Photomath review
A camera-first math solver with free explanations and paid visual aids.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Photomath is a mobile math-solving app for learners, parents, and teachers who want help working through problems. On iOS and Android, it can scan problems with a device camera, including handwritten work and word problems, or accept input through a smart calculator. Its coverage spans elementary math, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and calculus, with step-by-step explanations intended to show how a solution is reached. Interactive graphing and animated tutorials add visual ways to follow the work.
The free Basic plan includes step-by-step explanations, making it useful for learners who mainly need to see the workings behind a solution. Photomath Plus adds custom visual aids and extra how-and-why tips. According to the vendor’s listed subscription prices, Plus costs $9.99 per month or $69.99 per year. The annual plan is billed yearly; both paid options list the same additional features. Those extras may suit learners who want more explanatory context, while Basic covers the core walkthrough need without a subscription.
Its strongest fit is mobile study: camera scanning, handwriting input, multiple solution methods, graphing, and broad math coverage come together in one app. The mobile-only platform scope makes it less suited to someone who wants to work on a desktop. Photomath is best considered a guided problem-solving aid rather than a general desktop math environment. Learners seeking accessible explanations on a phone or tablet have a clear reason to choose it; people who need desktop access, or only need occasional step-by-step help, may prefer to stay with the free plan or look elsewhere for a different platform fit.
Photomath pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Scans printed and handwritten problems, including word problems
- Explains solutions step by step and offers multiple methods
- Covers topics from elementary math through calculus
- Where it doesn't
- Available on iOS and Android, not desktop platforms
- Custom visual aids and extra how-and-why tips require Plus
- Plus costs $9.99 monthly or $69.99 annually
Photomath fact sheet, pricing and score →
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