Zuoyebang (作业帮) : China's K-12 study app that turns photos of homework into step-by-step solutions.

Zuoyebang began inside Baidu as a homework-photo tool and spun off in 2015; it now leads China's education apps with roughly 97 million monthly users.

Beyond snapping questions for step-by-step answers, the suite adds live-streamed courses, oral-arithmetic drills, and Paperang, a printer that scans finished assignments and flags mistakes.

All content is in Chinese and built for China's K-12 students, so no translated or international edition exists for overseas users.

What privacy risks does Zuoyebang pose for minors?

Zuoyebang previously faced criticism over data collection from minors. The app captures homework photos and user behavior data. Post-regulation, it complies with stricter Chinese data protection laws, but US standards don't apply.

Is Zuoyebang like Photomath for Chinese students?

For sure. Zuoyebang started as an AI homework photo-search app, similar to Photomath but covering all subjects. After China's 2021 tutoring ban, it pivoted to adult education and AI learning tools for compliance.

How did Zuoyebang survive the Chinese tutoring ban?

Zuoyebang survived China's 2021 crackdown by pivoting to adult education, vocational training, and AI learning tools. It also expanded smart hardware (AI learning devices). Revenue dropped significantly but the company remains operational.

Does Zuoyebang share student homework data with authorities?

Zuoyebang collects student search history, performance data, and behavioral patterns from millions of homework queries. Under Chinese data regulations, student educational data may be shared with authorities. Photomath and Chegg operate under US privacy laws (FERPA, COPPA) with protections against warrantless government educational data access that Chinese law does not provide.