# College Algebra vs Photomath

College Algebra and Photomath both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 82% of College Algebra's written reviews are positive against 51% of Photomath's. Photomath's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 7 months) and ratings volume (733K vs 500). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. College Algebra 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 — 4.8 for College Algebra against 4.8 for Photomath. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photomath has 733K ratings behind it against 500, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of College Algebra's written reviews are positive against 51% of Photomath's.

College Algebra ships an update every 7 months, Photomath monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | College Algebra | Photomath |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (500 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/college-algebra/id459735202/reviews) | [4.8 (733K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photomath/id919087726/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 500 | **733K** |
| Positive reviews | **81.7% of reviews** | 51.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#31** |
| 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

### 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


### Photomath

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

**Currently charting:** #31 Top Grossing · Education, #56 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 College Algebra free?

College 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, College Algebra or Photomath?

College Algebra and Photomath are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 500 and 733K ratings respectively.

### Do College Algebra or Photomath have ads?

Neither College Algebra nor Photomath shows ads.

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

College Algebra ships an update every 7 months, and Photomath monthly. Most recently, College Algebra was updated on September 20, 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.*