# Symbolab vs FastMath

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Symbolab at 59% against FastMath's 17%. Symbolab also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.6 vs 4.2). FastMath's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Symbolab sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per 7 days and FastMath sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Symbolab holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 26K and 51K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of Symbolab's written reviews are positive against 17% of FastMath's.

Symbolab ships an update monthly, FastMath every 5 days. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Symbolab | FastMath |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (26K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/symbolab-ai-math-solver-app/id876942533/reviews)** | [4.2 (51K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fastmath-photo-math-solver/id1438642238/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 26K | **51K** |
| Positive reviews | **59.0% of reviews** | 16.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 60 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [Symbolab](https://appshunter.io/developer/876942536) | [Dakyuz Yazilim Ticaret Limited Sirketi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1030310836) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### FastMath

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fastmath-photo-math-solver/id1438642238)

Instantly solve math problems by taking a photo, even handwritten ones. Get step-by-step solutions with explanations and graphical representations to improve your understanding and check your homework.

**Highlights:** Photo math problem solver, Handwritten problem support, Step-by-step solutions, Graphical representations, Homework checker, Cloud archive for problems

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Pack with Free Trial | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Subscription Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Subscription 3 Months | $19.99 | per 3 months |
| Six Months Subscription | $29.99 | per 6 months |
| Lifetime Pack | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helps understand math problems
- 👍 Useful for checking work
- 💡 Solves integrals and multiple equations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Requires subscription to see solutions
- 🐛 Camera function often doesn't work
- 🐛 Can't solve basic problems
- 🔒 Immediate paywall upon opening app

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect solutions for simple problems
- App crashes frequently
- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Requested features**

- Provide more explanation for basic problems
- Allow free access to solutions
- Improve camera functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Symbolab free?

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

### Is FastMath free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Symbolab or FastMath?

Symbolab is rated higher. Symbolab averages 4.6 out of 5 from 26K ratings, while FastMath averages 4.2 from 51K ratings.

### Do Symbolab or FastMath have ads?

FastMath shows ads; Symbolab does not.

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

Symbolab ships an update monthly, and FastMath every 5 days. Most recently, Symbolab was updated on September 25, 2026 and FastMath on September 25, 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.*