# Beam vs Symbolab

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Beam at none against Symbolab's 8. Beam also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). Symbolab's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 41 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Symbolab sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per 7 days. Beam asks for nothing beyond the download.

Beam ships an update every 41 months, Symbolab monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Beam | Symbolab |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.6 (26K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/symbolab-ai-math-solver-app/id876942533/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **26K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 60.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 41 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 6 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tsutomu Murata](https://appshunter.io/developer/674892164) | [Symbolab](https://appshunter.io/developer/876942536) |

## What reviewers say

### Beam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam-i/id680017839)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Symbolab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/symbolab-ai-math-solver-app/id876942533)

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Universal Weekly Subscription | $2.49 | per 7 days |
| Universal Monthly Subscription | $7.99 | per month |
| Universal Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Universal ½-Year Subscription | $24.99 | per 6 months |
| Universal ½-Year Subscription | $32.99 | per 6 months |
| Universal Yearly Subscription | $34.99 | per year |
| Universal Yearly Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| All features with no ads | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues
- Calculation errors
- Frequent crashes
- Connectivity problems

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Beam free?

Beam is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Symbolab free?

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

### Do Beam or Symbolab have ads?

Neither Beam nor Symbolab shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Beam or Symbolab?

Beam ships an update every 41 months, and Symbolab monthly. Most recently, Beam was updated on November 1, 2026 and Symbolab on November 7, 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.*