# Algebra vs Photomath

Algebra and Photomath both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 83% of Algebra's written reviews are positive against 51% of Photomath's. Photomath's advantage is ratings volume (733K vs 1.3K) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Algebra sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Photomath sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Algebra against 4.8 for Photomath. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photomath has 733K ratings behind it against 1.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of Algebra's written reviews are positive against 51% of Photomath's.

Algebra ships an update every 4 months, Photomath monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Algebra | Photomath |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/algebra/id406783021/reviews) | **[4.8 (733K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photomath/id919087726/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.3K | **733K** |
| Positive reviews | **83.2% of reviews** | 51.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#32** |
| Size | 15 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [YourTeacher.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/340925628) | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) |

## What reviewers say

### Algebra

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/algebra/id406783021)

Master pre-algebra through college algebra with comprehensive video lessons, practice exercises, and assessments. Get personalized math instruction to build a strong foundation and track your academic progress.

**Highlights:** Video instruction, Guided practice, Tests and quizzes, Diagnostic assessments, Worksheets and notes, Progress tracking, Chapter reviews

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 | $9.99 | per month |
| Place Value | $4.99 | one-time |
| Adding Integers & Subtracting Integers | $4.99 | one-time |
| Two-Step Equations - Alg | $4.99 | one-time |
| Equations with Fractions | $4.99 | one-time |
| Algebra Word Problems | $4.99 | one-time |
| Rational Expressions | $4.99 | one-time |
| Multiplying Dividing Rational Expressions | $4.99 | one-time |
| Simplifying Radicals | $4.99 | one-time |
| Multiplying Radicals | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to understand
- 🚀 Comprehensive lessons
- 💡 Helpful visuals and examples
- 👍 Excellent explanations
- 👍 Logical design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription required for full access
- 💰 Expensive monthly fee
- 🐛 Occasional freezing/crashing issues
- 🔇 Monotonous instructor voice

**Reported bugs**

- Progress/scores getting deleted
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add more practice problems and word questions
- Provide a scratch pad/workspace within the app
- Expand to cover more advanced algebra topics
- Offer a one-time purchase option instead of subscription


### Photomath

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photomath/id919087726)

**Currently charting:** #32 Top Grossing · Education, #54 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Scan any math problem to receive instant, step-by-step explanations and accurate solutions. This app breaks down complex problems into manageable steps, helping users understand the 'how' and 'why' of math. It supports a wide range of math topics, from basic arithmetic to advanced calculus.

**Highlights:** Scan math problems, Step-by-step explanations, Word problem solver, Interactive graphs, Multiple solution methods, Scientific calculator

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Photomath Plus | $5.99 | per month |
| Photomath Plus | $7.99 | per month |
| Photomath Plus | $9.99 | per month |
| Photomath Plus | $9.99 | per month |
| Photomath Plus | $9.99 | per month |
| Photomath Plus | $29.99 | per year |
| Photomath Plus | $39.99 | per year |
| Photomath Plus | $49.99 | per 6 months |
| Photomath Plus | $69.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helpful for homework and understanding concepts
- 👍 Provides step-by-step solutions and explanations
- 🤖 Accurate and reliable for solving equations
- 💡 Useful for checking work and learning from mistakes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paywall for accessing step-by-step explanations
- 🔒 Concerns about using the app to cheat
- 🐛 Camera focusing issues and inability to solve certain problem types
- 💸 Expensive monthly subscription fee

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect answers or solutions provided for some problems
- Compatibility issues with newer devices or operating systems

**Requested features**

- Support for word problems and more advanced math concepts
- Option to use front-facing camera for scanning
- Cheaper or one-time payment model instead of subscription


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Algebra free?

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

### Is Photomath free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Algebra or Photomath?

Photomath is rated higher. Algebra averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while Photomath averages 4.8 from 733K ratings.

### Do Algebra or Photomath have ads?

Neither Algebra nor Photomath shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Algebra or Photomath?

Algebra ships an update every 4 months, and Photomath monthly. Most recently, Algebra was updated on September 22, 2026 and Photomath on September 24, 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.*