# Mathway vs SymCalc

The clearest difference is ads: SymCalc at none against Mathway's shown. SymCalc also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). Mathway's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (425K vs 168). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mathway sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and SymCalc sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Mathway holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mathway has 425K ratings behind it against 168, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 51% of Mathway's written reviews are positive against 57% of SymCalc's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Mathway ships an update every 4 weeks, SymCalc every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mathway | SymCalc |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (425K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathway-math-problem-solver/id467329677/reviews)** | [4.5 (168 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/symcalc-symbolic-calculator/id1263938541/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **425K** | 168 |
| Positive reviews | 50.6% of reviews | **57.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#131** | — |
| Size | 82 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chegg, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/385758166) | [Voxeloid Kft.](https://appshunter.io/developer/307013528) |

## What reviewers say

### Mathway

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathway-math-problem-solver/id467329677)

**Currently charting:** #131 Top Grossing · Education (US App Store)

Solve math problems instantly by taking a photo or typing your question. Get step-by-step solutions for algebra, graphing, calculus, and more. Understand complex math concepts with unlimited access to answers.

**Highlights:** Math problem solver, Homework scanner, Step-by-step solutions, Algebra solver, Graphing calculator, Calculus solver

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Steps (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| Steps (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| Steps (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| Steps (Monthly) | $19.99 | per month |
| Steps (Annual) | $39.99 | per year |
| Steps (Annual) | $39.99 | per year |
| Steps (Annual) | $39.99 | per year |
| Steps (Annual) | $79.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Reliable and accurate
- 👍 Helpful for math homework and studying
- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 👍 Explains step-by-step solutions
- 👍 Supports wide range of math topics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription required for full features
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance, crashes
- 🔍 Difficulty cropping/uploading photos
- 🔍 Limited free features, paywall

**Reported bugs**

- Camera issues, unable to focus on problems
- Subscription issues, unable to access paid features

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to copy/paste equations
- Improved free version with step-by-step solutions


### SymCalc

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/symcalc-symbolic-calculator/id1263938541)

This app serves as a powerful math toolbox for students, teachers, and engineers. It handles everything from basic arithmetic to advanced university-level math with an exceptional algebra engine. Enjoy the benefits of a scientific calculator combined with a modern mobile interface, offering exact arithmetic and comprehensive tools for algebra, calculus, and linear algebra.

**Highlights:** Exact arithmetic, Variable and function storage, Algebraic operations, Calculus functions, Linear algebra tools, Equation solvers, Graphing, Session management

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium features | $3.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mathway free?

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

### Is SymCalc free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Mathway or SymCalc?

Mathway is rated higher. Mathway averages 4.9 out of 5 from 425K ratings, while SymCalc averages 4.5 from 168 ratings.

### Do Mathway or SymCalc have ads?

Mathway shows ads; SymCalc does not.

### Which is updated more often, Mathway or SymCalc?

Mathway ships an update every 4 weeks, and SymCalc every 5 weeks. Most recently, Mathway was updated on September 26, 2026 and SymCalc on September 21, 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.*