# MathPapa vs FastMath

The clearest difference is review sentiment: MathPapa at 78% against FastMath's 17%. MathPapa also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.2) and ads (none vs shown). FastMath's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (51K vs 17K). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MathPapa sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and FastMath sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MathPapa holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17K and 51K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of MathPapa's written reviews are positive against 17% of FastMath's.

MathPapa ships an update every 3 weeks, FastMath every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MathPapa | FastMath |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (17K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathpapa-algebra-calculator/id1024251561/reviews)** | [4.2 (51K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fastmath-photo-math-solver/id1438642238/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 17K | **51K** |
| Positive reviews | **77.8% of reviews** | 16.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 5 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MathPapa, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1116770141) | [Dakyuz Yazilim Ticaret Limited Sirketi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1030310836) |

## What reviewers say

### MathPapa

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathpapa-algebra-calculator/id1024251561)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MathPapa Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| MathPapa Pro Upgrade | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Solves any expression or equation
- 👍 Provides step-by-step solutions
- 👍 Graphs functions
- 👍 Helpful for homework and understanding concepts
- 🚀 Saves time on homework

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription required for step-by-step solutions
- 💰 Expensive subscription at $10/month
- 👎 Limited number of step-by-step solutions in free version
- 👎 Subscription is not affordable for some students
- 👎 Subscription model is disappointing compared to previous free version

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


### FastMath

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fastmath-photo-math-solver/id1438642238)

Instantly solve math problems by taking a photo, even handwritten ones. Get step-by-step solutions with explanations and graphical representations to improve your understanding and check your homework.

**Highlights:** Photo math problem solver, Handwritten problem support, Step-by-step solutions, Graphical representations, Homework checker, Cloud archive for problems

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Pack with Free Trial | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Subscription Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Subscription 3 Months | $19.99 | per 3 months |
| Six Months Subscription | $29.99 | per 6 months |
| Lifetime Pack | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helps understand math problems
- 👍 Useful for checking work
- 💡 Solves integrals and multiple equations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Requires subscription to see solutions
- 🐛 Camera function often doesn't work
- 🐛 Can't solve basic problems
- 🔒 Immediate paywall upon opening app

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect solutions for simple problems
- App crashes frequently
- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Requested features**

- Provide more explanation for basic problems
- Allow free access to solutions
- Improve camera functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MathPapa free?

MathPapa is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is FastMath free?

FastMath is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, MathPapa or FastMath?

MathPapa is rated higher. MathPapa averages 4.7 out of 5 from 17K ratings, while FastMath averages 4.2 from 51K ratings.

### Do MathPapa or FastMath have ads?

FastMath shows ads; MathPapa does not.

### Which is updated more often, MathPapa or FastMath?

MathPapa ships an update every 3 weeks, and FastMath every 5 days. Most recently, MathPapa was updated on September 23, 2026 and FastMath on September 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*