An AI workspace built for student work.
Essays, research papers, application materials, study notes — with citation help, voice preservation, and a free tier that does not vanish when you need it most.
Free to start · No credit card required
Most AI tools were not built for the way students actually work — long-form essays, citation-heavy research papers, applications under deadline, study notes the night before an exam.
River is. Citation-grounded drafting, a real document editor, voice preservation so your essays still sound like you, and persistent project Spaces so the work doesn't vanish when you close the tab.
What you get
Citation-grounded research papers
Drop your sources. River cites them — no hallucinated authors, no fake page numbers.
Application essay help
Common App, Coalition, Med, Law, MBA. River helps you find your voice without writing the essay for you.
Voice preservation
Your essays sound like you wrote them — because you did. River edits, suggests, and pushes back; it doesn't replace your voice.
Persistent project Spaces
Notes, outlines, sources, drafts all live in one Space. Pick up where you left off across devices.
Study notes and explainers
Drop lecture notes or textbook chapters. River summarises, generates practice questions, and explains tough concepts.
Free tier that actually works
Real free usage, no surprise paywalls in the middle of a draft.
Three common student flows
- 1
Application essay
Drop the prompt and your story. River asks the questions that pull out the real angle, then helps you draft in your voice.
- 2
Research paper
Drop your sources. River drafts a thesis, outlines the paper, and cites every claim from your library.
- 3
Study notes
Upload lecture slides and textbook chapters. River produces summaries, mind maps, and practice questions for review.
Frequently asked questions
Will my school count this as cheating?
That depends on your school's policy and how you use it. River is built around voice preservation — you remain the author and the AI helps. Always check your school's AI policy before submitting.
Will it hallucinate sources?
Not when you give it your sources. River cites only from the references you've uploaded. If a claim has no source, it flags it instead of inventing one.
Is the free tier actually usable?
Yes. Real free monthly AI budget, no card required to start. The paid tiers exist for heavier users but the free tier handles a typical course load.
What about my college application essays?
River is good at finding the angle in a personal story and pushing back on cliches. It won't write the essay for you, but it will help you write a better one.