# WolframAlpha vs Photo Math

The clearest difference is rating: Photo Math at 4.6 against WolframAlpha's 2.8. Photo Math also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (3.1K vs 133). WolframAlpha's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WolframAlpha sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Photo Math sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Photo Math holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photo Math has 3.1K ratings behind it against 133, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of WolframAlpha's written reviews are positive against 43% of Photo Math's.

WolframAlpha ships an update every 2 months, Photo Math every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WolframAlpha | Photo Math |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (133 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wolframalpha/id548861535/reviews) | **[4.6 (3.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photo-math-ai-homework-helper/id6473621954/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 133 | **3.1K** |
| Positive reviews | 35.2% of reviews | **43.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#199** |
| Size | 366 MB | 124 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Wolfram Group LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/715130979) | [AppTitude Technologies OU](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896778670) |

## What reviewers say

### WolframAlpha

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wolframalpha/id548861535)

This app serves as a powerful computational knowledge engine for homework and research. It offers comprehensive support across numerous academic subjects, from math and physics to biology and economics. Unlock advanced features like step-by-step solutions and photo input for a more in-depth learning experience.

**Highlights:** Step-by-step solutions with hints, Photo input for math problems, Input Assistants for various subjects, Thousands of covered domains, Homework and exam preparation

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Pro for Students Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Pro for Educators Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Pro Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Pro for Students Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Pro for Educators Yearly | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful search engine
- 📚 Comprehensive information
- 🔍 Helpful for math and other subjects
- ⭐ Essential app for students and professionals

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 📵 Limited functionality in free version
- 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive to use

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Incompatible with older devices
- Search bar issues and crashes
- Incorrect or incomplete results

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved handwritten math recognition
- Better integration with Siri
- More customization options


### Photo Math

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photo-math-ai-homework-helper/id6473621954)

**Currently charting:** #199 Top Grossing · Education (US App Store)

This app uses AI to help with math homework. Scan problems with your camera or type them in plain English to get step-by-step solutions and explanations. It also offers an essay writing tool for academic assistance.

**Highlights:** Homework scanner, Step-by-step solutions, Type questions in plain English, Essay writer tool, Equation solver, Graph analysis

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| One week access with trial | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| One week access with trial | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| One week access with trial | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| One week subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| One week access | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| One week access | $11.99 | per 7 days |
| One month access with trial | $24.99 | per month |
| Quarter access | $39.99 | per 3 months |
| One year access with trial | $49.99 | per year |
| One year subscription | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for learning math
- 🚀 Breaks down complex problems into simple steps
- 💡 Explains solutions in detail for better understanding

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Requires subscription to access full answers
- 🐛 Blurry/unclear answers when trying to access without subscription
- 🐛 Functionality issues like not being able to log in or scan problems

**Reported bugs**

- Unexpected errors when trying to solve problems
- Subscription issues like being charged unexpectedly

**Requested features**

- Better explanations for solutions
- More affordable pricing options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WolframAlpha free?

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

### Is Photo Math free?

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

### Which has better reviews, WolframAlpha or Photo Math?

Photo Math is rated higher. WolframAlpha averages 2.8 out of 5 from 133 ratings, while Photo Math averages 4.6 from 3.1K ratings.

### Do WolframAlpha or Photo Math have ads?

Photo Math shows ads; WolframAlpha does not.

### Which is updated more often, WolframAlpha or Photo Math?

WolframAlpha ships an update every 2 months, and Photo Math every 2 weeks. Most recently, WolframAlpha was updated on November 6, 2026 and Photo Math on November 8, 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.*