The 4 Best Math Problem Solver Apps in 2026
An app that just hands you the answer is useless; one that explains how you get there can replace half an hour of private tutoring. That is the real difference between these tools, and also the reason so many of them lock the steps behind a paid plan. In this guide we compare the 4 best math problem solver apps in 2026.
Apps that solve math exercises step by step
Math apps for your phone that solve exercises with the camera or the keyboard, explain the working step by step and plot functions on interactive graphs.
Top pick
Photomath: Resolver Matemáticas
Google LLC · Free (with purchases) · 100M+
Best for high school
4.6
3.1M reviews
TopApps analysis
Photomath solves by pointing the camera, reads even handwritten problems and explains the working step by step in plain language.
Photomath solves maths problems by pointing the camera at them and, crucially, shows the working step by step instead of just the answer. It covers everything from arithmetic to calculus and copes well even with handwritten exercises, which makes it genuinely useful for revising at home.
Pros
- Solves problems by pointing the camera
- Explains the working step by step
- Reads handwritten problems too
Cons
- Detailed explanations are paid
- Can encourage copying rather than learning
- Struggles with long word problems
Symbolab: Solucionador Matemático
Symbolab - Math · Free (with purchases) · 10M+
Best for university
4.3
148K reviews
TopApps analysis
Symbolab solves integrals, differential equations and matrices using the notation of technical degrees, well above high-school level.
Symbolab is the option for higher levels: where Photomath focuses on secondary school, Symbolab solves integrals, differential equations, matrices and series using the notation you actually meet at university. You can type the expression on its maths keyboard or photograph it.
Pros
- Solves university-level maths
- Very complete maths keyboard
- Covers integrals, derivatives, matrices and series
Cons
- Full step-by-step needs a subscription
- Interface less polished than Photomath's
- Can overwhelm at basic levels
Last updated: 2026-07-29
Mathway: Resolver Matemáticas
Chegg, Inc. · Free (with purchases) · 50M+
Widest coverage
3.6
414K reviews
TopApps analysis
Mathway spans everything from arithmetic to statistics and chemistry, and gives you the answer to any problem you throw at it for free.
Mathway covers the widest range of branches: arithmetic, algebra, trigonometry, calculus, statistics, chemistry and even graphing. It gives you the answer to any problem for free, but seeing how it got there requires a subscription, which explains its uneven rating.
Pros
- Covers a huge range of branches, statistics and chemistry included
- Gives the answer to any problem for free
- Built-in graphing calculator
Cons
- Seeing the steps requires a subscription
- Low user rating
- Pushy ads in the free version
GeoGebra Calculadora Gráfica
Free · 10M+
Best for understanding
3.8
50K reviews
TopApps analysis
GeoGebra does not solve for you: it plots functions and geometry interactively so you can see what is happening, and it is free with no ads.
GeoGebra won't do your homework for you: it lets you see it. It's the go-to tool in secondary schools for plotting functions, geometry and statistics interactively, dragging the parameters and watching the graph react. It's free, ad-free and built by an educational organisation.
Pros
- Free, with no ads or subscriptions
- A standard in schools and universities
- Interactive graphs you can manipulate
Cons
- Doesn't solve problems step by step
- Takes some learning to get the most out of it
- Uneven ratings due to bugs on some phones
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free math app?
GeoGebra is the only one that is completely free and ad-free, though its focus is on visualising and understanding, not on solving exercises step by step. Photomath is the best of the ones that do solve: it gives you the answer and a basic explanation for free, keeping the detailed explanations for the paid plan.
Photomath or Symbolab?
Photomath if you are in high school: its camera reading is the best of the group and its explanations are written for someone who is still learning. Symbolab if you are at university: it handles complex integrals, series and differential equations that Photomath will not even attempt, and its math keyboard makes writing advanced notation comfortable.
Do these apps help you learn, or only copy?
Both, and it depends how you use them. Used to copy the answer before attempting the exercise, they teach you nothing. Used after attempting it, to compare the working and find where you went wrong, they are enormously useful: they tell you the exact step where your reasoning breaks down, which is information a corrected answer in class never gives you.
Do they work with word problems?
Up to a point. Photomath and Mathway read photographed mathematical expressions well, even handwritten ones, but they get stuck on long word problems of the "a train leaves a station at..." variety. For those you first have to turn the wording into an equation, which is usually the hard part of the exercise.
Articles you might like
The 4 Best Language Learning Apps in 2026
We compare the best language learning apps: Duolingo (gamified), Babbel (conversation), Busuu (native speakers) and Memrise (real videos).
The 4 Best Apps to Learn English in 2026
We compare the best apps to learn English: Duolingo, Babbel, Busuu and Memrise. From scratch or to improve, with conversation, grammar and vocabulary.
The 5 Best Apps to Learn French in 2026
We compare the best apps to learn French: Babbel, Duolingo, Busuu, Mondly and Drops. Which one to pick based on your level and the time you have.
The 5 Best Apps to Learn German in 2026
We compare the best apps for learning German: Babbel, Busuu, Duolingo, Mondly and Tandem. Which one to pick for the cases and German grammar.
The 5 Best Apps to Learn Italian in 2026
We compare the best apps to learn Italian: Duolingo, Babbel, Busuu, Mondly and Drops. Which one to pick and where learners actually get stuck.
The 5 Best Apps to Learn Portuguese in 2026
We compare the best apps to learn Portuguese: Duolingo, Babbel, Busuu, Memrise and Mondly. European or Brazilian Portuguese: which apps cover each.