# Desmos Test Mode vs MathPapa

The clearest difference is review sentiment: MathPapa at 78% against Desmos Test Mode's 17%. MathPapa also leads on rating (4.7 vs 1.6) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). Desmos Test Mode's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MathPapa sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Desmos Test Mode asks for nothing beyond the download.

MathPapa holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MathPapa has 17K ratings behind it against 368, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of Desmos Test Mode's written reviews are positive against 78% of MathPapa's.

Desmos Test Mode ships an update every 4 months, MathPapa every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Desmos Test Mode | MathPapa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.6 (368 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desmos-test-mode/id977381005/reviews) | **[4.7 (17K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathpapa-algebra-calculator/id1024251561/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 368 | **17K** |
| Positive reviews | 16.5% of reviews | **77.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 6 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Desmos](https://appshunter.io/developer/653517543) | [MathPapa, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1116770141) |

## What reviewers say

### Desmos Test Mode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desmos-test-mode/id977381005)

This app provides restricted versions of graphing and scientific calculators designed to meet exam requirements. It allows users to practice for specific state or national assessments by selecting the appropriate test mode. Full, unrestricted calculator features are available in separate applications.

**Highlights:** Exam-compliant calculator modes, Graphing capabilities, Scientific calculator functions, Data tables and statistics, Interactive sliders, Points of interest on graphs

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Useful app for tests
- 🔒 Secure calculator mode
- 👍 Free alternative to expensive calculators

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable
- 🔒 Overly restrictive app lock
- 👎 Poor user interface and usability

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes during use
- Unexpected phone behavior and lockouts
- Compatibility issues across different devices and OS versions

**Requested features**

- Add customization options for the calculator interface
- Improve compatibility with older devices
- Provide more flexible calculator modes during tests


### MathPapa

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathpapa-algebra-calculator/id1024251561)

This app provides step-by-step solutions to algebra problems, helping users understand how to solve equations and inequalities. It can also graph equations, factor expressions, and evaluate mathematical expressions.

**Highlights:** Step-by-step equation solving, Linear and quadratic equation solver, Linear and quadratic inequality solver, Equation graphing, Quadratic expression factoring, Order of operations, Expression evaluation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MathPapa Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| MathPapa Pro Upgrade | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Solves any expression or equation
- 👍 Provides step-by-step solutions
- 👍 Graphs functions
- 👍 Helpful for homework and understanding concepts
- 🚀 Saves time on homework

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription required for step-by-step solutions
- 💰 Expensive subscription at $10/month
- 👎 Limited number of step-by-step solutions in free version
- 👎 Subscription is not affordable for some students
- 👎 Subscription model is disappointing compared to previous free version

**Reported bugs**

- Doesn't always recognize certain input formats
- Step-by-step solutions not always available even with subscription

**Requested features**

- Add history/log of past calculations
- Support for more math functions like differentiation and integration
- Ability to input expressions with exponents as expressions
- Option to display answers in different formats (decimal, fraction, mixed number)
- Ability to take a photo of a problem and have it solved


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Desmos Test Mode free?

Desmos Test Mode is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is MathPapa free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Desmos Test Mode or MathPapa?

MathPapa is rated higher. Desmos Test Mode averages 1.6 out of 5 from 368 ratings, while MathPapa averages 4.7 from 17K ratings.

### Do Desmos Test Mode or MathPapa have ads?

Neither Desmos Test Mode nor MathPapa shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Desmos Test Mode or MathPapa?

Desmos Test Mode ships an update every 4 months, and MathPapa every 3 weeks. Most recently, Desmos Test Mode was updated on September 10, 2026 and MathPapa on September 23, 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.*