely on ChatGPT for homework help.
While ChatGPT is a remarkable tool, it’s crucial to remember that it doesn’t possess the same level of expertise and context as a human tutor or professor.
The responses provided by ChatGPT are based on patterns it has learned from vast amounts of text data, which means there’s a chance it may not always fully understand the nuances or intricacies of your specific problem.
Additionally, ChatGPT may occasionally generate inaccurate or incomplete answers, as it lacks the ability to verify the accuracy of the information it provides. So while ChatGPT can be a helpful starting point, always be sure to verify and cross-reference the information it provides with trusted sources or consult with your instructor to ensure accuracy and understanding.
Cost: How Much Is ChatGPT vs. Course Hero?
When it comes to comparing the free versions of ChatGPT and Course Hero, there are some key differences to consider.
In its free version, ChatGPT provides a quick resource for getting answers and general explanations on a wide range of topics. It’s like having an AI tutor at your disposal. It can offer insights and suggestions to point you in the right direction. However, it’s important to note that the free version of ChatGPT has limitations in terms of depth and accuracy, as it relies on patterns from vast amounts of text data rather than specialized expertise in specific courses or subjects.
On the other hand, Course Hero offers a vast library of course-specific study resources, including study guides, lecture notes, and practice materials shared by students and educators from your school.
While the basic version of Course Hero does not provide full access to all features, it still offers an extensive collection of resources that can complement your studies. It’s important to keep in mind that the basic version may have limitations, such as a limited number of document views per month or restricted access to certain features, which can be unlocked through a subscription.
| Course Hero | ChatGPT | |
| Course-specific answers and explanations | √ | X |
| 24/7 access to human tutors | √ | X |
| Provides resources from other students who have taken your course | √ | X |
| Paid version | √ ($9.95/mo) This includes access to course assignments, quizzes, and step-by-step explanations from real students and teachers at your school. Plus, verify accuracy with expert tutors in about 30 minutes, and use their AI Homework Help to get in-depth answers and explanations on your document’s questions when you upload. |
√ ($20/mo) The primary benefit of a paid ChatGPT subscription is having access at peak times when the site is busy. Unfortunately, this does not include additional benefits in terms of verifying accuracy or access to a school-specific library of resources. |
Is Using ChatGPT and AI for Homework Cheating?
It can be if you are not careful. The ethical use of ChatGPT, Course Hero, and other generative AI study tools depends on the context and guidelines set by your educational institution or instructor.
Some teachers ban the use of AI entirely, while others encourage the use of these tools to support and enhance learning and critical thinking.
However, it is essential to understand the boundaries and limitations set by your educational institution or instructor. If they explicitly state that the use of AI language models like ChatGPT is not allowed for certain assignments or exams, then using it in those specific cases would be considered cheating.
To ensure ethical academic practices, you should always consult your instructor or educational institution’s guidelines to understand their stance on using AI tools. They will provide the most accurate information on what is considered acceptable and what may be considered cheating in your specific academic context.
Course Hero provides an extensive list of academic integrity policies by school; see if they provide your school’s policy, but also be sure to review your course syllabus to see if there are instructor-specific policies to follow.
Final Verdict: What’s the Better AI Study Tool for Students—ChatGPT or Course Hero?
When it comes to addressing your course-specific study needs, Course Hero’s AI Homework Help offers a significant advantage over using ChatGPT.
While ChatGPT is useful for general questions, Course Hero’s AI Homework Help takes it a step further by scanning the content of your document so you can find the most relevant resources using AI. This means that when you upload your study materials, Course Hero’s AI Homework Help analyzes and understands the specific course content, enabling you to find thorough, step-by-step explanations directly in your document. So instead of receiving generic responses from ChatGPT, you’re more likely to find the exact help you need to tackle your assignments and exam prep with confidence.
What makes Course Hero’s AI Homework Help even more powerful is that it goes beyond AI assistance. It also provides you with access to human tutors who can verify the resources suggested by the AI.
This invaluable combination of AI and human expertise ensures that you not only receive relevant study materials but also have the opportunity to confirm their accuracy and reliability.
Having the guidance of Course Hero’s human tutors adds an extra layer of assurance, allowing you to trust the resources recommended by Course Hero’s AI Homework Help and gain a deeper understanding of your course materials.
With this comprehensive support system, Course Hero empowers students to overcome course-specific challenges and achieve academic success.
