# Mathway vs PocketCAS lite for Mathematics

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PocketCAS lite for Mathematics at 91% against Mathway's 51%. PocketCAS lite for Mathematics also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 12) and ads (none vs shown). Mathway's advantage is ratings volume (425K vs 204) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 3 months). On price 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. PocketCAS lite for Mathematics asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mathway holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mathway has 425K ratings behind it against 204, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 51% of Mathway's written reviews are positive against 91% of PocketCAS lite for Mathematics'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, PocketCAS lite for Mathematics every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mathway | PocketCAS lite for Mathematics |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (425K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathway-math-problem-solver/id467329677/reviews)** | [4.7 (204 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketcas-lite-for-mathematics/id517249689/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **425K** | 204 |
| Positive reviews | 50.6% of reviews | **90.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#107** | — |
| Size | 82 MB | 25 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) | [Timing Software GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/333261118) |

## 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


### PocketCAS lite for Mathematics

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketcas-lite-for-mathematics/id517249689)

This advanced math application assists with a wide range of mathematical problems, from basic arithmetic to calculus, algebra, and statistics. It functions as a graphing calculator replacement, aids in homework, and supports complex calculations for academic and professional use.

**Highlights:** 2D and 3D plotting, Calculus functions (limits, derivatives), Linear algebra operations, Equation solving, Scripting language, Physical units and constants, iCloud sync

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 📊 Excellent graphing capabilities with 3D visualization
- 💰 Free version available with substantial features
- 🧮 Powerful mathematical computation engine
- 📱 Convenient mobile alternative to expensive calculators

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Recent updates cause crashes on older documents
- 💸 Expensive compared to free alternatives
- 🔒 Limited free version functionality
- 🎮 Clunky interface in some areas
- ❌ Cannot plot certain advanced functions

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when loading previously saved documents
- Crashes with no error feedback or debugging information
- Cannot plot certain mathematical functions
- Zoom scaling issues with 3D graphs (scales Z-axis incorrectly)
- Compatibility broken with iOS 6 after iOS 7 update

**Requested features**

- Dark theme/dark mode for UI
- Multiple polynomials on single graph
- Inverse button functionality
- Better zoom functionality for 3D graphs
- Improved documentation and tutorials


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mathway free?

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

### Is PocketCAS lite for Mathematics free?

PocketCAS lite for Mathematics is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Mathway or PocketCAS lite for Mathematics?

Mathway is rated higher. Mathway averages 4.9 out of 5 from 425K ratings, while PocketCAS lite for Mathematics averages 4.7 from 204 ratings.

### Do Mathway or PocketCAS lite for Mathematics have ads?

Mathway shows ads; PocketCAS lite for Mathematics does not.

### Which is updated more often, Mathway or PocketCAS lite for Mathematics?

Mathway ships an update every 4 weeks, and PocketCAS lite for Mathematics every 3 months. Most recently, Mathway was updated on September 24, 2026 and PocketCAS lite for Mathematics on September 16, 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.*