# Photomath vs SymCalc+

The clearest difference is price: Photomath at Free against SymCalc+'s $9.99. Photomath also leads on ratings volume (733K vs 91) and chart position (#32 vs unranked). SymCalc+'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and review sentiment (74% vs 51%). On rating, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Photomath is free to download; SymCalc+ costs $9.99 up front. Photomath sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. SymCalc+ asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Photomath against 4.7 for SymCalc+. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photomath has 733K ratings behind it against 91, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 51% of Photomath's written reviews are positive against 74% of SymCalc+'s.

Photomath ships an update monthly, SymCalc+ every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Photomath | SymCalc+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $9.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (733K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photomath/id919087726/reviews)** | [4.7 (91 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/symcalc-plus/id1275900301/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **733K** | 91 |
| Positive reviews | 51.0% of reviews | **73.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#32** | — |
| Size | 30 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) | [Voxeloid Kft.](https://appshunter.io/developer/307013528) |

## What reviewers say

### Photomath

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photomath/id919087726)

**Currently charting:** #32 Top Grossing · Education, #53 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Photomath Plus | $5.99 | per month |
| Photomath Plus | $7.99 | per month |
| Photomath Plus | $9.99 | per month |
| Photomath Plus | $9.99 | per month |
| Photomath Plus | $9.99 | per month |
| Photomath Plus | $29.99 | per year |
| Photomath Plus | $39.99 | per year |
| Photomath Plus | $49.99 | per 6 months |
| Photomath Plus | $69.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helpful for homework and understanding concepts
- 👍 Provides step-by-step solutions and explanations
- 🤖 Accurate and reliable for solving equations
- 💡 Useful for checking work and learning from mistakes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paywall for accessing step-by-step explanations
- 🔒 Concerns about using the app to cheat
- 🐛 Camera focusing issues and inability to solve certain problem types
- 💸 Expensive monthly subscription fee

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


### SymCalc+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/symcalc-plus/id1275900301)

This app provides advanced mathematical calculations, from basic arithmetic to university-level topics. It combines the functionality of a scientific graphing calculator with the ease of a mobile application, offering symbolic computation and detailed feature explanations.

**Highlights:** Exact arithmetic and numerical modes, Symbolic algebra and calculus operations, Matrix operations and linear algebra, Equation and differential equation solvers, Complex number arithmetic, Interactive graphing, Session management and PDF export

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Photomath free?

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

### Is SymCalc+ free?

SymCalc+ costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Photomath or SymCalc+?

Photomath is rated higher. Photomath averages 4.8 out of 5 from 733K ratings, while SymCalc+ averages 4.7 from 91 ratings.

### Do Photomath or SymCalc+ have ads?

Neither Photomath nor SymCalc+ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Photomath or SymCalc+?

Photomath ships an update monthly, and SymCalc+ every 5 weeks. Most recently, Photomath was updated on October 2, 2026 and SymCalc+ on September 28, 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.*