Mathway vs Symbolab
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Mathway
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.
- Math problem solver
- Homework scanner
- Step-by-step solutions
- Algebra solver
- Graphing calculator
- Calculus solver
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Mathway is the world’s smartest math calculator for algebra, graphing, calculus and more! Mathway gives you unlimited access to math solutions that can help you understand complex concepts. Simply point your camera and snap a photo or type your math homework question for step-by-step answers. If a premium subscription option is selected: • Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period • Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, at the same monthly or annual rate selected at the beginning of the subscription • Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase Terms of Use: https://www.mathway.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.mathway.com/privacy
Symbolab
Solve any math problem by typing it in or taking a photo. Get step-by-step solutions for subjects from pre-algebra to calculus. This AI-powered tool offers personalized learning and insights for over 300 million users.
- Photo math solver
- Step-by-step solutions
- Calculus calculator
- Graphing calculator
- Trigonometry solver
- AI-powered learning
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Math Made Easy with Symbolab! Type in or snap a picture of any math problem, including tricky word problems, and get easy-to-understand step-by-step solutions. From pre-algebra to calculus, trigonometry, and more. Let us help you solve any math problem with confidence & guide you along the way! Symbolab Problem Solver is composed of over five hundred of our most powerful calculators, including: •Calculus Calculator •Graphing Calculator •Fraction Calculator •Equation Calculator •Integral Calculator •Derivative Calculator •Limit Calculator •Inequality Calculator •Trigonometry Calculator •Matrix Calculator •Functions Calculator •Series Calculator •ODE Calculator •Laplace Transform Calculator Join Our Community of Learners: Symbolab is a powerful tool for learning math, with over 300 million users. Join and experience AI-powered, personalized assessments, insights and more. Our fully automated platform, driven by advanced machine learning algorithms, ensures a seamless and straightforward learning experience. Empower Your Learning Journey: Symbolab is much more than an app – it's an entire educational platform dedicated to empowering students just like you. Deepen your knowledge with our streamlined and user-friendly interface. With our streamlined and user-friendly interface, we provide free solutions with basic steps to any math problem you throw at us. Plus, for a subscription, you’ll gain access to more advanced steps and explanations. Symbolab is your go-to companion for problem-solving and learning. Download now and embark on a journey to excel in math! Terms of Use: https://www.symbolab.com/public/terms.pdf Privacy Policy: https://www.symbolab.com/public/privacy.pdf
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Symbolab at none against Mathway's shown. Symbolab also leads on review sentiment (59% vs 51%) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Mathway's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.6) and ratings volume (425K vs 26K). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Mathway sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Symbolab sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 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 26K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 51% of Mathway's written reviews are positive against 59% of Symbolab'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, Symbolab monthly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Mathway | Symbolab |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (425K ratings) — better | 4.6 (26K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 50.6% of reviews | 59.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 425K — better | 26K |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks — better | Monthly |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #107 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 82 MB | 60 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | Chegg, Inc. | Symbolab |
Customer experience
Mathway
Symbolab
User reviews
Mathway
From 425K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Reliable and accurate
- 👍 Helpful for math homework and studying
- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 👍 Explains step-by-step solutions
- 👍 Supports wide range of math topics
Room to improve
- 💰 Subscription required for full features
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance, crashes
- 🔍 Difficulty cropping/uploading photos
- 🔍 Limited free features, paywall
Symbolab
From 26K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Helpful step-by-step solutions
- 🚀 Accurate calculations
- 👍 Saves time on homework and studying
Room to improve
- 💰 Subscription required for full functionality
- 🐛 Camera feature issues
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance after updates
- 💰 Expensive subscription fees
- 🔒 Difficulty canceling subscription
Bugs and requests
Mathway
Reported bugs
2 issues- Camera issues, unable to focus on problems
- Subscription issues, unable to access paid features
Requested features
3 requests- Dark mode option
- Ability to copy/paste equations
- Improved free version with step-by-step solutions
Symbolab
Reported bugs
4 issues- Login issues
- Calculation errors
- Frequent crashes
- Connectivity problems
Requested features
5 requests- Add more math topics and problem types
- Improve keyboard and input functionality
- Provide more free features without subscription
- Optimize app for larger screens (iPad)
- Add ability to save and review past calculations
In-app purchases
Mathway
- Steps (Monthly)3 variants$9.991 Month
- Steps (Monthly)3 Days trial$9.991 Month
- Steps (Monthly)7 Days trial2 variants$9.991 Month
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- Steps (Monthly)$19.991 Month
- Steps (Annual)$39.991 Year
- Steps (Annual)3 Days trial$39.991 Year
- Steps (Annual)7 Days trial2 variants$39.991 Year
- Steps (Annual)$79.991 Year
Symbolab
- Universal Weekly Subscription$2.497 Days
- Universal Monthly Subscription$7.991 Month
- Universal Monthly Subscription$9.991 Month
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- Universal ½-Year Subscription$24.996 Months
- Universal ½-Year Subscription$32.996 Months
- Universal Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$34.991 Year
- Universal Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$39.991 Year
- All features with no ads$7.99
