Socratic is legitimately useful—it's like having a patient tutor in your pocket who won't judge you for asking the same question three times. The AI does a solid job breaking down concepts, and when it works, the photo-scan feature feels almost too good to be true.

The catch? It's only as good as your kid's intentions. In the right hands, it builds understanding and independence. In the wrong hands, it's a homework vending machine. You'll need to set boundaries: maybe it's only for checking work after an honest attempt, or only for subjects where they're truly stuck.

The photo scanning can be janky (laminated pages are its nemesis), and younger kids will need help navigating the text-heavy interface. The free version probably has ads, which is annoying but not a dealbreaker. Overall, it's a solid tool for middle school and up—just make sure you're raising a kid who uses it to learn, not to dodge the work.