# Mathway vs Desmos Test Mode

The clearest difference is rating: Mathway at 4.9 against Desmos Test Mode's 1.6. Mathway also leads on review sentiment (51% vs 17%) and ratings volume (425K vs 368). Desmos Test Mode's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 12) and ads (none vs shown). On price, 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 Test Mode asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mathway holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 1.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mathway has 425K ratings behind it against 368, 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 17% of Desmos Test Mode's.

Mathway ships an update every 4 weeks, Desmos Test Mode every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mathway | Desmos Test Mode |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (425K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathway-math-problem-solver/id467329677/reviews)** | [1.6 (368 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desmos-test-mode/id977381005/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **425K** | 368 |
| Positive reviews | **50.6% of reviews** | 16.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#106** | — |
| Size | 82 MB | 6 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:** #106 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 Test Mode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desmos-test-mode/id977381005)

This app provides restricted versions of graphing and scientific calculators designed to meet exam requirements. It allows users to practice for specific state or national assessments by selecting the appropriate test mode. Full, unrestricted calculator features are available in separate applications.

**Highlights:** Exam-compliant calculator modes, Graphing capabilities, Scientific calculator functions, Data tables and statistics, Interactive sliders, Points of interest on graphs

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Useful app for tests
- 🔒 Secure calculator mode
- 👍 Free alternative to expensive calculators

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable
- 🔒 Overly restrictive app lock
- 👎 Poor user interface and usability

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes during use
- Unexpected phone behavior and lockouts
- Compatibility issues across different devices and OS versions

**Requested features**

- Add customization options for the calculator interface
- Improve compatibility with older devices
- Provide more flexible calculator modes during tests


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mathway free?

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

### Is Desmos Test Mode free?

Desmos Test Mode is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Mathway or Desmos Test Mode?

Mathway is rated higher. Mathway averages 4.9 out of 5 from 425K ratings, while Desmos Test Mode averages 1.6 from 368 ratings.

### Do Mathway or Desmos Test Mode have ads?

Mathway shows ads; Desmos Test Mode does not.

### Which is updated more often, Mathway or Desmos Test Mode?

Mathway ships an update every 4 weeks, and Desmos Test Mode every 4 months. Most recently, Mathway was updated on September 24, 2026 and Desmos Test Mode on September 10, 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.*