Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you might want to know about Lumio before signing up — how it works, what it costs, and how we keep student data safe.
Is Lumio really free?
Yes. Individual student, teacher, and parent accounts are free forever. Lumio is supported by unobtrusive advertising and by optional paid plans for school districts that want single sign-on, advanced analytics, and a dedicated success manager.
What grade levels does Lumio support?
Lumio is built for K-12 students, with the deepest support for grades 5-12. The AI tutor adjusts its explanations to the student's grade level so younger students aren't overwhelmed and older students aren't talked down to.
Which subjects does the AI tutor cover?
Math (pre-algebra through calculus and statistics), the sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, earth science), English literature and composition, world and US history, foreign languages (Spanish, French, Mandarin, and more), and computer science. The tutor can also help with study skills, test prep, and college essays.
Will the AI just give my student the answers?
No. The tutor is built around a Socratic method — it asks guiding questions, offers hints, and walks through worked examples. It is designed to teach, not to do the homework. Teachers also have the option to enable a stricter "hint-only" mode for assignments.
How does Lumio protect student data?
Lumio is built to be FERPA compliant. Student data is stored in an encrypted database with row-level security so students see only their own data, parents see only their own children, and teachers see only their own classes. We never sell personal data. See our Privacy Policy for the full details.
Does Lumio work without an internet connection?
Most features require an internet connection because the AI runs in the cloud. Students can still access previously generated study materials, like flashcards and notes, when offline.
Can parents see what their child is asking the tutor?
Parents see summaries and progress data, not full chat transcripts, because students need a private space to ask the kind of beginner questions they might be embarrassed to ask in class. If a student raises a safety concern, parents and counselors are notified.
How do teachers grade with Lumio?
Teachers paste or attach a rubric, and the Writing Coach scores each student's draft against that rubric with paragraph-level feedback. Teachers review and adjust the AI's suggestions, then publish the final grade. Most teachers report grading time dropping by 70 percent or more.
Does Lumio integrate with Google Classroom or Canvas?
Yes. Lumio can connect to Google Classroom, Canvas, Schoology, and other major learning management systems to sync rosters and assignments. Connections are managed by school administrators.
What languages does Lumio support?
The student-facing interface and AI conversations work in English, Spanish, French, Chinese, and Arabic out of the box. Parent reports are automatically translated to the family's preferred language so non-English-speaking parents stay informed.
How is Lumio different from ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is a general-purpose assistant. Lumio is purpose-built for school: it's grade-aware, subject-aware, refuses to do the homework outright, integrates with the gradebook, and gives teachers and parents visibility into what students are working on. Plus it includes the writing coach, study tools, wellbeing check-ins, and analytics in one place.
Where does Lumio show ads?
Lumio shows small, brand-safe banner ads inside the logged-in app to keep the platform free for individual users. Ads are never shown on assessments or wellbeing check-ins, and we never use student data to target advertising.