# Photomath vs Course Hero

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Photomath | Course Hero |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (733K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photomath/id919087726/reviews)** | [4.7 (65K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/course-hero-ai-homework-help/id922208952/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **733K** | 65K |
| Positive reviews | **60.6% of reviews** | 28.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#38** | #81 |
| Size | 30 MB | 132 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) | [Learneo, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/922208951) |

## What reviewers say

### Photomath

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

**Currently charting:** #38 Top Grossing · Education, #76 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


### Course Hero

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/course-hero-ai-homework-help/id922208952)

**Currently charting:** #81 Top Grossing · Education (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premier Subscription | $14.99 | per month |
| Course Hero Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| Course Hero Subscription | $24.99 | per month |
| Course Hero Premier Subscription | $38.99 | per month |
| Course Hero Premier Subscription | $54.99 | per 3 months |
| Course Hero Subscription | $59.99 | per 3 months |
| Course Hero Premier Subscription | $109.99 | per year |
| Course Hero Subscription | $119.99 | per year |
| Unlock 5 | $14.99 | one-time |
| Unlocks 10 | $24.99 | one-time |
| Unlock 20 | $44.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Outdated and low-quality documents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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked 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 #38 in the App Store charts, and Course Hero at #81. 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.*