Comparison

Photomath vs Course Hero

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Photomath

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
Read full description

Photomath is known worldwide for helping millions of learners to learn, practice, and understand math – one step at a time. Scan any math problem with the Photomath app to get step-by-step explanations with accurate solutions and a variety of teacher-approved methods. Math is about the process, so Photomath breaks your problem into bite-sized steps to help you understand the “what” and “why” along with the “how.” Whether you’re learning basic arithmetic or advanced geometry, we’ll tackle it together, step by step. Why Photomath? Billions of math problems: From elementary arithmetic to advanced calculus and everything in between, Photomath can solve billions of math problems—including word problems! Whether handwritten, in a textbook, or on a screen, Photomath is here to help you untangle your trickiest problem. Step-by-step explanations: Math isn’t just about an answer. It’s about every step along the way. That’s why Photomath breaks down each step, so you can *really* learn. Less guesswork = less stress, especially with our new Animated Steps, which show you the exact progression of a particular step. Get basic step-by-step explanations at no charge when you download Photomath. Expert-developed methods: Photomath’s educational content is centered around the learner’s experience, driven by the expertise of our own team of mathematicians and former math teachers. Self-paced learning: Photomath’s instant support is like having a 24/7 virtual tutor. Checking your homework before dinner? Stuck on a problem at 2am? We can help. Follow our detailed steps, taking whatever time you need to review definitions, rationale, and more – all within the explanation. Want to dive deeper and explore more ways to learn? Photomath Plus can get you there with custom Animated Tutorials, detailed Textbook Solutions, and more! KEY FEATURES • Step-by-step explanations included in our basic version (at no charge) • Word problem instructions • Interactive graphs • Video learning • Multiple solution methods • Advanced scientific calculator Photomath is for learners of all levels, including those studying: Numbers & Quantity Algebra Functions Trigonometry & Angles Sequences Geometry Calculus “The step-by-step guide is beneficial to students that do not have access to a tutor and struggle with solving math problems.” — Forbes “A viral video about a new app looks like a dream come true for anyone who struggles with math.” — Time ___________________________________________ • Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. • A subscription automatically renews unless it’s canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period. • Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. • Manage or cancel your subscription in your account settings on the App Store after purchase. • Offers and pricing are subject to change without notice. Suggestions or questions? Email us at support@photomath.com Website: www.photomath.com TikTok: @photomath Instagram: @photomath Facebook: @Photomathapp Twitter: @Photomath Terms of Use: https://photomath.app/en/termsofuse Privacy Policy: https://photomath.app/en/privacypolicy

About

Course Hero

Access a vast library of study materials and get instant homework help from expert tutors. Solve math problems with a quick scan or by typing them in, and receive step-by-step explanations to understand concepts better and improve your grades.

Highlights
  • AI homework help
  • Math solver with step-by-step solutions
  • Extensive library of textbook solutions
  • 100 million+ course-specific study materials
  • Offline access to saved resources
  • Concept explanations
Features
Read full description

Get instant, AI-powered homework help and use our advanced solver to get step-by-step solutions to tackle tough problems. - Browse our ever-expanding library of textbook solutions and explanations. - Access over 100 million course-specific study materials for your school. - Review previous course documents and study guides. - Understand concepts with easy to understand explanations. Math Solver - Quickly understand how to solve math problems - Just snap a picture or type in the question and solve Get Better Grades - Study now or save materials to read later. - Get alerts for new resources based on your previous searches. Subjects Included - Math - Physics - Biology - Psychology - Computer Science - Business - Accounting - Economics - Health - Engineering - Chemistry - Foreign Languages - Music - and More! For Customer Support, please visit support.coursehero.com/hc/en-us. We're happy to help! Privacy Policy: www.coursehero.com/privacy-policy/ Terms of Use: www.coursehero.com/terms-of-use/ Please Note: Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled more than 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. You may manage your subscription and turn off auto-renewal by visiting Account Settings in iTunes, but you cannot cancel an existing subscription before it ends.

Screenshots

Photomath4 screens
Course Hero4 screens

Verdict

The call

Photomath and Course Hero both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 61% of Photomath's written reviews are positive against 28% of Course Hero's. Photomath also leads on ratings volume (733K vs 65K) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). Course Hero's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Photomath sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Course Hero sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Photomath against 4.7 for Course Hero. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photomath has 733K ratings behind it against 65K, 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 28% of Course Hero's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Photomath versus Course Hero: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhotomathCourse Hero
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (733K ratings) — better4.7 (65K ratings)
Positive reviews60.6% of reviews — better28.0% of reviews
Number of ratings733K — better65K
Update frequencyMonthlyFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#34 — better#89
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB132 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperGoogleLearneo, Inc.

Customer experience

Photomath

All ratings732,942 ratings
Positive95.3%
Neutral2.0%
Negative2.7%
Written reviews1,565 reviews
Positive60.6%
Neutral6.1%
Negative33.4%

Course Hero

All ratings65,491 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral2.5%
Negative5.2%
Written reviews396 reviews
Positive28.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative67.9%

User reviews

Photomath

From 733K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 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

Room to improve

  • 💰 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

Course Hero

From 65K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great and explained materials
  • 👍 Helpful for passing courses
  • 💡 Exchanging resources is free

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Outdated and low-quality documents
  • 💰 Expensive, with hidden costs
  • 🤖 Reliance on AI-generated answers
  • 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
  • 🤬 Poor customer support and refund policies

Bugs and requests

Photomath

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

3 requests
  • 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

Course Hero

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes when trying to log in
  • Issues with submitting and viewing questions
  • Inconsistent document unlocking and access

Requested features

3 requests
  • Option to print or download documents in original format
  • Ability to delete or hide personal documents
  • Improve reliability of tutor responses

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Photomath

Subscriptions9
  • Photomath Plus7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Photomath Plus7 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Photomath Plus7 Days trial5 variants$9.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • Photomath Plus2 variants$9.991 Month
  • Photomath Plus14 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Photomath Plus7 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Photomath Plus7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Photomath Plus7 Days trial$49.996 Months
  • Photomath Plus7 Days trial$69.991 Year
11 purchases

Course Hero

Subscriptions8
  • Premier Subscription$14.991 Month
  • Course Hero Subscription$19.991 Month
  • Course Hero Subscription$24.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Course Hero Premier Subscription$38.991 Month
  • Course Hero Premier Subscription$54.993 Months
  • Course Hero Subscription$59.993 Months
  • Course Hero Premier Subscription$109.991 Year
  • Course Hero Subscription$119.991 Year
One-time3
  • Unlock 5$14.99
  • Unlocks 10$24.99
  • Unlock 20$44.99

Questions

Is Photomath free?
Photomath is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Course Hero free?
Course Hero is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Photomath or Course Hero?
Photomath is rated higher. Photomath averages 4.8 out of 5 from 733K ratings, while Course Hero averages 4.7 from 65K ratings.
Do Photomath or Course Hero have ads?
Neither Photomath nor Course Hero shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Photomath or Course Hero?
Photomath ships an update monthly, and Course Hero fortnightly. Most recently, Photomath was updated on October 28, 2026 and Course Hero on October 28, 2026.
Which is more popular, Photomath or Course Hero?
Photomath currently peaks at #34 in the App Store charts, and Course Hero at #89. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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