# Mathway vs Desmos Graphing Calculator

The clearest difference is rating: Mathway at 4.9 against Desmos Graphing Calculator's 4.3. Mathway also leads on ratings volume (425K vs 1.3K) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 2 months). Desmos Graphing Calculator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 12) and ads (none vs shown). On price, chart position, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mathway sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Desmos Graphing Calculator asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mathway holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mathway has 425K ratings behind it against 1.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 51% of Mathway's written reviews are positive against 80% of Desmos Graphing Calculator'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, Desmos Graphing Calculator every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mathway | Desmos Graphing Calculator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (425K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathway-math-problem-solver/id467329677/reviews)** | [4.3 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desmos-graphing-calculator/id653517540/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **425K** | 1.3K |
| Positive reviews | 50.6% of reviews | **79.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#99** | #112 |
| Size | 82 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chegg, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/385758166) | [Desmos](https://appshunter.io/developer/653517543) |

## 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


### Desmos Graphing Calculator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desmos-graphing-calculator/id653517540)

**Currently charting:** #112 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Explore mathematical concepts by graphing any equation, from simple lines to complex series. This powerful tool allows for interactive exploration with sliders, data tables, and animations. It also includes a scientific calculator and supports inequalities and accessibility features.

**Highlights:** Graph any equation (polar, cartesian, parametric), Interactive sliders for function transformations, Input and plot data with tables, Animate graphs, Scientific calculator functionality, Plot inequalities, Accessibility features

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Insane tool for FREE!
- 🚀 Best mobile graphing app
- 👍 Awesome for algebra and calculus
- 👍 Genuinely an awesome resource
- 👍 Makes math easier

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🐛 Glitches with certain features
- 🐛 Loses saved data
- 🐛 Keyboard issues
- 🐛 Zooming and panning problems

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when using certain functions
- Graphs not displaying properly
- Login issues
- Compatibility problems with older devices

**Requested features**

- Dark mode
- Copy and paste functionality
- Ability to save and load graphs
- Improved handling of complex numbers and polar equations
- More customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mathway free?

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

### Is Desmos Graphing Calculator free?

Desmos Graphing Calculator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Mathway or Desmos Graphing Calculator?

Mathway is rated higher. Mathway averages 4.9 out of 5 from 425K ratings, while Desmos Graphing Calculator averages 4.3 from 1.3K ratings.

### Do Mathway or Desmos Graphing Calculator have ads?

Mathway shows ads; Desmos Graphing Calculator does not.

### Which is updated more often, Mathway or Desmos Graphing Calculator?

Mathway ships an update every 4 weeks, and Desmos Graphing Calculator every 2 months. Most recently, Mathway was updated on September 24, 2026 and Desmos Graphing Calculator on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Mathway or Desmos Graphing Calculator?

Mathway currently peaks at #99 in the App Store charts, and Desmos Graphing Calculator at #112. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*