Comparison

A Little Calculus vs Photomath

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

Head to head
About

A Little Calculus

Explore over 70 interactive calculus topics with this educational app. It aids in teaching and learning fundamental calculus concepts through graphical and numerical verification of problems. Ideal as a supplement to textbooks for students and teachers.

Highlights
  • Interactive calculus topics
  • Graphical and numerical verification
  • Precalculus review
  • Differential and integral calculus
  • Sequences and series
  • Customizable topic settings
  • Interactive graphs
Features
Read full description

A LITTLE CALCULUS is a collection of more than 70 interactive topics from a first year calculus course. To be used by both teachers and students, this app is designed to aid in the teaching and learning of calculus and should serve as a nice supplement to any introductory calculus textbook. Can be used to numerically and/or graphically verify computations for a wide variety of problems. Ultimately, the purpose of this app is to interact with and to gain a conceptual understanding of the fundamental topics of calculus. TOPICS: • Graph functions of one variable, as well as parametric and polar curves. • Investigate precalculus topics such as the equation of a line, graphing polynomials, Pythagorean Theorem, trigonometric functions, etc. • Understand the fundamental notion of a limit from a formal or informal point of view. • Study rates of change using the ideas from differential calculus (e.g., secant and tangent lines, derivatives, Mean Value Theorem, Newton's method, etc.) • Calculate the area of a region or surface, length of a curve, and volume of a solid using the techniques of integral calculus. • Interact with parametric and polar curves (e.g., slopes, areas, arc lengths, etc.) • Learn about sequences and series (geometric, harmonic, alternating, etc.) and approximate functions using Taylor polynomials. • Future releases to include more features, topics, and background information on each topic. FEATURES: • Customize each topic by changing any function, variable, and/or interval and by selecting from a variety of options. • Save current settings for each topic under the Options menu for easy retrieval. • Interact with every graph (drag to change the value of a variable or to move/rotate the graph, pinch to zoom, etc.) • Universal App (requires iOS 10 or later running on iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch.) • Fully functional, built-in calculator. • No internet required, except for initial download and updates. • No in-app purchases or advertising.

About

Photomath

Scan any math problem to receive instant, step-by-step explanations and accurate solutions. This app breaks down complex problems into manageable steps, helping users understand the 'how' and 'why' of math. It supports a wide range of math topics, from basic arithmetic to advanced calculus.

Highlights
  • Scan math problems
  • Step-by-step explanations
  • Word problem solver
  • Interactive graphs
  • Multiple solution methods
  • Scientific calculator
Read full description

Photomath is known worldwide for helping millions of learners to learn, practice, and understand math – one step at a time. Scan any math problem with the Photomath app to get step-by-step explanations with accurate solutions and a variety of teacher-approved methods. Math is about the process, so Photomath breaks your problem into bite-sized steps to help you understand the “what” and “why” along with the “how.” Whether you’re learning basic arithmetic or advanced geometry, we’ll tackle it together, step by step. Why Photomath? Billions of math problems: From elementary arithmetic to advanced calculus and everything in between, Photomath can solve billions of math problems—including word problems! Whether handwritten, in a textbook, or on a screen, Photomath is here to help you untangle your trickiest problem. Step-by-step explanations: Math isn’t just about an answer. It’s about every step along the way. That’s why Photomath breaks down each step, so you can *really* learn. Less guesswork = less stress, especially with our new Animated Steps, which show you the exact progression of a particular step. Get basic step-by-step explanations at no charge when you download Photomath. Expert-developed methods: Photomath’s educational content is centered around the learner’s experience, driven by the expertise of our own team of mathematicians and former math teachers. Self-paced learning: Photomath’s instant support is like having a 24/7 virtual tutor. Checking your homework before dinner? Stuck on a problem at 2am? We can help. Follow our detailed steps, taking whatever time you need to review definitions, rationale, and more – all within the explanation. Want to dive deeper and explore more ways to learn? Photomath Plus can get you there with custom Animated Tutorials, detailed Textbook Solutions, and more! KEY FEATURES • Step-by-step explanations included in our basic version (at no charge) • Word problem instructions • Interactive graphs • Video learning • Multiple solution methods • Advanced scientific calculator Photomath is for learners of all levels, including those studying: Numbers & Quantity Algebra Functions Trigonometry & Angles Sequences Geometry Calculus “The step-by-step guide is beneficial to students that do not have access to a tutor and struggle with solving math problems.” — Forbes “A viral video about a new app looks like a dream come true for anyone who struggles with math.” — Time ___________________________________________ • Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. • A subscription automatically renews unless it’s canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period. • Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. • Manage or cancel your subscription in your account settings on the App Store after purchase. • Offers and pricing are subject to change without notice. Suggestions or questions? Email us at support@photomath.com Website: www.photomath.com TikTok: @photomath Instagram: @photomath Facebook: @Photomathapp Twitter: @Photomath Terms of Use: https://photomath.app/en/termsofuse Privacy Policy: https://photomath.app/en/privacypolicy

Screenshots

A Little Calculus4 screens
Photomath4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Photomath at Free against A Little Calculus's $0.99. Photomath also leads on ratings volume (733K vs 15) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). A Little Calculus's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and review sentiment (75% vs 51%). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Photomath is free to download; A Little Calculus costs $0.99 up front. Photomath sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. A Little Calculus asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Photomath holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photomath has 733K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of A Little Calculus's written reviews are positive against 51% of Photomath's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

A Little Calculus ships an update every 4 months, Photomath monthly. The most recent releases landed on August 15, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
A Little Calculus versus Photomath: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterA Little CalculusPhotomath
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (15 ratings)4.8 (733K ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews — better51.0% of reviews
Number of ratings15733K — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank—#37 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB30 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDavid LittleGoogle

Customer experience

A Little Calculus

All ratings15 ratings
Positive86.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral15.0%
Negative10.0%

Photomath

All ratings732,942 ratings
Positive95.3%
Neutral2.0%
Negative2.7%
Written reviews1,194 reviews
Positive51.0%
Neutral6.9%
Negative42.1%

Bugs and requests

A Little Calculus

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Photomath

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Incorrect answers or solutions provided for some problems
  • Compatibility issues with newer devices or operating systems

Requested features

3 requests
  • Support for word problems and more advanced math concepts
  • Option to use front-facing camera for scanning
  • Cheaper or one-time payment model instead of subscription

In-app purchases

None

A Little Calculus

No in-app purchases

9 purchases

Photomath

Subscriptions9
  • Photomath Plus7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Photomath Plus7 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Photomath Plus7 Days trial5 variants$9.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • Photomath Plus2 variants$9.991 Month
  • Photomath Plus14 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Photomath Plus7 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Photomath Plus7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Photomath Plus7 Days trial$49.996 Months
  • Photomath Plus7 Days trial$69.991 Year

Questions

Is A Little Calculus free?
A Little Calculus costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Photomath free?
Photomath is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, A Little Calculus or Photomath?
Photomath is rated higher. A Little Calculus averages 4.6 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while Photomath averages 4.8 from 733K ratings.
Do A Little Calculus or Photomath have ads?
Neither A Little Calculus nor Photomath shows ads.
Which is updated more often, A Little Calculus or Photomath?
A Little Calculus ships an update every 4 months, and Photomath monthly. Most recently, A Little Calculus was updated on August 15, 2026 and Photomath on September 27, 2026.

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