Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! StudyBru is currently free during our beta phase. What started as a passion project to help our own kids has grown into something bigger. While it's free now, we may introduce affordable pricing after beta to help fund ongoing development and infrastructure and ensure we can continue providing quality education support to South African students.

StudyBru runs in the web browser on any device — phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop. There's nothing to install and no app store download needed: just open the site, sign in, and start studying. It works on Android and iPhone browsers, so students without a computer can study on a phone.

StudyBru is text-based chat, so it uses far less data than video lessons or YouTube tutorials — a study session uses about as much data as normal messaging or browsing. It's designed to work on mobile data and slower connections, so you don't need fibre or uncapped Wi-Fi to study.

No - we focus on teaching and explaining concepts step-by-step, not just giving answers. StudyBru helps students understand the 'why' and 'how' so they can solve problems independently. Our guide on using AI for homework without cheating covers exactly where that line sits.

A private tutor typically charges per hour and needs to be booked in advance. StudyBru gives unlimited help, 24/7, and once out of beta will cost less per month than a single hour of traditional tutoring (it's completely free during beta). It won't replace a great teacher, but it means help is available the moment a student gets stuck — including at 10pm the night before a test. For the full picture, see our guide comparing tutoring options in South Africa.

We have specialised AI tutors covering the core subjects: Math Bru (mathematics), Science Bru (physical sciences), Language Bru, History Bru, Geo Bru, and Biz Bru, plus grade-specific tutors for subjects like Grade 8 and 9 Maths, English, Natural Science, and Technology. View all available tutors here. We're continuously rolling out new tutors for different grades, subjects, and specialisations!

Yes. Math Bru, our mathematics tutor, works through problems step by step and explains the reasoning at each stage instead of just giving the final answer. You can type a problem or upload a photo of it, get a worked explanation, and then ask follow-up questions until the method makes sense.

Yes — upload a photo of a textbook page, worksheet, or handwritten problem and StudyBru reads it and responds with a step-by-step explanation. It's often the fastest way to get help: snap a picture of the exact question you're stuck on instead of typing it all out.

When you set up a profile, you choose the student's grade and curriculum (CAPS, IEB, or Cambridge). StudyBru's tutors then explain topics using the terminology, methods, and scope of that curriculum, with South African examples and contexts — so answers match what's actually taught in class rather than generic explanations written for American or British students. New to the differences between the three? Our guide to CAPS vs IEB vs Cambridge explains them.

Yes. StudyBru covers Grade 12 content for CAPS and IEB, and matric learners use it to work through difficult topics, practise exam-style questions, and get step-by-step explanations while revising. Because it's available 24/7, it's especially useful during exam season when a teacher or tutor isn't reachable. If you're planning the revision itself, start with our 6-week exam revision plan.

Yes — very well. Homeschooled learners get the same curriculum-aligned tutoring (CAPS, IEB, and Cambridge) as school learners, and because StudyBru is available 24/7 it fits whatever daily rhythm your homeschool follows. Parents use it as the on-demand subject specialist for the material beyond their own comfort zone — especially high-school maths and sciences — with step-by-step explanations rather than just answers. Our guide on homeschooling in South Africa covers registration, curricula and the matric routes.

Yes. StudyBru helps students plan, structure, and improve essays — brainstorming ideas, outlining arguments, and giving feedback on drafts — rather than writing the essay for them. Language Bru supports writing in English, Afrikaans, and other languages, from creative writing to comprehension and literature study.

English and Afrikaans offer the highest quality responses with the most accurate educational content. isiZulu, isiXhosa, and Sesotho have good support. Other South African languages are supported with basic functionality that's continuously improving. You can switch languages mid-conversation to find what works best for each topic.

Very little. During beta we collect an email address for login, the study conversations themselves (saved so students can revisit them), and basic usage and technical data to improve the service. We don't collect financial information or location data, we never sell data to third parties, and we don't share personal information with advertisers. Parents can request data deletion at any time — full details are in our Privacy Policy.

StudyBru is built specifically for education. The AI tutors are configured for safe, age-appropriate, educational content only, and there's no chat with strangers or other users — students only ever talk to their AI tutors. Conversations are saved so parents can review what their child has been working on. We've also written a full parents' guide on whether AI tutoring is safe for kids.

Yes! There are no contracts or cancellation fees. You can cancel your subscription at any time from your account settings. If you cancel, you'll still have access until the end of your current billing period.

We're building school-specific features — custom AI tutors matched to your school's curriculum and rules, and exclusive school classrooms. These are coming soon, and schools can join the waitlist. In the meantime, every student in a study group or homeschool co-op can create their own free account during beta.