Symbolab vs Desmos Test Mode
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Photo math solver
- Step-by-step solutions
- Calculus calculator
- Graphing calculator
- Trigonometry solver
- AI-powered learning
Read full descriptionHide 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
Desmos Test Mode
This app provides restricted versions of graphing and scientific calculators designed to meet exam requirements. It allows users to practice for specific state or national assessments by selecting the appropriate test mode. Full, unrestricted calculator features are available in separate applications.
- Exam-compliant calculator modes
- Graphing capabilities
- Scientific calculator functions
- Data tables and statistics
- Interactive sliders
- Points of interest on graphs
Read full descriptionHide full description
** These are restricted versions of the Desmos Calculators that comply with exam requirements. To prepare for specific state or national assessments, select the corresponding test from the menu in the app. Find out whether Desmos is used for your test at www.desmos.com/testing. If you’d like to use full, unrestricted versions of the calculators, download the Scientific or Graphing Calculator apps or visit www.desmos.com. ** At Desmos, we imagine a world of universal math literacy where math is accessible and enjoyable for all students. To that end, we’ve built simple yet powerful calculators. They’re intuitive, beautiful, and completely free. - - - Graphing Calculator Features: Graphing: Plot polar, Cartesian, and 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: Use regressions to find the lines (or other curves!) that best fit your data. 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 view of your graph. Points of Interest: Touch a curve to show its maximum and minimum values, intercepts, and points of intersection with other curves. Tap any of these points of interest to see their coordinates. Hold and drag along a curve to see the coordinates change under your finger as you trace. - - - Scientific Calculator Features: Variables: Assign values to variables that you can use in other expressions. Since all of your work is held in the expressions list, you can compute a value once and use it in many places simultaneously. Take advantage of the “ans” key, which always stores the value of the previous expression. Arithmetic: Beyond the four basic operations, the scientific calculator also supports exponentiation, radicals, absolute value, logarithms, rounding, and percentages. Trigonometry: Evaluate the fundamental trigonometric functions and their inverses using either radians or degrees for angle measure. Statistics: Compute the mean and standard deviation (sample or population) of a list of data. Combinatorics: Count combinations and permutations and calculate factorials. - - - Four-Function Calculator Features: Simple and Beautiful: Just the basics done right. Add, subtract, multiply, divide, and take square roots. Multiple Expressions: Unlike many four-function calculators, all of your previous work remains visible on the screen. The special “ans” key always holds the value of the previous computation (and updates automatically!), so you never have to remember or copy a result.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Symbolab at 4.6 against Desmos Test Mode's 1.6. Symbolab also leads on review sentiment (59% vs 17%) and ratings volume (26K vs 368). Desmos Test Mode's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8). On price, 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
Both are free to download. Symbolab sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per 7 days. Desmos Test Mode asks for nothing beyond the download.
Symbolab holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Symbolab has 26K ratings behind it against 368, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of Symbolab's written reviews are positive against 17% of Desmos Test Mode's.
Symbolab ships an update monthly, Desmos Test Mode every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Symbolab | Desmos Test Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (26K ratings) — better | 1.6 (368 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 59.0% of reviews — better | 16.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 26K — better | 368 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 60 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | Symbolab | Desmos |
Customer experience
Symbolab
Desmos Test Mode
User reviews
Symbolab
From 26K App Store ratingsWhat 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
Desmos Test Mode
From 368 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Useful app for tests
- 🔒 Secure calculator mode
- 👍 Free alternative to expensive calculators
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy and unstable
- 🔒 Overly restrictive app lock
- 👎 Poor user interface and usability
Bugs and requests
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
Desmos Test Mode
Reported bugs
3 issues- App crashes and freezes during use
- Unexpected phone behavior and lockouts
- Compatibility issues across different devices and OS versions
Requested features
3 requests- Add customization options for the calculator interface
- Improve compatibility with older devices
- Provide more flexible calculator modes during tests
In-app purchases
Symbolab
- Universal Weekly Subscription$2.497 Days
- Universal Monthly Subscription$7.991 Month
- Universal Monthly Subscription$9.991 Month
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- 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
- All features with no ads$7.99
Desmos Test Mode
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Symbolab free?
Is Desmos Test Mode free?
Which has better reviews, Symbolab or Desmos Test Mode?
Do Symbolab or Desmos Test Mode have ads?
Which is updated more often, Symbolab or Desmos Test Mode?
Other comparisons















