# Photomath vs Calculate84

The clearest difference is ads: Photomath at none against Calculate84's shown. Photomath also leads on ratings volume (733K vs 54K) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 18.0). Calculate84's advantage is review sentiment (75% vs 61%) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Photomath sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Calculate84 sells 6 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 4.8 for Calculate84. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photomath has 733K ratings behind it against 54K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 61% of Photomath's written reviews are positive against 75% of Calculate84's.

Photomath ships an update monthly, Calculate84 fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Photomath | Calculate84 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (733K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photomath/id919087726/reviews) | **[4.8 (54K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculate84/id1459712793/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **733K** | 54K |
| Positive reviews | 60.6% of reviews | **74.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#38** | #88 |
| Size | 30 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) | [Century Light LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1459712792) |

## What reviewers say

### Photomath

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

**Currently charting:** #38 Top Grossing · Education, #73 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


### Calculate84

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculate84/id1459712793)

**Currently charting:** #88 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

This app offers a modern graphing calculator experience on your iPhone. It features fast, interactive touch-screen graphing, scrollable windows, and intelligent error messages for a more intuitive user experience. Designed to be a usable alternative to physical graphing calculators.

**Highlights:** Fast, interactive touch-screen graphing, Scrollable windows, Intelligent error messages, Intuitive interface, Designed for TI-84 users

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Pro Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Annual Pro Subscription | $6.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Subscription | $6.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Subscription | $9.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Subscription | $12.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Pro Subscription | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Identical to TI-84 calculator
- 🚀 Seamless and intuitive user experience
- 💰 Affordable alternative to physical calculator
- 📱 Convenient to have on phone
- 🔍 Comprehensive functionality matching physical calculator

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔍 Missing some advanced features like regression types
- 🔒 Previous purchases removed without warning
- 💰 Subscription model can be expensive
- 📺 Intrusive ads in free version

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when using 2-sample T/Z interval functions
- Incorrect results for inverse trig functions
- Issues with graphing parabolas and tracing points
- Regression equation not displayed correctly

**Requested features**

- Add TVM solver functionality
- Implement more regression types
- Allow disabling of ads for free users
- Restore previous purchase benefits
- Optimize for mobile experience instead of emulating physical calculator


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Photomath free?

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

### Is Calculate84 free?

Calculate84 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Photomath or Calculate84?

Calculate84 is rated higher. Photomath averages 4.8 out of 5 from 733K ratings, while Calculate84 averages 4.8 from 54K ratings.

### Do Photomath or Calculate84 have ads?

Calculate84 shows ads; Photomath does not.

### Which is updated more often, Photomath or Calculate84?

Photomath ships an update monthly, and Calculate84 fortnightly. Most recently, Photomath was updated on October 28, 2026 and Calculate84 on October 28, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Photomath or Calculate84?

Photomath currently peaks at #38 in the App Store charts, and Calculate84 at #88. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*