What is iFixit?
iFixit is the best-known place online to learn how to repair your own stuff. Its free, community-written guides walk you through fixes for phones, laptops, game consoles, appliances and more, with clear photos for every step. It also publishes teardowns of new gadgets and runs a store that sells replacement parts, batteries and repair tool kits.
iFixit was founded in 2003 and is based in San Luis Obispo, California. Its guides are shared under a Creative Commons license. It also offers FixBot, an AI repair assistant that lets you describe a problem by typing or speaking, then points you to the right guide. You can use FixBot free with daily limits, and paid plans add higher limits and extra tools.
Main Features
- Free step-by-step repair guides with photos for each step
- Teardowns of new phones, laptops and gadgets
- Store with replacement parts, batteries and tool kits
- FixBot AI assistant that diagnoses problems by text, voice or photo
- FixBot covers 72,000 plus products across many device types
- Community answers forum for tricky repairs
- Guides shared under a Creative Commons license
How to Get Started with iFixit
- Go to ifixit.com and search for your device or problem
- Open a guide and check the parts and tools it lists
- Buy any missing parts or a tool kit from the iFixit store if needed
- Follow the photo steps, or ask FixBot for help if you get stuck
iFixit Pricing
Repair guides: free. Parts and tools: sold individually in the iFixit store. FixBot Enthusiast: $9/user/mo, with rate limits. FixBot Professional: $30/user/mo (annual billing saves $60 per user per year). FixBot Enterprise: custom pricing.
Who Should Use It?
- People who want to fix a cracked phone screen or tired battery
- DIYers repairing laptops, consoles and home appliances
- Repair shops looking for guides and parts
- Students learning how electronics work
- Anyone who wants to save money and cut e-waste
iFixit Alternatives
- ChatGPT: a general AI assistant that can talk through repairs but has no step-by-step photo guides
- Perplexity AI: an AI search engine that finds repair tips and links to sources across the web
- Khan Academy: free lessons on science and engineering basics behind how devices work
Frequently Asked Questions
Is iFixit free?
Yes, all iFixit repair guides are free to read, with no account needed. You only pay for parts or tools you buy from the iFixit store, or for a FixBot AI plan, which starts at $9 per user a month.
What is iFixit FixBot?
FixBot is iFixit's AI repair assistant. You describe the problem by typing, speaking or sharing a photo, and it suggests the likely cause and the matching guide. It draws on iFixit's own repair knowledge and supports more than 72,000 products, from phones to home appliances.
Do I need special tools to follow iFixit guides?
Each guide lists the tools and parts it needs before you start. Many fixes only need a few small screwdrivers, a spudger and an opening pick. iFixit sells tool kits and parts in its store, but you can use any tools you already own.