The best math solver app for iPhone, for most students, is Photomath: it reads printed and handwritten problems from a photo, and its free tier already shows basic step-by-step explanations. If you're in algebra through calculus and want more control, Symbolab is the stronger pick. That matters because the "best" app is really the one whose free tier shows you the steps your class expects. An answer alone won't help you on a test. Below are six options, what each one is good and bad at, and how to choose without paying for features you won't use.
How we chose
We compared apps that are live on the US App Store today and built for solving math problems, not general calculators. Every fact below comes from each app's official App Store listing, as of October 2026. We didn't test the apps ourselves, and we didn't count user reviews as evidence of accuracy.
We looked at four things:
- Input: can you photograph the problem, or do you have to type it?
- Free steps: does the free version show working, or only the final answer?
- Range: which classes the app says it covers, from arithmetic to calculus.
- Extras: graphs, tutors, video lessons, other subjects.
One app that still shows up on older "best of" lists is missing on purpose. Microsoft's free solver app was retired on July 7, 2025, and Microsoft pointed users to the Math Assistant in OneNote instead. If a list still recommends it, that list is out of date.
| App | Developer | Photo input | Free version shows | Notable extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photomath | Yes, incl. handwriting | Basic step-by-step explanations | Animated steps, graphs, calculator | |
| Symbolab | Symbolab | Yes, incl. word problems | Solutions with basic steps | 500+ calculators, graphing |
| Mathway | Chegg | Yes | Answers; steps need a subscription | Class-specific calculators, physics |
| Gauth | Gauthtech | Yes, auto-crops | Some explanation; detail in Plus | Live AI tutor, other sciences |
| WolframAlpha | Wolfram Group | Pro only | Paid app with basic steps | Science, finance, unit conversions |
| Math Solver: Photo Answers | Alic Systems | Yes | Answers with explanations | Simple, single-purpose app |
Source: each app's US App Store listing, as of October 2026. Prices and plans change, so check the listing before you subscribe.
1. Photomath
Photomath, now published by Google, is the default answer for a reason. You point the camera at a printed, handwritten or textbook problem, including word problems, and it shows the steps with the reasoning behind each one. Its listing says basic step-by-step explanations are free.
Strengths: free steps, handwriting support, "Animated Steps" that show how one line turns into the next, and more than one solution method for some problems. It covers numbers, algebra, functions, trigonometry, sequences, geometry and calculus.
Weaknesses: the deeper material, such as animated tutorials and textbook solutions, sits in the Photomath Plus subscription. It's also built for school math, so it isn't the tool for physics or finance questions.
Best for: middle school through early college students who want to see where their own working went wrong.
2. Symbolab
Symbolab leans toward the symbolic side of math. You type or photograph a problem and get solutions with basic steps for free. It also bundles a library of more than 500 calculators: derivatives, integrals, limits, matrices, series, differential equations and Laplace transforms among them.
Strengths: strong coverage from pre-algebra through calculus, a graphing calculator, and calculators named for the exact topic you're studying. That makes it easy to practise one skill at a time.
Weaknesses: the listing says the more advanced steps and explanations need a subscription, and the free version includes ads. Typing longer expressions into specialised calculators takes some getting used to.
Best for: algebra, precalculus and calculus students who want to check each method, not just each answer. Our Symbolab vs Mathway comparison goes deeper on calculus homework specifically.
3. Mathway
Mathway, from Chegg, lets you photograph or type a problem. Its calculator changes based on the class you pick, so the buttons match what you're studying. Its listing names algebra, graphing and calculus, and recent updates added physics.
Strengths: a wide range of subjects in one place, and the class-based calculator keeps the interface simple for each level.
Weaknesses: this is the key trade-off. Free use gives you answers, and the developer says you need to subscribe for step-by-step breakdowns. If your teacher marks the working, the free version won't show you much.
Best for: students who mostly want to check final answers across several classes, or who are happy to pay for steps.
4. Gauth
Gauth works more like a broad homework assistant than a pure math tool. Snap a photo and it crops the question and gives a step-by-step solution. Beyond math, its listing covers biology, physics and chemistry. It also offers an AI Live Tutor that explains problems by voice on a virtual whiteboard, and access to human experts.
Strengths: the widest feature set on this list, covering word problems, statistics, matrices and logic, plus quizzes and flashcards made from your own notes.
Weaknesses: more detailed explanations, the video library and priority expert help are part of Gauth Plus. It's also the largest download here, at over 200 MB. If you only want math steps, much of it is extra weight.
Best for: students who want help across several science subjects in one app.
5. WolframAlpha
WolframAlpha is a computational knowledge engine, not a homework scanner. It's a paid download. Its strength is breadth and depth: the same app handles calculus, unit conversions, chemistry data, finance comparisons and nutrition questions.
Strengths: very powerful for university-level math and science, and useful long after a single course ends.
Weaknesses: you pay upfront, and the developer says enhanced step-by-step solutions and image input are part of WolframAlpha Pro. You have to learn how to phrase queries, and its App Store rating is lower than the others on this list.
Best for: college students, engineers and anyone who wants a serious computation tool rather than a quick homework check.
6. Math Solver: Photo Answers
Math Solver: Photo Answers is our own app, so read this entry with that in mind. It does one job: you photograph a math problem and get an answer with a clear explanation. Its listing describes it for exam prep, homework and complex equations, and also for parents helping with homework and tutors explaining methods.
Strengths: a small, focused app without tutors, videos or extra subjects to work around. It's aimed at quick checks: one photo, one answer, one explanation.
Weaknesses: it's newer and doesn't yet have enough App Store ratings to show a score. It runs on iPhone only, and full use needs a Pro subscription, weekly or yearly. It also doesn't have the big calculator library of Symbolab or the science coverage of Gauth.
Best for: students and parents who want a quick, simple photo-to-explanation tool and nothing else.
Which one is right for you?
Start with what your class marks. If the teacher grades the working, choose an app that shows steps for free: Photomath or Symbolab. Mathway's free answers won't be enough.
Then match the app to your level:
- Middle school and algebra 1: Photomath. It handles handwriting and explains each step in plain terms.
- Algebra 2 through calculus: Symbolab, especially for topic calculators like derivatives and limits. For triangle and angle problems, our guide to the exterior angle theorem shows the kind of working a good app should show.
- Several science classes: Gauth, if you'll actually use the tutor and other subjects.
- University or technical work: WolframAlpha.
- A parent checking homework quickly: a simple, single-purpose app like ours, or Photomath's free tier.
Whichever you choose, use it after you've tried the problem yourself. Compare the app's steps with yours and find the first line where they differ. That one line teaches more than reading a full solution, and it's what you'll need on a test with no phone. Always follow your school's rules on calculators and AI tools for graded work.
How Math Solver can help
If you want the shortest path from a photo to an explanation, Math Solver: Photo Answers is built for exactly that. Take a picture of the problem, get the answer, and read the explanation of how it was solved. It suits homework checks, exam revision and parents who've forgotten long division. It won't replace a full calculator suite or a tutor, and it's on iPhone only. For more guides on working through problems step by step, see the Math Solver blog.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free math solver app for iPhone?
Photomath is the strongest free option by its own listing, because basic step-by-step explanations are free and you only pay for extras like animated tutorials and textbook solutions. Symbolab also gives free solutions with basic steps. Mathway shows answers for free but puts detailed steps behind a subscription.
Which math solver app shows steps for free?
According to their App Store listings, Photomath and Symbolab both include basic steps in their free versions. Mathway gives free answers but asks you to subscribe for step-by-step breakdowns. Gauth and WolframAlpha offer some explanation for free and reserve more detailed steps for paid plans.
Is Microsoft Math Solver still available?
No. Microsoft retired Math Solver on July 7, 2025, and its own site pointed users to the Math Assistant in OneNote instead. Older lists of the best math apps still recommend it, so if you see it suggested, pick one of the active apps instead.
Is it cheating to use a math solver app?
It depends on how you use it and on your teacher's rules. Copying an answer onto graded work usually breaks them. Using an app to check your own working, or to see the step where you went wrong, is closer to using a worked example in a textbook. When in doubt, ask your teacher.
Can math solver apps read handwriting?
Several can. Photomath's listing says it handles handwritten problems, textbook problems and word problems, and Gauth crops and recognises a photographed question automatically. Clear, dark writing on plain paper and one problem per photo give any app the best chance of reading it correctly.
Conclusion
There's no single best math solver app for iPhone, only the best match for your class. Photomath is the safest free pick because it shows basic steps without a subscription. Symbolab is stronger for calculus. Mathway is broad but keeps steps behind a paywall. Gauth covers the most subjects, and WolframAlpha is the power tool for advanced work. Skip any list that still recommends Microsoft's retired app. Whatever you install, attempt the problem first and use the app to find your mistake, not to replace your thinking.