# Mathway vs Hands

The clearest difference is price: Mathway at Free against Hands's $7.99. Mathway also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (425K vs 77). Hands's advantage is review sentiment (87% vs 51%) and in-app purchases (none vs 12). On device support there is nothing between them.

Mathway is free to download; Hands costs $7.99 up front. Mathway sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Hands asks for nothing beyond the download.

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 77, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 51% of Mathway's written reviews are positive against 87% of Hands'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, Hands every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mathway | Hands |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $7.99 |
| Rating | **[4.9 (425K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathway-math-problem-solver/id467329677/reviews)** | [4.6 (77 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hands-on-equations-level-2/id520038983/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **425K** | 77 |
| Positive reviews | 50.6% of reviews | **86.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#122** | — |
| Size | 82 MB | 231 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chegg, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/385758166) | [Henry Borenson](https://appshunter.io/developer/505948225) |

## 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


### Hands

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hands-on-equations-level-2/id520038983)

This app introduces algebra concepts for students who have completed Level 1. It teaches how to solve equations involving a white pawn representing an unknown value and its opposite. Engaging video lessons and interactive exercises enhance understanding and build confidence in solving algebraic problems.

**Highlights:** Solve equations with unknown values, Learn about opposite values, Interactive video introductions, Practice with examples and exercises, Visual representation of algebraic concepts, Build confidence in algebra

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to understand algebra
- 💡 Visual and verbal explanations
- 👍 Great for visual learners
- 👍 Makes algebra click
- 👍 Fun and engaging for kids

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy completion streaks
- 🐛 Glitchy tutorials
- 🐛 Lesson 12 equations too hard
- 🐛 Lesson 9 won't accept correct answer
- 🐛 App crashes on iOS 9

**Reported bugs**

- Bug in number wheel slows completion streaks
- Tutorials have too much jargon
- Lesson 12 equations too hard
- Lesson 8 tutorials have too much jargon
- Lesson 9 glitch, won't accept correct answer

**Requested features**

- Make lessons harder
- Add more challenges
- Add video explanation after each problem
- More advanced concepts


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mathway free?

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

### Is Hands free?

Hands costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.

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

Mathway is rated higher. Mathway averages 4.9 out of 5 from 425K ratings, while Hands averages 4.6 from 77 ratings.

### Do Mathway or Hands have ads?

Mathway shows ads; Hands does not.

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

Mathway ships an update every 4 weeks, and Hands every 5 months. Most recently, Mathway was updated on September 25, 2026 and Hands on September 22, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*