M
MAI assistant for chat, web search, writing and images at work and home
Free, from $18/mo
Photomath / Mathway vs Symbolab
Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.
P
Choose Photomath / Mathway if…
- you want a free plan to start with
- you're in its core audience: middle and high school students, college students
S
Choose Symbolab if…
- you work on Web, Chrome
- you're in its core audience: high school students, college students
Side by side
Feature Photomath / Mathway Symbolab
Pricing modelFreemiumPricing unknown
Starting price$5.83/mo—
Free plan
Free trial
API
Open source
Trains AI on your contentYes—
Data retentionStored only as long as legitimate need exists; deletion on request—
PlatformsiOS, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android, Chrome
CompanyPhotomath LLC · United States · part of GoogleLearneo, Inc.
Full feature lists
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
S Symbolab
- Step-by-step solutions from pre-algebra to calculus
- Solves typed math, plain-language questions and photos
- Symbo AI chat for questions about individual steps
- Practice problems with hints and quizzes with feedback
- Graphing and geometry calculators
- Chrome extension to capture and solve problems on any site
- Notebook, cheat sheets, worksheets and study guides
- Verify Solution tool for checking your own work
Their home pages
What each vendor shows first: the pitch, the plans and the sign-up.
Photomath / Mathway · photomath.net
Symbolab · symbolab.comWhat you'd pay
The cheapest plan that fits, per month, billed yearly where the plan offers it.
Photomath / Mathway
Basic$0
Monthly$9.99
Annually$69.99
Symbolab
Pricing unknown. Plan details aren't published.
Strengths and limitations
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
Symbolab
- Covers many subjects, from pre-algebra to calculus, physics and statistics
- Accepts typed math, plain-language questions and photos
- Available on web, iOS, Android and as a Chrome extension
- Includes practice problems, quizzes and study guides
- Focused on math and science, so it doesn't help with other subjects
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Facts from each vendor's public pages, prices checked Oct 26, 2026. Editorial policy