# Mathway vs Photo Math

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Mathway at 425K against Photo Math's 3.1K. Mathway also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.6). Photo Math's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mathway sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Photo Math sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 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 3.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 51% and 51% positive.

Mathway ships an update every 4 weeks, Photo Math every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mathway | Photo Math |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (425K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathway-math-problem-solver/id467329677/reviews)** | [4.6 (3.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photo-math-ai-homework-helper/id6473621954/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **425K** | 3.1K |
| Positive reviews | 50.6% of reviews | **51.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#129** | #176 |
| Size | 82 MB | 124 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chegg, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/385758166) | [AppTitude Technologies OU](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896778670) |

## What reviewers say

### Mathway

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

**Currently charting:** #129 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


### Photo Math

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photo-math-ai-homework-helper/id6473621954)

**Currently charting:** #176 Top Grossing · Education (US App Store)

This app uses AI to help with math homework. Scan problems with your camera or type them in plain English to get step-by-step solutions and explanations. It also offers an essay writing tool for academic assistance.

**Highlights:** Homework scanner, Step-by-step solutions, Type questions in plain English, Essay writer tool, Equation solver, Graph analysis

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| One week access with trial | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| One week access with trial | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| One week access with trial | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| One week subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| One week access | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| One week access | $11.99 | per 7 days |
| One month access with trial | $24.99 | per month |
| Quarter access | $39.99 | per 3 months |
| One year access with trial | $49.99 | per year |
| One year subscription | $59.99 | per year |
| Standard Coins Pack | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for learning math
- 🚀 Breaks down complex problems into simple steps
- 💡 Explains solutions in detail for better understanding

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Requires subscription to access full answers
- 🐛 Blurry/unclear answers when trying to access without subscription
- 🐛 Functionality issues like not being able to log in or scan problems

**Reported bugs**

- Unexpected errors when trying to solve problems
- Subscription issues like being charged unexpectedly

**Requested features**

- Better explanations for solutions
- More affordable pricing options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mathway free?

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

### Is Photo Math free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Mathway or Photo Math?

Mathway is rated higher. Mathway averages 4.9 out of 5 from 425K ratings, while Photo Math averages 4.6 from 3.1K ratings.

### Do Mathway or Photo Math have ads?

Both Mathway and Photo Math show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mathway or Photo Math?

Mathway ships an update every 4 weeks, and Photo Math every 2 weeks. Most recently, Mathway was updated on September 26, 2026 and Photo Math on September 23, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Mathway or Photo Math?

Mathway currently peaks at #129 in the App Store charts, and Photo Math at #176. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

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