# Mathway vs Physics AI

The clearest difference is monetization model: Mathway at free with in-app purchases against Physics AI's subscription. Mathway also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (51% vs 25%). On price, update cadence, ads 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 Physics AI sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 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 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mathway has 425K ratings behind it against 288, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of Mathway's written reviews are positive against 25% of Physics AI's.

Mathway ships an update every 4 weeks, Physics AI fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and August 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mathway | Physics AI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (425K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathway-math-problem-solver/id467329677/reviews)** | [4.5 (288 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/physics-ai-problem-solver/id6474350204/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **425K** | 288 |
| Positive reviews | **50.6% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#99** | — |
| Size | 82 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chegg, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/385758166) | [Renaissance Apps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1220536592) |

## What reviewers say

### Mathway

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

**Currently charting:** #99 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


### Physics AI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/physics-ai-problem-solver/id6474350204)

This app acts as a physics problem solver, offering step-by-step solutions for various physics questions. Users can upload or photograph problems, including diagrams and handwritten notes, to receive detailed mathematical explanations. It covers a wide range of physics topics for students at all levels.

**Highlights:** Photo upload for physics problems, Step-by-step mathematical solutions, Covers high school to doctoral research, Copy and share solutions, Handles multiple choice, word-based, and diagram problems

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Physics AI Weekly Sub | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Physics AI - Yearly Sub | $34.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mathway free?

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

### Is Physics AI free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Mathway or Physics AI?

Mathway is rated higher. Mathway averages 4.9 out of 5 from 425K ratings, while Physics AI averages 4.5 from 288 ratings.

### Do Mathway or Physics AI have ads?

Both Mathway and Physics AI show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mathway or Physics AI?

Mathway ships an update every 4 weeks, and Physics AI fortnightly. Most recently, Mathway was updated on September 24, 2026 and Physics AI on August 22, 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.*