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Photomath is a mobile AI math solver that scans handwritten and printed problems via camera, providing step-by-step solutions for students K-12 through college.
Photomath core OCR and solving engine (arithmetic through calculus, basic step-by-step solutions)
Unlimited basic scans and step-by-step solutions; no animated tutorials; no textbook-specific solutions; no custom visual aids; no AI tutor
Education
9.2Camera OCR scanning instantly identifies and solves handwritten and printed math problems across 7 domains (arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, statistics) with step-by-step multi-method solutions — covering the full K-12 and college math problem-solving workflow that previously required a tutor, textbook, or search engine for each problem.
Personal Productivity
8.8Point-and-scan immediate solutions with no account required and no usage limits on the free tier make Photomath the lowest-friction math problem-solving tool available; the free plan covers most K-12 homework without any payment and without learning a new interface.
Research
6.5Photomath solves individual math problems and shows multiple solution methods, which is useful for researchers who need to verify calculations or understand specific mathematical derivations — but the app is not designed for academic research workflows and does not provide literature search, citation analysis, or symbolic computation at the level of Wolfram Alpha.
Photomath is a mobile-first AI math solver acquired by Google in 2023 with 100M+ downloads that uses OCR camera scanning to identify handwritten and printed math problems and deliver immediate step-by-step solutions across arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, and statistics. The free plan provides unlimited basic step-by-step solutions with no account required. Photomath Plus ($9.99/month or $69.99/year) unlocks animated tutorials, textbook-specific deep-dive solutions, and custom visual aids. Multiple solution methods are shown for most problems. Photomath is math-only and does not cover other academic subjects. It does not include a conversational AI tutor or curriculum structure. OCR accuracy decreases for messy or ambiguous handwriting. No API or LMS integration is available.
Pricing
| Plan | Model | Usage Limits | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FreeFREE | Photomath core OCR and solving engine (arithmetic through calculus, basic step-by-step solutions) | Unlimited basic scans and step-by-step solutions; no animated tutorials; no textbook-specific solutions; no custom visual aids; no AI tutor | Free |
| Plus Monthly | Photomath Plus with animated tutorials, textbook solution library, custom visual aids, and additional solving methods | Unlimited scans with animated tutorials, textbook deep-dive solutions, custom visual aids, and multiple solution methods; charged monthly; cancel anytime | $9.99/mo |
| Plus Annual | All Plus Monthly features at annual prepaid rate with no feature differences from monthly Plus | All Plus Monthly features; charged upfront annually; auto-renews; ~$5.83/month effective; 50% cheaper than monthly rate | $69.99/yr |
Photomath core OCR and solving engine (arithmetic through calculus, basic step-by-step solutions)
Unlimited basic scans and step-by-step solutions; no animated tutorials; no textbook-specific solutions; no custom visual aids; no AI tutor
Free unlimited basic step-by-step solutions with no account required covers the full K-12 math homework workflow at $0; Plus Annual at $69.99/year adds animated tutorials and textbook-specific deep dives for exam preparation at an effective cost of $5.83/month — with 4.6/5 from 729K+ App Store ratings validating consistent student utility.
Photomath provides teachers with a reference tool for generating multiple solution methods for classroom examples, and Plus textbook solutions match commonly assigned curricula — but the app has no LMS integration, no student progress tracking, no quiz generation, and no teacher-facing tools distinguishing it from student-facing apps like Brisk Teaching or MagicSchool AI.
Photomath's coverage of calculus and statistics with step-by-step derivations provides utility for researchers who need to verify specific mathematical calculations, but the lack of symbolic computation, graph plotting at research depth, or CAS (Computer Algebra System) capabilities limits its value for advanced mathematical research workflows.
Freelancers who work with basic arithmetic, financial calculations, or geometry in client deliverables can use the free tier for immediate verification without a paid subscription — but Photomath's math-only scope limits its utility for freelancers whose work extends beyond standard mathematical problem types.
Wolfram Alpha
symbolic computation engine with CAS accuracy for calculus, algebra, and advanced mathematics at $7.99/month Pro — deeper computational depth than Photomath but no camera scanning or step-by-step visual tutorials
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Khanmigo
Socratic AI math tutoring within Khan Academy's K-12 curriculum that guides students through problem-solving rather than providing direct solutions, at $44/year per learner — the key pedagogical alternative to Photomath's direct-answer model
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Consider These Instead
Choose Khanmigo over Photomath when Socratic guided math tutoring that asks questions and diagnoses misconceptions is preferred over direct solution provision — Khanmigo at $44/year per learner guides K-12 students through Khan Academy's full math curriculum rather than solving individual problems on demand. Choose Wolfram Alpha Pro over Photomath when advanced symbolic computation, mathematical proof, step-by-step calculus with CAS accuracy, and data analysis beyond arithmetic through statistics are required, at $7.99/month. Choose Mathway over Photomath when typed equation input is preferred over camera scanning, or when coverage of additional specialized domains beyond Photomath's standard seven math areas is required.