# Mathway vs FastMath

The clearest difference is rating: Mathway at 4.9 against FastMath's 4.2. Mathway also leads on review sentiment (51% vs 17%) and chart position (#107 vs unranked). FastMath's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 4 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mathway sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and FastMath sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Mathway holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mathway has 425K ratings behind it against 51K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of Mathway's written reviews are positive against 17% of FastMath's.

Mathway ships an update every 4 weeks, FastMath every 5 days. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mathway | FastMath |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (425K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathway-math-problem-solver/id467329677/reviews)** | [4.2 (51K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fastmath-photo-math-solver/id1438642238/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **425K** | 51K |
| Positive reviews | **50.6% of reviews** | 16.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#107** | — |
| Size | 82 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chegg, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/385758166) | [Dakyuz Yazilim Ticaret Limited Sirketi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1030310836) |

## What reviewers say

### Mathway

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

**Currently charting:** #107 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


### FastMath

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fastmath-photo-math-solver/id1438642238)

Instantly solve math problems by taking a photo, even handwritten ones. Get step-by-step solutions with explanations and graphical representations to improve your understanding and check your homework.

**Highlights:** Photo math problem solver, Handwritten problem support, Step-by-step solutions, Graphical representations, Homework checker, Cloud archive for problems

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Pack with Free Trial | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Subscription Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Subscription 3 Months | $19.99 | per 3 months |
| Six Months Subscription | $29.99 | per 6 months |
| Lifetime Pack | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helps understand math problems
- 👍 Useful for checking work
- 💡 Solves integrals and multiple equations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Requires subscription to see solutions
- 🐛 Camera function often doesn't work
- 🐛 Can't solve basic problems
- 🔒 Immediate paywall upon opening app

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect solutions for simple problems
- App crashes frequently
- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Requested features**

- Provide more explanation for basic problems
- Allow free access to solutions
- Improve camera functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mathway free?

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

### Is FastMath free?

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

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

Mathway is rated higher. Mathway averages 4.9 out of 5 from 425K ratings, while FastMath averages 4.2 from 51K ratings.

### Do Mathway or FastMath have ads?

Both Mathway and FastMath show ads.

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

Mathway ships an update every 4 weeks, and FastMath every 5 days. Most recently, Mathway was updated on September 24, 2026 and FastMath 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.*