S
SNotebookLM vs Photomath / Mathway
Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.
N
Choose NotebookLM if…
- you work on Web
- you're in its core audience: students, researchers
P
Choose Photomath / Mathway if…
- you work on iOS, Android
- you're in its core audience: middle and high school students, college students
Side by side
Feature NotebookLM Photomath / Mathway
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Starting price—$5.83/mo
Free plan
Free trial
API
Open source
Trains AI on your content—Yes
Data retention—Stored only as long as legitimate need exists; deletion on request
PlatformsWebiOS, Android
CategoryResearch AssistantsLearning & Tutoring
CompanyGooglePhotomath LLC
Based in—United States
Founded——
Part of—Google
Key features
N NotebookLM
- Notebooks organized around your uploaded sources
- Answers questions using a Gemini model
- Up to 600 sources per notebook on top tiers
- Notebook sharing, with advanced controls on Enterprise
- Workspace and Workspace for Education access
- Enterprise security controls via Google Cloud
P Photomath / Mathway
- Scan math problems with the phone camera
- Solves word problems
- Smart calculator for typed input
- Step-by-step solution explanations
- Multiple solution methods for many problems
- Custom visual aids
- Extra "how" and "why" tips
- Covers arithmetic through calculus and statistics
Plans and prices
From each vendor's site. Prices change — confirm before buying.
NotebookLM
StandardFree
Plus (Google AI Plus)Price not stated
Pro (Google AI Pro)Price not stated
Ultra (Google AI Ultra)Price not stated
EnterpriseCustom
Photomath / Mathway
Basic$0
Monthly$9.99
Annually$69.99
Strengths and limitations
NotebookLM
- Free Standard tier allows 100 notebooks and 50 sources per notebook
- Paid tiers raise limits to as many as 600 sources per notebook
- Available through Workspace, Workspace for Education and Google Cloud
- NotebookLM help page gives no prices; they sit on separate Google AI plan pages
- Watermarks stay on output in India, South Korea and Vietnam even on paid plans
- Google labels plan limits as subject to change
Photomath / Mathway
- Free Basic tier available
- Covers elementary math through college calculus
- Trials offered on both paid plans
- Annual plan works out cheaper than monthly
- Only listed for iOS and Android, with no web or desktop app mentioned
- No API listed
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Facts from each vendor's public pages, prices checked Oct 26, 2026. Editorial policy