Real scholars.
Real answers.
Your price.
Ask a question about any text you are reading. Scholars — verified experts and advanced students — read your question, propose a price, and tell you whether they will answer in writing or on video. You see everything upfront. You only pay when you accept.
Written answers
Format option
A detailed, carefully composed written response. Great for close textual analysis, citations, and answers you want to revisit and reference later. Scholars who choose this format will deliver a thorough text-based reply.
Video answers
Format option
A recorded video explanation from the scholar. Perfect for complex topics that benefit from tone, emphasis, and a personal walkthrough. You get a face-to-face explanation you can watch and rewatch.
Full transparency before you pay
Every proposal shows the scholar's name, credentials, price, and whether they will answer in writing or on video. You never pay for something you have not agreed to. Decline any proposal freely. Accept only when you are ready.
For readers
How it works for you
You ask. Scholars propose. You decide. Simple.
Ask your question
Post a question about any text you are reading. Include a passage or context if it helps. Asking is free — you only pay when you accept a proposal.
Review proposals
Scholars browse your question and make you an offer. Each proposal shows the scholar, their price, and whether they will answer in writing or on video — so you know exactly what you are getting before you pay.
Accept and receive
Accept the proposal that fits you best. The scholar delivers their answer — a detailed written response or a personal video explanation. Decline any proposal at no cost.
For scholars
How it works for you
Browse questions. Set your price and format. Deliver your expertise. Get paid.
Browse questions
See incoming questions from Agora readers in your field. Experts see premium questions; Professionals in the Making see free-tier questions.
Name your price and format
Pick a question, set your price, and choose whether you will answer in writing or on video. Volunteer scholars can also offer answers for free. The user sees all of this upfront.
Deliver your answer
Once the user accepts, submit your answer in the format you promised. You earn the price you set — or give your time freely as a volunteer. Build your reputation on Agora.
Two tiers of scholars
Experts and Professionals in the Making
Expert Scholars
- Professors, researchers, and published academics
- Verified individually by the Agora team
- Answer questions from Premium members
- Set your own price per question
- Can refer students as Professionals in the Making
Professionals in the Making
- Advanced undergraduates (junior or senior) and graduate students
- Must be referred by a verified expert in your field
- Application includes a brief letter of recommendation
- Answer questions from free-tier members
- Set your own price per question
The referral process
How Professionals in the Making join Agora
Expert writes a letter
A verified expert in your field writes a brief letter of recommendation for you — explaining your academic background and why they believe you are qualified.
Student applies
You submit your application with the letter, your field, institution, degree level, and the expert's contact details so Agora can verify the referral.
Agora reviews
The Agora team reviews your application and may contact the referring expert. Once approved, you can start browsing and answering questions.
Monetize your expertise
Every time a reader accepts your proposal, you earn the price you set. Whether you are a tenured professor or a graduate student, your knowledge has value — and Agora gives you a platform to share it on your own terms. Prefer to give back? You can also volunteer and answer for free.
You set the price
Every question is different. Set your price based on difficulty, depth, and the effort involved.
Work at your own pace
No minimum hours. No quotas. Answer when you want, as much as you want.
Choose your format
Answer in writing or on video — whatever fits the question and your style.
Volunteer scholars
Not every answer needs a price tag. Agora deeply values scholars who choose to volunteer their time and expertise — answering questions freely out of a genuine love for their field and a desire to make knowledge accessible to everyone. Our volunteer scholars are the heart of the Agora community.
Answer for free
As a volunteer, you can offer answers at no cost. A blue volunteer badge shows readers that you're giving your time freely.
Open to all scholars
Both Expert Scholars and Professionals in the Making can become volunteers. Toggle it on from your scholar dashboard anytime.
Mix and match
Volunteering doesn't mean you can never charge. You can offer some answers for free and set prices on others — it's completely flexible.
Thank you to every volunteer
Your generosity makes Agora a place where curiosity is never gated by cost. Every free answer you give reaches a reader who might not have been able to afford one — and that matters more than we can say. You carry forward the oldest tradition in scholarship: sharing knowledge because it deserves to be shared.
Strict anti-AI & plagiarism policy
Every answer on Agora must be the genuine intellectual work of the scholar who submits it. AI-generated answers are strictly prohibited. Plagiarism — beyond brief, attributed citations — is equally prohibited.
For scholars
You may not use ChatGPT, Claude, or any AI to write your answers. Violations result in warnings, suspension, or permanent removal.
For users
You can report answers you suspect are AI-generated. You must provide a detailed, evidence-based explanation. Frivolous reports may result in a ban.
Agora reviews
Every report is reviewed manually. Agora examines the answer, the scholar's full history, and the quality of the report before making a determination.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to ask a question?
Yes. Posting a question is always free. You only pay when you accept a specific proposal from a scholar.
How do scholars set prices?
Scholars choose their own price for each question. They can factor in difficulty, length, and format. Users compare proposals and accept the one that works for them.
What is the difference between written and video answers?
Written answers are detailed text responses. Video answers are recorded explanations from the scholar. The format is always disclosed in the proposal — you know what you are getting before you accept.
What is the difference between an Expert and a Professional in the Making?
Experts are verified professional scholars — professors, researchers, and published academics. Professionals in the Making are advanced undergraduate and graduate students referred by a verified expert. Both are vetted by Agora.
How do I become a Professional in the Making?
You need to be referred by a verified expert in your field. They write a brief letter of recommendation. Then you submit your application and Agora reviews it.
Are scholars allowed to use AI to write answers?
No. AI-generated answers are strictly prohibited on Agora. Every answer must be the scholar's own original work. Scholars who violate this policy face warnings, suspension, or permanent removal from the program.
What if I think an answer is AI-generated?
You can report it directly from the answer. You must review the AI detection guidelines first and provide a detailed, evidence-based explanation. Agora reviews every report manually — but frivolous reports (those without genuine evidence) may result in a ban from the Ask service.
Ready to join Agora as a scholar?
Whether you are a verified expert or a student referred by one, Agora gives you a platform to share your knowledge — earn on your own terms, or volunteer and give back to the reading community.