// how it works
enter a topic or paste text
type any question - "what is blockchain?" - or paste a legal contract, medical report, or error message.
we search and synthesize
eli5 searches Google and YouTube, scores sources by reliability, and feeds the best results to AI.
get a sourced explanation
AI generates a simple explanation at your chosen level, with citations you can verify. every explanation gets a permanent link.
// features
sourced explanations
every answer cites real sources from Google and YouTube - not hallucinated claims.
adjustable complexity
same topic. from beginner to expert in one click. you control the depth.
groundedness score
see how well each answer is backed by sources. green = strong consensus, yellow = mixed.
shareable links
every explanation gets a permanent link at eli5.cc/eli5/topic-name. share with anyone.
paste & simplify
paste legal docs, medical reports, code errors - get them explained in plain english.
private by default
pasted text is processed and discarded instantly. never stored, never used for training.
// use cases
explain any topic simply
type "what is inflation?" or "how does WiFi work?" and get a sourced, jargon-free explanation at any complexity level.
understand legal documents
paste terms of service, rental agreements, NDAs, contracts - get them translated from legalese to language anyone can understand.
decode medical reports
paste lab results, blood work, discharge summaries - finally understand what your doctor actually said, with sources to learn more.
simplify research papers
dense abstracts, scientific findings, peer-reviewed journals - broken down so anyone can follow the key insights.
explain code errors
paste stack traces, error messages, config files - explained in plain words so you can actually fix the problem.
make sense of finance
tax forms, investment terms, insurance policies, crypto concepts - simplified with cited sources you can trust.
// most viewed topics
see what people are learning right now - every topic is a sourced, permanent page.
// frequently asked questions
what does eli5 mean?
ELI5 stands for "Explain Like I'm 5" - an internet concept where complex topics are broken down into the simplest possible terms. eli5.cc turns this into a tool: enter any topic or paste any text and get a sourced, simple explanation.
how is eli5.cc different from ChatGPT?
eli5.cc searches Google and YouTube for real sources, then generates an explanation grounded in those results - with citations. ChatGPT generates from training data alone. every eli5.cc explanation shows where the information came from so you can verify it.
is eli5.cc free to use?
yes. eli5.cc is completely free. you get 5 explanations per day at all complexity levels with no account required.
can I paste documents to simplify them?
yes. click "or paste text to simplify" below the search bar. paste legal contracts, medical reports, code errors, research papers - the AI will explain them in plain english at your chosen complexity level.
is my text private?
pasted text is processed in real-time and immediately discarded. it is never stored or used for training. topic explanations are cached to serve future visitors as permanent pages.
// what you can learn
eli5.cc is a free AI-powered answer engine that explains any topic simply - with sources. unlike a chatbot, eli5 searches the web for real information, scores sources by reliability, and generates an explanation grounded in what it finds. every claim is cited so you can verify it yourself.
enter any topic - what is quantum computing, how does the stock market work, what is DNS, explain blockchain - and get a sourced explanation at your chosen complexity level. eli5 mode gives you an explanation a child could follow. eli10 adds more context. eli15 assumes basic familiarity. expert mode gives a concise, technical summary.
you can also paste complex text directly - simplify legal contracts, translate medical jargon to plain english, break down research papers, explain JavaScript errors, understand tax form instructions, and decode government policy documents. if it's written in jargon, eli5 can make it clear - and show you where the information comes from.