# Photomath vs Vaia

Photomath and Vaia both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 82% of Vaia's written reviews are positive against 51% of Photomath's. Vaia also leads on update cadence (weekly vs monthly). Photomath's advantage is ratings volume (733K vs 1.5K) and chart position (#32 vs unranked). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Photomath sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Vaia sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Photomath against 4.7 for Vaia. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photomath has 733K ratings behind it against 1.5K, 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 82% of Vaia's.

Photomath ships an update monthly, Vaia weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Photomath | Vaia |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (733K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photomath/id919087726/reviews)** | [4.7 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vaia-flashcards-and-study-guide/id1439949520/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **733K** | 1.5K |
| Positive reviews | 51.1% of reviews | **81.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#32** | — |
| Size | 30 MB | 237 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) | [StudySmarter GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1439949519) |

## What reviewers say

### Photomath

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

**Currently charting:** #32 Top Grossing · Education, #54 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


### Vaia

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vaia-flashcards-and-study-guide/id1439949520)

This app helps students improve grades and reduce study stress with AI-powered personalized study plans, flashcards, and practice exams. It transforms uploaded notes into comprehensive study materials, making learning efficient and engaging for any subject.

**Highlights:** AI-generated study plans, Personalized flashcards, Practice exams, Upload notes for study materials, Spaced repetition learning, Shared study materials

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Plan | $2.99 | per month |
| Premium Plan (1 month) | $5.49 | per month |
| Premium Plan (1 month) | $6.49 | per month |
| Premium Plan (1 month) | $6.99 | per month |
| Premium Plan (1 week) | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Plan (1 month) | $8.99 | per month |
| Premium Plan (1 month) | $12.99 | per month |
| Premium Plan (1 year) | $17.99 | per year |
| Premium Plan (1 month) | $19.99 | per month |
| Premium Plan (1 year) | $31.99 | per year |
| Premium Plan (1 year) | $43.99 | per year |
| Premium Plan (1 year) | $59.99 | per year |
| Premium Plan (1 year) | $63.99 | per year |
| Premium Plan (1 year) | $89.99 | per year |
| Premium Plan (1 year) | $89.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient flashcard creation and study tools
- 🧠 AI-powered features for learning
- 📚 Vast library of shared study materials
- 🎨 Customizable and visually appealing interface
- 🤝 Collaboration and sharing with peers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 🔒 Limited offline access without premium subscription
- 🤖 Inconsistent performance of AI-generated content
- 🗂️ Difficulty organizing and navigating large study sets
- 📱 Suboptimal mobile app experience compared to web

**Reported bugs**

- Flashcard review progress not saving correctly
- Inability to delete individual flashcards from a set
- Syncing issues between mobile app and web version
- Inconsistent behavior of AI-generated quiz questions

**Requested features**

- Add more language options
- Improve PDF and note-taking editor functionality
- Implement nested subsets within study sets
- Provide more customization options for colors and themes
- Integrate study timers and task management features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Photomath free?

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

### Is Vaia free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Photomath or Vaia?

Photomath is rated higher. Photomath averages 4.8 out of 5 from 733K ratings, while Vaia averages 4.7 from 1.5K ratings.

### Do Photomath or Vaia have ads?

Neither Photomath nor Vaia shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Photomath or Vaia?

Photomath ships an update monthly, and Vaia weekly. Most recently, Photomath was updated on September 25, 2026 and Vaia on September 24, 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.*