# College Algebra vs Symbolab Practice

The clearest difference is rating: College Algebra at 4.8 against Symbolab Practice's 4.0. College Algebra also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 42%) and ratings volume (600 vs 42). Symbolab Practice's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 7 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. College Algebra sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month and Symbolab Practice sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

College Algebra holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: College Algebra has 600 ratings behind it against 42, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of College Algebra's written reviews are positive against 42% of Symbolab Practice's.

College Algebra ships an update every 7 months, Symbolab Practice every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | College Algebra | Symbolab Practice |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (600 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/college-algebra/id459735202/reviews)** | [4.0 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/symbolab-practice/id1469186281/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **600** | 42 |
| Positive reviews | **81.7% of reviews** | 42.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 15 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [YourTeacher.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/340925628) | [Symbolab](https://appshunter.io/developer/876942536) |

## What reviewers say

### College Algebra

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/college-algebra/id459735202)

Master college algebra with a comprehensive curriculum and personalized math instruction. Access video lessons, practice problems, tests, and progress tracking to build a strong understanding of the subject.

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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| College Algebra | $9.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👨‍🏫 Clear, well-structured video explanations
- 📚 Comprehensive algebra curriculum coverage
- ✅ Abundant practice problems with solutions
- 🎯 Step-by-step problem walkthroughs
- 💪 Effective for learners of all ages and backgrounds

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paywall after limited free lessons ($9.99/month)
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and app freezing
- 🐛 App stops working intermittently
- ⚠️ Misleading 'free' model with required subscription
- 🔔 Intrusive payment prompts during use

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and stops working
- Constant loading issues requiring restart
- Payment popup appears even after purchase
- Restore purchase function resets user progress
- Keyboard blocks rating popup during answer entry

**Requested features**

- PreCalculus and Calculus course content
- Trigonometry course
- Different solution notation formats (set notation, interval notation)
- More complex college algebra problem types
- Embedded links for additional help


### Symbolab Practice

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/symbolab-practice/id1469186281)

Master math concepts through unlimited practice problems with personalized hints and instant feedback. Track your progress, prepare for exams with quizzes, and drill down into specific math topics from pre-algebra to calculus.

**Highlights:** Tens of thousands of math problems, Personalized hints, Instant feedback, Exam preparation quizzes, Topic-specific drills, Progress tracking and insights

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Universal Weekly Subscription | $2.49 | per 7 days |
| Universal Monthly Subscription | $6.99 | per month |
| Universal Yearly Subscription | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is College Algebra free?

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

### Is Symbolab Practice free?

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

### Which has better reviews, College Algebra or Symbolab Practice?

College Algebra is rated higher. College Algebra averages 4.8 out of 5 from 600 ratings, while Symbolab Practice averages 4.0 from 42 ratings.

### Do College Algebra or Symbolab Practice have ads?

Neither College Algebra nor Symbolab Practice shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, College Algebra or Symbolab Practice?

College Algebra ships an update every 7 months, and Symbolab Practice every 3 months. Most recently, College Algebra was updated on October 24, 2026 and Symbolab Practice on October 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.*