# Mathway vs Photo Answer

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Mathway at 425K against Photo Answer's 74. Mathway also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.6) and chart position (#102 vs unranked). 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 Answer sells 4 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 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mathway has 425K ratings behind it against 74, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 51% and 50% positive.

Mathway ships an update every 4 weeks, Photo Answer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mathway | Photo Answer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (425K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathway-math-problem-solver/id467329677/reviews)** | [4.6 (74 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photo-answer-ai-math-helper/id6553983918/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **425K** | 74 |
| Positive reviews | **50.6% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#102** | — |
| Size | 82 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chegg, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/385758166) | [OJALILL OU](https://appshunter.io/developer/1838680737) |

## What reviewers say

### Mathway

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

**Currently charting:** #102 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 Answer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photo-answer-ai-math-helper/id6553983918)

Instantly solve homework problems by taking a photo. Get AI-powered explanations and step-by-step guidance for various academic subjects. Designed for all learners, it simplifies complex topics and promotes deeper understanding.

**Highlights:** Instant photo solutions for homework, AI-powered chat assistance, Step-by-step explanations, Intuitive and accessible design, Versatile learning tool

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly subscription | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly subscription | $14.99 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $24.99 | per year |
| Yearly subscription | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mathway free?

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

### Is Photo Answer free?

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

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

Mathway is rated higher. Mathway averages 4.9 out of 5 from 425K ratings, while Photo Answer averages 4.6 from 74 ratings.

### Do Mathway or Photo Answer have ads?

Both Mathway and Photo Answer show ads.

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

Mathway ships an update every 4 weeks, and Photo Answer every 2 months. Most recently, Mathway was updated on September 29, 2026 and Photo Answer on September 15, 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.*