SymbolSupport Lite vs DeTeXt
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SymbolSupport Lite
This app allows users to read, listen to, and print documents created with a companion app. It automatically adds symbols to text as it's typed or pasted, aiding comprehension. Users can customize symbols and share documents in various formats.
- Read and print symbolized documents
- Automatic symbol addition to text
- Text-to-speech with word highlighting
- Symbol customization and image import
- Document sharing via AirDrop, email, cloud
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Note: SymbolSupport Lite is a free app. It can receive, read aloud, and print documents that have been created with the SymbolSupport app. SymbolSupport Lite cannot create or edit documents. It can be upgraded to the full version through the in-app Store. SymbolSupport is an iPad utility app that effortlessly adds symbols to text. As textis typed, symbols are automatically added above it. Text can also be copied from pre-existing written materials and pasted into SymbolSupport where symbols are instantly added. Documents are read with a high-quality text-to-speech voice and include word-by-word highlighting. This support helps students better understand class assignments.Symbols from Slater Literacy Support Pictures™ and Attainment’s Image Library are included. Plus, there is easy access to your camera roll and a built-in internet image search.Easy-to-use editing tools include changing auto-assigned symbols to other symbols or imported images and removing symbols from text to reduce the number of symbols on a page. SymbolSupport is designed to create symbolized text quickly and easily. Sharing these documents is equally important. Share documents via AirDrop, email, or send to any cloud storage setup on the iPad. Documents can be sent as a PDF for studentportfolios or shared with parents. Documents can also be sent as a SymbolSupport file which can be opened by SymbolSupport or SymbolSupport Lite apps.
DeTeXt
Easily find LaTeX commands for symbols by drawing them or searching a comprehensive database. Get the exact command you need for your documents without memorization.
- Draw symbols to find LaTeX commands
- Neural image classification for symbol recognition
- Searchable database of 1098 symbols
- Supports Apple Pencil on iPad
- Copy commands, symbols, or Unicode codepoints
- Offline symbol database
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Finding the symbol you want to use in LaTeX can be hard since you can't memorize all the commands and packages for every symbol. DeTeXt tries to solve this problem by giving you two ways to find the command you want: - Draw the symbol you want and DeTeXt's neural image classification engine will identify what it thinks are the 20 most likely LaTeX commands that will generate a symbol closest to the one you drew. DeTeXt supports Apple Pencil drawings on the iPad. - Search the entire symbol set of 1098 symbols from packages like tipa, amsmath, amssymb, textcomp and more, in addition to the default mathematical symbols. - Copy the symbol, or the character itself, or its Unicode codepoint to the system clipboard, to paste anywhere else. DeTeXt's neural engine processes your drawn symbol and finds the best matches in its symbol database, all on your device without requiring you to be online. All the symbols are stored within the app as well.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: DeTeXt at 4.9 against SymbolSupport Lite's 3.3. DeTeXt also leads on review sentiment (92% vs 50%) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). SymbolSupport Lite's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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. SymbolSupport Lite sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. DeTeXt asks for nothing beyond the download.
DeTeXt holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DeTeXt has 40 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of SymbolSupport Lite's written reviews are positive against 92% of DeTeXt's.
SymbolSupport Lite ships an update every 6 weeks, DeTeXt every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on June 8, 2026 and July 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SymbolSupport Lite | DeTeXt |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (4 ratings) | 4.9 (40 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 92.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 40 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 304 MB | 22 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Attainment Company, Inc. | Venkata Subrahmanyan Govindarajan |
Customer experience
SymbolSupport Lite
DeTeXt
In-app purchases
SymbolSupport Lite
- Upgrade to Full Version$59.99
DeTeXt
No in-app purchases







