# Pre vs Photomath

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Photomath at 733K against Pre's 357. Photomath also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 6 months) and chart position (#35 vs unranked). Pre's advantage is review sentiment (67% vs 51%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pre sells 1 in-app purchase, 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 Pre against 4.8 for Photomath. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photomath has 733K ratings behind it against 357, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 67% of Pre's written reviews are positive against 51% of Photomath's.

Pre ships an update every 6 months, Photomath monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pre | Photomath |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (357 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pre-algebra/id459734695/reviews) | **[4.8 (733K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photomath/id919087726/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 357 | **733K** |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 51.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#35** |
| 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

### Pre

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pre-algebra/id459734695)

Access a comprehensive Pre-Algebra curriculum with video lessons, guided practice, and assessments. Track your learning progress and reinforce knowledge with chapter reviews and a final exam. A free trial is available.

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

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Get full access to Pre-Algebra | $9.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to learn from
- 👍 Short videos make learning easy
- 👍 Simple and good layout
- 👍 Outstanding app
- 👍 Helps significantly with pre-algebra

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App freezes and needs reinstallation
- 🐛 Opening app requires charger plugged in
- 🐛 Multiple choice answers don't show up
- 🐛 Doesn't explain commutative and associative properties well
- 🐛 Describing alternative PEMDAS methods as wrong is not ideal

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes
- Opening app without charger plugged in displays blank page
- Multiple choice answers don't show up on screen
- Daughter's progress and grades disappeared
- App is blank and not working

**Requested features**

- Algebra 2 content
- Better explanation of commutative and associative properties
- Side-by-side comparison of properties
- Allow writing on the screen
- More fraction problems


### Photomath

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

**Currently charting:** #35 Top Grossing · Education, #53 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 Pre free?

Pre 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, Pre or Photomath?

Photomath is rated higher. Pre averages 4.7 out of 5 from 357 ratings, while Photomath averages 4.8 from 733K ratings.

### Do Pre or Photomath have ads?

Neither Pre nor Photomath shows ads.

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

Pre ships an update every 6 months, and Photomath monthly. Most recently, Pre was updated on September 8, 2026 and Photomath 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.*