Socratic Alternative: ScanSolve AI Homework Helper
The Socratic app was withdrawn by Google in 2024 and its homework help moved into Google Lens. ScanSolve gives you complete step-by-step solutions with an AI tutor you can ask follow-up questions. Free, all subjects, and available on WhatsApp.
What Is Socratic?
Socratic by Google was a free homework help app that used Google’s AI to find relevant web resources and explanations for student questions. Students took a photo of their homework or typed a question, and Socratic surfaced helpful articles, videos, and explanations from across the web, plus Google-written subject guides. By October 2024 Google had withdrawn the app from Google Play and the App Store, and folded its homework help into Google Lens in the Google app.
Why Students Switch from Socratic to ScanSolve
With the Socratic app withdrawn, students need a new place to get homework help. ScanSolve takes a different approach — it generates a complete, step-by-step solution directly, so students understand both the answer and the process.
- 01Complete solutions, not just links. ScanSolve generates full step-by-step solutions to your question. You get the answer and understand the method. The Socratic app mostly surfaced web resources alongside Google-written subject guides, before Google withdrew it in 2024.
- 02Interactive AI tutor. Ask follow-up questions like “explain step 3 again” or “show me a different method.” The Socratic app never had follow-up chat; Google’s replacement, Lens with AI Mode in the Google app, does, but not on WhatsApp.
- 03WhatsApp bot. Get homework help without downloading any app — just message the ScanSolve bot on WhatsApp. Available in 150+ countries.
- 04Current AI models. ScanSolve uses the latest AI models (2026) and is actively maintained, while the Socratic app is no longer available.
- 05All subjects with equal depth. Math, science, English, history, economics — ScanSolve provides detailed solutions across every subject.
Feature Comparison: ScanSolve vs Socratic
| Feature | ScanSolve | Socratic |
|---|---|---|
| Solution Type | Yes: Full step-by-step | Partly: Discontinued (was web resources + guides) |
| Follow-Up Questions | Yes: AI tutor chat | No: No (app discontinued) |
| Photo Input | Yes: Yes | Partly: Had it (app withdrawn 2024) |
| Text Input | Yes: Yes | Partly: Had it (app withdrawn 2024) |
| WhatsApp Bot | Yes: Yes | No: No |
| No App Required | Yes: Web + WhatsApp | Partly: App withdrawn (now Google Lens) |
| Free Daily Solves | Yes: 5 per day | Partly: Not available (discontinued) |
Pricing Comparison
Socratic
- Free
- Not available — the app was withdrawn in 2024; while live it was free and surfaced web resources and Google-written guides
- Paid
- No paid tier (the app was always free)
ScanSolve
- Free
- 5 free solves per day with full step-by-step + AI tutor
- Paid
- $89.99/year (about $7.50/month) or $9.99/week for unlimited solves and our most capable AI model
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a better alternative to Socratic by Google?
Yes. The Socratic app has been discontinued — Google withdrew it from the app stores in 2024 and moved its homework help into Google Lens. ScanSolve provides full step-by-step solutions across all subjects, an interactive AI tutor for follow-up questions, and a WhatsApp bot. ScanSolve is free with 5 daily solves.
What happened to the Socratic app?
Google discontinued the standalone Socratic by Google app. By October 2024 it was gone from both Google Play and the App Store, and users were shown “Socratic has moved to the Google app.” Its homework help now lives in Google Lens, where you can photograph a question and ask follow-ups in AI Mode. ScanSolve is an alternative with step-by-step solutions, follow-up tutoring, and WhatsApp access.
Does ScanSolve work on WhatsApp like Socratic works with Google?
ScanSolve goes further than Socratic by offering a full WhatsApp bot. Just send a photo of your homework to the ScanSolve WhatsApp number and receive a detailed step-by-step solution in seconds. No app download needed — it works on any phone with WhatsApp.