Comparison

MathPapa vs SymCalc+

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

MathPapa

This app provides step-by-step solutions to algebra problems, helping users understand how to solve equations and inequalities. It can also graph equations, factor expressions, and evaluate mathematical expressions.

Highlights
  • Step-by-step equation solving
  • Linear and quadratic equation solver
  • Linear and quadratic inequality solver
  • Equation graphing
  • Quadratic expression factoring
  • Order of operations
  • Expression evaluation
Features
Read full description

SOLVE your algebra problems step-by-step with MathPapa! MathPapa can solve your equations (and show the work!) and help you when you're stuck on your math homework. FEATURES: • Solves linear equations and quadratic equations. • Solves linear and quadratic inequalities. • Graphs equations. • Factors quadratic expressions. • Order of operations step-by-step. • Evaluates expressions. • Solves systems of two equations. STEP-BY-STEP SOLUTIONS: MathPapa's goal is to help you learn algebra step-by-step. Get help on your algebra problems with the MathPapa Algebra Calculator! HOW TO USE THE CALCULATOR: Just type your problem into the text box. For example, enter 3x+5=17 into the text box to get a step-by-step explanation of how to solve 3x+5=17. MATH SYMBOLS: Here are some symbols that the calculator understands: + (Addition) - (Subtraction) * (Multiplication) / (Division) ^ (Exponent: "raised to the power") √ (Square Root) |x| (Absolute Value of x) MATHPAPA PREMIUM PRICING AND TERMS: For MathPapa Premium, there is a Monthly subscription for $9.99. This price is for U.S. customers. Pricing in other countries may vary. Subscriptions will be charged via your iTunes account at the end of the free trial. Subscriptions will automatically renew unless canceled in Account Settings at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Unused portion of Free Trial, if offered, is forfeited after purchase. For more information, read our Terms and Privacy Policy: Terms of Service: https://www.mathpapa.com/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://www.mathpapa.com/privacy/

About

SymCalc+

This app provides advanced mathematical calculations, from basic arithmetic to university-level topics. It combines the functionality of a scientific graphing calculator with the ease of a mobile application, offering symbolic computation and detailed feature explanations.

Highlights
  • Exact arithmetic and numerical modes
  • Symbolic algebra and calculus operations
  • Matrix operations and linear algebra
  • Equation and differential equation solvers
  • Complex number arithmetic
  • Interactive graphing
  • Session management and PDF export
Features
Read full description

Solve equations, simplify algebra, take derivatives and integrals, work with matrices, and visualize results in 2D and 3D from one app. Whether you need an exact symbolic answer, a decimal approximation, or a graph, SymCalc keeps the full workflow in one place. Store your work in reusable sessions, assign variables, define your own functions, and come back to your calculations later. - Solve single equations and systems with exact or numerical results - Simplify, factor, expand, substitute, and find roots, limits, sums, products, and Taylor series - Handle calculus tasks including derivatives, indefinite and definite integrals, and differential equations - Work with matrices and vectors: determinants, inverses, rank, RREF, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, dot products, and cross products - Graph standard functions, implicit equations and inequalities, polar curves, parametric plots, and 3D surfaces - Use logarithmic axes, inspect intersections, and adjust extra variables with sliders - Compute with complex numbers and common scientific functions - Save worksheets, keep multiple sessions, create custom functions, and export your work as PDF or SymCalc files - Learn faster with built-in function help and examples inside the app - Built for students, engineers, scientists, and anyone who needs more than a basic scientific calculator

Screenshots

MathPapa4 screens
SymCalc+4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: MathPapa at Free against SymCalc+'s $9.99. MathPapa also leads on ratings volume (17K vs 91). SymCalc+'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On rating, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

MathPapa is free to download; SymCalc+ costs $9.99 up front. MathPapa sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. SymCalc+ asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for MathPapa against 4.7 for SymCalc+. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MathPapa has 17K ratings behind it against 91, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 78% of MathPapa's written reviews are positive against 74% of SymCalc+'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MathPapa ships an update every 3 weeks, SymCalc+ every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
MathPapa versus SymCalc+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMathPapaSymCalc+
PriceFree — better$9.99
Rating4.7 (17K ratings)4.7 (91 ratings)
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews — better73.7% of reviews
Number of ratings17K — better91
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMathPapa, Inc.Voxeloid Kft.

Customer experience

MathPapa

All ratings17,045 ratings
Positive93.4%
Neutral2.5%
Negative4.1%
Written reviews189 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral7.4%
Negative14.8%

SymCalc+

All ratings91 ratings
Positive91.2%
Neutral4.4%
Negative4.4%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive73.7%
Neutral21.1%
Negative5.3%

Bugs and requests

MathPapa

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Doesn't always recognize certain input formats
  • Step-by-step solutions not always available even with subscription

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add history/log of past calculations
  • Support for more math functions like differentiation and integration
  • Ability to input expressions with exponents as expressions
  • Option to display answers in different formats (decimal, fraction, mixed number)
  • Ability to take a photo of a problem and have it solved

SymCalc+

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

MathPapa

Subscriptions1
  • MathPapa Premium Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
One-time1
  • MathPapa Pro Upgrade$49.99
None

SymCalc+

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MathPapa free?
MathPapa is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SymCalc+ free?
SymCalc+ costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MathPapa or SymCalc+?
MathPapa and SymCalc+ are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 17K and 91 ratings respectively.
Do MathPapa or SymCalc+ have ads?
Neither MathPapa nor SymCalc+ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MathPapa or SymCalc+?
MathPapa ships an update every 3 weeks, and SymCalc+ every 5 weeks. Most recently, MathPapa was updated on October 1, 2026 and SymCalc+ on September 28, 2026.

Other comparisons