Wolfram|Alpha

What it does

Wolfram|Alpha answers questions by computing them rather than searching the web. Type a maths problem, a unit conversion, a statistics or chemistry question, or a question about data such as populations or the weather on a past date, and it works out the answer from its own curated data and methods.

It has been running since 2009 and is popular with students. Step-by-step working for maths problems needs the paid Pro plan.

Why use it

• It calculates answers rather than guessing them, so results are consistent.
• It handles maths, statistics, units, chemistry and much more, in plain English.
• Step-by-step solutions on the Pro plan help students learn the method.
• There are apps for iPhone and Android as well as the website.

How it works

1. Go to wolframalpha.com or open the app.
2. Type a question or a calculation, such as “convert 5 miles to km”.
3. Check how it understood your question, shown at the top of the results.
4. Read the result, and upgrade to Pro if you want step-by-step working.

How hard is it to use?

Beginner Easy to start. You need an account, not any technical know-how.

Typing a question is easy, and the results show how it understood you, which is why we rate it Beginner.

What it costs

Free plan; paid plans. Free to use for answers. The paid Pro plan adds step-by-step solutions and other extras.

Prices change often, so check Wolfram|Alpha’s own site before you pay.

Watch out for

• It can misread a question, so check its interpretation at the top of the results.
• It is a calculator and data engine, not a chatbot, so it won’t write or summarise text for you.
• Check your school’s or university’s rules before using it for assessed work.

Your data

You can use it without an account. Check Wolfram’s privacy policy for what it keeps about your questions if you sign in.

We haven’t confirmed that Wolfram|Alpha can keep your data in the UK, so check where it keeps your data before you share anything private or about other people.