What is ELI5 AI?
ELI5 AI is a free web tool that takes any complex text and explains it at four different comprehension levels — from a 5-year-old to an educated adult. Paste jargon, scientific papers, legal documents, or medical reports, and get instant plain-English explanations.
How does ELI5 AI work?
Paste any text into the input box and click "Explain It!" Our AI processes the text and generates four explanations at different reading levels: a 5-year-old level, a 10-year-old level, a teenager level, and an adult level. Each explanation is tailored to the target reading level while preserving the core meaning.
Is ELI5 AI free to use?
Yes, ELI5 AI is completely free. There are no fees, no sign-up required to use the tool, and no usage limits. You can simplify as many texts as you want.
What kinds of text can I simplify?
ELI5 AI works with any type of text: scientific papers, legal contracts, medical reports, financial documents, technical documentation, academic articles, government policies, and more. If it contains complex language, ELI5 AI can simplify it.
Can I share my simplified results?
Yes! After simplifying text, click "Share results" to generate a unique shareable link. You can copy and send this link to anyone — they will see the same four-level explanations without needing to paste the text again.
Do I need to create an account?
No account is needed to use ELI5 AI. You can optionally provide your email for launch updates and new feature announcements, but the core tool works without any sign-up.
What languages does ELI5 AI support?
ELI5 AI currently supports English, Traditional Chinese (zh-HK), Simplified Chinese (zh-CN), Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and French. The interface language can be switched from the settings.
Is my text data stored or shared?
Shared results are stored so the share link works. Regular (non-shared) simplifications are not stored. We do not share your text with third parties. Analytics data is anonymized using SHA-256 hashing of IP + user agent.
Can ELI5 AI help with homework?
Yes! ELI5 AI is great for students who need to understand complex topics. The multiple reading levels make it suitable for different grade levels — from elementary school to university.
How accurate are the explanations?
ELI5 AI uses advanced AI language models to generate explanations. While the core meaning is preserved, the simplified versions may lose some nuance. For critical decisions (medical, legal, financial), always consult a qualified professional.
Can I use ELI5 AI for my business?
Yes. ELI5 AI can help make your technical documentation, legal terms, or product descriptions more accessible to customers. Use the share feature to distribute simplified explanations to your team or clients.
How is ELI5 AI different from other AI tools?
ELI5 AI is unique in providing four different comprehension levels side-by-side. Most tools give you one simplified version. ELI5 AI lets you compare explanations at different reading levels, making it suitable for audiences of all backgrounds.
Can ELI5 AI simplify text in other languages?
Yes. ELI5 AI supports English, Traditional Chinese (zh-HK), Simplified Chinese (zh-CN), Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and French. You can paste text in any of these languages and get explanations in the same language at four reading levels.
Is ELI5 AI suitable for classroom use?
Absolutely. Teachers can use ELI5 AI to create differentiated instruction materials from a single source text. The four comprehension levels align roughly with elementary, middle school, high school, and college reading levels, making it easy to adapt the same content for students of different abilities.
Does ELI5 AI have an API?
Yes. ELI5 AI exposes a simple REST API: POST /api/simplify accepts a text string and returns four-level explanations. POST /api/share saves results and returns a shareable link. GET /api/health checks service status. See our API docs page for details.