# Mathway vs Algebrator

The clearest difference is rating: Mathway at 4.9 against Algebrator's 2.9. Mathway also leads on ratings volume (425K vs 48) and chart position (#122 vs unranked). Algebrator's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (66% vs 51%). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mathway sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Algebrator sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Mathway holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mathway has 425K ratings behind it against 48, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 51% of Mathway's written reviews are positive against 66% of Algebrator'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, Algebrator every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and June 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mathway | Algebrator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (425K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathway-math-problem-solver/id467329677/reviews)** | [2.9 (48 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/algebrator-step-math-solver/id1478514827/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **425K** | 48 |
| Positive reviews | 50.6% of reviews | **65.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#122** | — |
| Size | 82 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chegg, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/385758166) | [Neven Jurkovic](https://appshunter.io/developer/1478514826) |

## What reviewers say

### Mathway

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

**Currently charting:** #122 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


### Algebrator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/algebrator-step-math-solver/id1478514827)

Solve algebra problems by taking a photo or manually entering them. Get detailed, step-by-step solutions with explanations to understand how each problem is solved. Supports a wide range of math topics and graphing.

**Highlights:** Photo math problem solver, Step-by-step solutions, Detailed explanations, Graphing calculator, Solve equations and inequalities, Simplify expressions and factor polynomials

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Algebrator 1 month | $9.99 | per month |
| Algebrator 6 months | $19.99 | per 6 months |
| Algebrator 1 year | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mathway free?

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

### Is Algebrator free?

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

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

Mathway is rated higher. Mathway averages 4.9 out of 5 from 425K ratings, while Algebrator averages 2.9 from 48 ratings.

### Do Mathway or Algebrator have ads?

Mathway shows ads; Algebrator does not.

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

Mathway ships an update every 4 weeks, and Algebrator every 2 months. Most recently, Mathway was updated on September 26, 2026 and Algebrator on June 10, 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.*