At a glance
| DuckyHelper | ChatGPT | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Live voice tutor that sees your screen and marks it up | OpenAI's assistant, with a free study mode that guides you step by step |
| Platforms | Web app in any browser, including Chromebooks and Windows; Mac app (macOS 14+, Apple silicon) | Web, iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows apps, Chrome extension |
| Live voice conversation | Yes, live voice in the web app and the Mac app | Yes, on all plans. Plus includes up to 3 hours a day of Live voice |
| Sees your screen | Yes: share a tab, window or screen in the browser; the Mac app sees your screen | Camera and screen share in Advanced voice on the phone apps; uploads and screenshots everywhere |
| Draws or points on your screen | Yes: marks on the preview of what you share (web); on your real screen over any app (Mac) | No evidence found |
| Checks each step you do in your own apps | Yes on Mac: tutorials in your own apps that check each step | No evidence found |
| Quizzes and flashcards | Quizzes, worked steps, graphs: Yes. Flashcards: Yes (Mac app). Longer practice tests: Yes (web app) | Quizzes inside the chat, practice questions, flashcard-style review |
| Progress tracking | Memory plus a dashboard: time learned, streak, topics, mastery, test scores | Memory; progress tracking in study mode |
| Subjects | Any subject | Any subject |
| Free plan | Free plan, about 6 minutes of talking a week | Yes, $0 with study mode; voice and uploads limited |
| Paid plans (October 2026) | Plus $20/month, Pro $200/month, Unlimited $200/week | Go $8/month (may include ads), Plus $20/month, Pro $100 to $500/month |
| Age rules | 13+; under 18 needs a parent's OK; under 13 only with verified parental consent | 13+; under 18 needs a parent's permission; parental controls |
| Track record | New (public since October 2026), no track record yet | Established, from OpenAI |
Which one should you pick?
Pick DuckyHelper if
- You want help on what is already on your screen, without uploading screenshots.
- You learn best when someone points: circles, arrows and labels on your real screen.
- You are learning to do something in an app and want each step checked.
- You want quizzes, practice tests and a dashboard with streaks, topics and test scores (flashcards in the Mac app).
Pick ChatGPT if
- You want something free that also works as a phone app.
- You talk a lot: Plus includes up to 3 hours of Live voice a day for $20.
- You mostly type questions or upload photos, PDFs and notes.
- You want a parent to be able to turn on study mode by default for a teen.
Study mode vs a tutor on your screen
ChatGPT study mode is free on every plan. OpenAI says it "can ask questions, guide your thinking, explain ideas step by step, and check your understanding" instead of only giving a final answer. Since August 2026 it can also give interactive quizzes inside the chat. OpenAI also notes study mode "may sometimes provide a direct answer".
DuckyHelper starts from your screen instead of a chat box. Press fn and talk. Ducky sees the page, problem or app you are on, explains out loud, and draws on your screen one mark at a time. For tasks in apps, like making a spreadsheet chart, it gives one step at a time and waits until you really did it.
Voice and seeing your screen
ChatGPT has three voice options. The default, Live, does not support video or screen sharing, according to OpenAI's voice FAQ. To show ChatGPT your screen or camera you switch to Advanced voice in the iPhone or Android app. On a computer you upload files or screenshots, and the new desktop app can use context from your screen.
DuckyHelper is voice first and sees your screen in the same conversation. In the web app you share a tab, window or screen; on a Mac you can also say "what is this?" and point at it with your mouse (hold fn and cmd).
Pricing as of October 2026
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| DuckyHelper Free | $0 | About 6 minutes of talking a week |
| DuckyHelper Plus | $20 a month | About 27 minutes a week (up to 11 in an hour) |
| DuckyHelper Pro | $200 a month | About 278 minutes a week |
| DuckyHelper Unlimited | $200 a week | No hourly limits, fair use about 20 hours a week |
| DuckyHelper Credit packs | $10, $25, $50 | About 58, 149 or 301 extra minutes, good for 12 months |
| ChatGPT Free | $0 | Study mode, limited voice and uploads |
| ChatGPT Go | $8 a month | More use, may include ads |
| ChatGPT Plus | $20 a month | Up to 3 hours a day of Live voice |
| ChatGPT Pro | $100, $200 or $500 a month | Highest limits |
ChatGPT gives far more talking time per dollar. DuckyHelper Plus gives about 27 minutes of talking a week for the same $20, because every minute is a live voice tutor watching your screen and drawing on it. If you mainly want to chat, ChatGPT is the better value. Full details on DuckyHelper pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Is ChatGPT study mode free?
Yes. Study mode is included on the Free plan as well as Go, Plus and Pro. You turn it on from the plus menu or by typing @study. Voice, uploads and some other features have lower limits on Free.
Can ChatGPT see my screen?
On the iPhone and Android apps, Advanced voice can share your camera or screen with eligible plans. The default Live voice cannot. On a computer you can upload screenshots, and the desktop app can use what is on your screen. DuckyHelper sees what you share in the browser, or your Mac screen, while you talk.
Does ChatGPT draw on my screen?
We found no feature where ChatGPT draws on your real screen. It can create images and interactive quizzes in the chat. DuckyHelper draws circles, arrows, boxes and labels on top of any app on a Mac, and on the preview of what you share in the web app.
Can teens use either one?
ChatGPT is for ages 13 and up, and under 18 needs a parent's permission; parents can link accounts and set study hours. DuckyHelper is also 13 and up with a parent's OK for 13 to 17, and under 13 only with verified parental consent.
Can I use both?
Yes. Many students type quick questions into ChatGPT and use DuckyHelper when they need someone to look at their screen and show them where to click, what to fix, or how a step works.
Sources
- OpenAI: Introducing study mode, accessed October 1, 2026
- ChatGPT Help: study mode FAQ, accessed October 1, 2026
- ChatGPT pricing, accessed October 1, 2026
- ChatGPT study mode feature page, accessed October 1, 2026
- ChatGPT Help: voice mode FAQ, accessed October 1, 2026
- ChatGPT Help: Pro tiers, accessed October 1, 2026
- ChatGPT release notes, accessed October 1, 2026
- ChatGPT download page, accessed October 1, 2026
- OpenAI terms of use, accessed October 1, 2026
- ChatGPT Help: parental controls, accessed October 1, 2026
- DuckyHelper features, accessed October 1, 2026
- DuckyHelper download and Mac requirements, accessed October 1, 2026
- DuckyHelper web app, accessed October 1, 2026
- DuckyHelper pricing, accessed October 1, 2026
- DuckyHelper terms (age rules), accessed October 1, 2026
