Comparison

SymbolSupport Lite vs DeTeXt

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Read full description

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

SymbolSupport Lite3 screens
DeTeXt4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SymbolSupport Lite sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. DeTeXt asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
SymbolSupport Lite versus DeTeXt: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSymbolSupport LiteDeTeXt
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.3 (4 ratings)4.9 (40 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews92.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings440 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size304 MB22 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAttainment Company, Inc.Venkata Subrahmanyan Govindarajan

Customer experience

SymbolSupport Lite

All ratings4 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

DeTeXt

All ratings40 ratings
Positive97.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative2.5%
Written reviews26 reviews
Positive92.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.7%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SymbolSupport Lite

One-time1
  • Upgrade to Full Version$59.99
None

DeTeXt

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SymbolSupport Lite free?
SymbolSupport Lite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DeTeXt free?
DeTeXt is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SymbolSupport Lite or DeTeXt?
DeTeXt is rated higher. SymbolSupport Lite averages 3.3 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while DeTeXt averages 4.9 from 40 ratings.
Do SymbolSupport Lite or DeTeXt have ads?
Neither SymbolSupport Lite nor DeTeXt shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SymbolSupport Lite or DeTeXt?
SymbolSupport Lite ships an update every 6 weeks, and DeTeXt every 2 months. Most recently, SymbolSupport Lite was updated on June 8, 2026 and DeTeXt on July 3, 2026.

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