Comparison

Desmos Graphing Calculator vs Symbolab

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

Head to head
About

Desmos Graphing Calculator

Explore mathematical concepts by graphing any equation, from simple lines to complex series. This powerful tool allows for interactive exploration with sliders, data tables, and animations. It also includes a scientific calculator and supports inequalities and accessibility features.

Highlights
  • Graph any equation (polar, cartesian, parametric)
  • Interactive sliders for function transformations
  • Input and plot data with tables
  • Animate graphs
  • Scientific calculator functionality
  • Plot inequalities
  • Accessibility features
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Explore math with the fast and powerful Desmos Graphing Calculator. Plot any equation, from lines and parabolas to derivatives and Fourier series. Add sliders to demonstrate function transformations, create tables to input and plot data, animate your graphs, and more—all for free. Features: Graphing: Plot polar, cartesian, or parametric graphs. There’s no limit to how many expressions you can graph at one time—and you don’t even need to enter expressions in y= form! Sliders: Adjust values interactively to build intuition, or animate any parameter to visualize its effect on the graph. Tables: Input and plot data, or create an input-output table for any function. Statistics: Find best-fit lines, parabolas, and more. Zooming: Scale the axes independently or at the same time with the pinch of two fingers, or edit the window size manually to get the perfect window. Points of Interest: Touch a curve to show maximums, minimums, and points of intersection. Tap the gray points of interest to see their coordinates. Hold and drag along a curve to see the coordinates change under your finger. Scientific Calculator: Just type in any equation you want to solve and Desmos will show you the answer. It can handle square roots, logs, absolute value, and more. Inequalities: Plot Cartesian and polar inequalities. Accessibility: Read and edit math using a screen reader or a refreshable Braille display, and use audio trace to explore graphs and data through sound. Offline: No internet access required. Visit www.desmos.com to learn more and to see the free browser version of our calculator.

About

Symbolab

Solve any math problem by typing it in or taking a photo. Get step-by-step solutions for subjects from pre-algebra to calculus. This AI-powered tool offers personalized learning and insights for over 300 million users.

Highlights
  • Photo math solver
  • Step-by-step solutions
  • Calculus calculator
  • Graphing calculator
  • Trigonometry solver
  • AI-powered learning
Read full description

Math Made Easy with Symbolab! Type in or snap a picture of any math problem, including tricky word problems, and get easy-to-understand step-by-step solutions. From pre-algebra to calculus, trigonometry, and more. Let us help you solve any math problem with confidence & guide you along the way! Symbolab Problem Solver is composed of over five hundred of our most powerful calculators, including: •Calculus Calculator •Graphing Calculator •Fraction Calculator •Equation Calculator •Integral Calculator •Derivative Calculator •Limit Calculator •Inequality Calculator •Trigonometry Calculator •Matrix Calculator •Functions Calculator •Series Calculator •ODE Calculator •Laplace Transform Calculator Join Our Community of Learners: Symbolab is a powerful tool for learning math, with over 300 million users. Join and experience AI-powered, personalized assessments, insights and more. Our fully automated platform, driven by advanced machine learning algorithms, ensures a seamless and straightforward learning experience. Empower Your Learning Journey: Symbolab is much more than an app – it's an entire educational platform dedicated to empowering students just like you. Deepen your knowledge with our streamlined and user-friendly interface. With our streamlined and user-friendly interface, we provide free solutions with basic steps to any math problem you throw at us. Plus, for a subscription, you’ll gain access to more advanced steps and explanations. Symbolab is your go-to companion for problem-solving and learning. Download now and embark on a journey to excel in math! Terms of Use: https://www.symbolab.com/public/terms.pdf Privacy Policy: https://www.symbolab.com/public/privacy.pdf

Screenshots

Desmos Graphing Calculator4 screens
Symbolab4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Desmos Graphing Calculator at none against Symbolab's 8. Desmos Graphing Calculator also leads on review sentiment (81% vs 60%) and chart position (#143 vs unranked). Symbolab's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (26K vs 1.3K). 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. Symbolab sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per 7 days. Desmos Graphing Calculator asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Symbolab holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Symbolab has 26K ratings behind it against 1.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 81% of Desmos Graphing Calculator's written reviews are positive against 60% of Symbolab's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Desmos Graphing Calculator ships an update every 2 months, Symbolab monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Desmos Graphing Calculator versus Symbolab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDesmos Graphing CalculatorSymbolab
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (1.3K ratings)4.6 (26K ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.8% of reviews — better60.2% of reviews
Number of ratings1.3K26K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#143 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB60 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDesmosSymbolab

Customer experience

Desmos Graphing Calculator

All ratings1,295 ratings
Positive82.5%
Neutral3.9%
Negative13.7%
Written reviews355 reviews
Positive80.8%
Neutral5.6%
Negative13.5%

Symbolab

All ratings26,235 ratings
Positive89.4%
Neutral2.3%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews327 reviews
Positive60.2%
Neutral5.8%
Negative33.9%

User reviews

Desmos Graphing Calculator

From 1.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Insane tool for FREE!
  • 🚀 Best mobile graphing app
  • 👍 Awesome for algebra and calculus
  • 👍 Genuinely an awesome resource
  • 👍 Makes math easier

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and bugs
  • 🐛 Glitches with certain features
  • 🐛 Loses saved data
  • 🐛 Keyboard issues
  • 🐛 Zooming and panning problems

Symbolab

From 26K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and efficient
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 💡 Helpful step-by-step solutions
  • 🚀 Accurate calculations
  • 👍 Saves time on homework and studying

Room to improve

  • 💰 Subscription required for full functionality
  • 🐛 Camera feature issues
  • 🐛 Inconsistent performance after updates
  • 💰 Expensive subscription fees
  • 🔒 Difficulty canceling subscription

Bugs and requests

Desmos Graphing Calculator

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes when using certain functions
  • Graphs not displaying properly
  • Login issues
  • Compatibility problems with older devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Dark mode
  • Copy and paste functionality
  • Ability to save and load graphs
  • Improved handling of complex numbers and polar equations
  • More customization options

Symbolab

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login issues
  • Calculation errors
  • Frequent crashes
  • Connectivity problems

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more math topics and problem types
  • Improve keyboard and input functionality
  • Provide more free features without subscription
  • Optimize app for larger screens (iPad)
  • Add ability to save and review past calculations

In-app purchases

None

Desmos Graphing Calculator

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

Symbolab

Subscriptions7
  • Universal Weekly Subscription$2.497 Days
  • Universal Monthly Subscription$7.991 Month
  • Universal Monthly Subscription$9.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Universal ½-Year Subscription$24.996 Months
  • Universal ½-Year Subscription$32.996 Months
  • Universal Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$34.991 Year
  • Universal Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • All features with no ads$7.99

Questions

Is Desmos Graphing Calculator free?
Desmos Graphing Calculator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Symbolab free?
Symbolab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Desmos Graphing Calculator or Symbolab?
Symbolab is rated higher. Desmos Graphing Calculator averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while Symbolab averages 4.6 from 26K ratings.
Do Desmos Graphing Calculator or Symbolab have ads?
Neither Desmos Graphing Calculator nor Symbolab shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Desmos Graphing Calculator or Symbolab?
Desmos Graphing Calculator ships an update every 2 months, and Symbolab monthly. Most recently, Desmos Graphing Calculator was updated on November 1, 2026 and Symbolab on November 4, 2026.

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