The best Photomath alternatives
Photomath's alternatives are other photo-solvers — Symbolab goes deeper into advanced maths, Gauth spans more STEM subjects with live tutors, Microsoft Math Solver is free.
An independent read — we build learning products too, so we never rank by ad spend or our own interest. Each option is scored through the Four Mismatches Test.
| Tool | Pricing |
|---|---|
| PhotomathGlobal | Free scanner; 'Photomath Plus' ~US$9.99/month for extended steps |
| SymbolabIsrael | Freemium; 'Symbolab Pro' ~US$11.99/month for full steps |
| GauthGlobal | Free photo-solve; paid 'Plus'/points for live human tutors |
| Microsoft Math SolverGlobal | Free |
| Wolfram AlphaUnited States | Freemium (Pro) + B2B API |
| SocraticUnited States | Free |
Which alternative fits your exam
None of these is exam-native: they solve a problem, they don't teach your syllabus. Treat any of them as a supplement, not a core platform — and remember a solver that gives the answer can undercut the learning it's meant to support.
Where Photomath genuinely wins
Photomath is the original and still the most polished photo-solve experience: fast, reliable OCR on printed and handwritten maths, with clean step-by-step working for basic-to-intermediate problems. For quick unblocking, it's the smoothest.
The alternatives
- SymbolabIsrael
Step-by-step maths solver and calculator.
- GauthGlobal
Photo homework solver across subjects.
- Microsoft Math SolverGlobal
Free photo and handwriting maths solver.
- Wolfram AlphaUnited States
Computational answers across maths and science.
- SocraticUnited States
Photo a question, get explanations.
Head-to-head
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best free alternative to Photomath?
- Microsoft Math Solver is fully free with step-by-step solutions and graphs; Socratic (by Google) is free and spans more subjects. Both avoid Photomath's paywall on extended steps.
- Photomath or Symbolab for calculus?
- Symbolab. It specialises in advanced maths — calculus, linear algebra, differential equations — with deeper step-by-step working, where Photomath is strongest on speed for basic-to-intermediate problems.