# Mathway vs Pic Answer

The clearest difference is ads: Pic Answer at none against Mathway's shown. Pic Answer also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). Mathway's advantage is ratings volume (425K vs 3.4K) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). 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 Pic Answer sells 10 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 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mathway has 425K ratings behind it against 3.4K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of Mathway's written reviews are positive against 56% of Pic Answer'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, Pic Answer fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 9, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mathway | Pic Answer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (425K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathway-math-problem-solver/id467329677/reviews)** | [4.6 (3.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pic-answer-ai-solver/id1669210256/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **425K** | 3.4K |
| Positive reviews | 50.5% of reviews | **56.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#117** | — |
| Size | 82 MB | 131 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chegg, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/385758166) | [Tech Consolidated Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1456368641) |

## What reviewers say

### Mathway

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

**Currently charting:** #117 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


### Pic Answer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pic-answer-ai-solver/id1669210256)

This application uses AI to solve homework problems by analyzing photos. It offers instant solutions and interactive chat assistance across multiple academic subjects, aiming to deepen understanding of concepts.

**Highlights:** AI-powered photo scanner for problem solving, Interactive AI chat for subject assistance, Instant accurate solutions, Comprehensive learning and concept explanation, User-friendly interface for all ages

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PA Weekly Trial | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Pic Answer Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| PA Weekly, 3 days trial | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| PA Weekly, No Trial | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| PA Monthly With Trial | $9.99 | per month |
| PA Monthly Trial | $14.99 | per month |
| PA Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| PA 39.99 Yearly Trial | $39.99 | per year |
| PA Yearly With Trial | $69.99 | per year |
| Pic Answer Lifetime Purchase | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and accurate answers
- 👍 Helpful for homework and studying
- 💡 Explains step-by-step solutions
- 🎓 Improves grades and academic performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional inaccurate answers
- 💰 Subscription/payment issues
- 🔄 Inconsistent performance after updates
- 🤔 Limited functionality in free version

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes when trying to solve questions
- Subscription continues to be charged even after cancellation
- Incorrect answers provided for simple math problems

**Requested features**

- Expand to more subject areas beyond math
- Improve camera quality for better image capture
- Add more detailed explanations for answers
- Provide a true free trial without limitations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mathway free?

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

### Is Pic Answer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Mathway or Pic Answer?

Mathway is rated higher. Mathway averages 4.9 out of 5 from 425K ratings, while Pic Answer averages 4.6 from 3.4K ratings.

### Do Mathway or Pic Answer have ads?

Mathway shows ads; Pic Answer does not.

### Which is updated more often, Mathway or Pic Answer?

Mathway ships an update every 4 weeks, and Pic Answer fortnightly. Most recently, Mathway was updated on October 9, 2026 and Pic Answer on October 9, 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.*