Source-backed analysis11
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
11 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 10, 2026
How we review
Photomath Review
Scan a math problem for step-by-step solutions; basic explanations are free
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- iOS
- Android
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
Photomath suits students who want to see how a problem is solved step by step and check their work, especially on the free tier. The drawbacks are the temptation to copy answers and that deeper explanations sit behind Plus.
Best for: Students who want to compare worked steps with their own homework
Skip it if: People who want a live tutor or open-ended chat; the app centers on scanning problems
Pros
- Basic step-by-step explanations are free
- Handles printed and handwritten problems, with word problems, graphs and a scientific calculator
- High store ratings: App Store 4.8/5 (733,000+ ratings), Google Play 4.3/5 (about 3.1M reviews)
Cons
- Common Sense Media warns kids may use it as a cheat sheet
- Plus costs 9.99 USD/month or 69.99 USD/year for deeper explanations
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
Pros
- The App Store lists 32 interface languages, including Vietnamese
Cons
- Google Play's data-safety declaration and the privacy policy do not fully match
Best for
- Parents and self-learners who need to revisit steps in algebra, geometry or calculus
Skip it if
- Users who prioritize privacy and data deletion, since the Google Play listing says data deletion cannot be requested
Problems it solves
Experience & key features
Photomath is an app that scans a math problem with the camera and shows a step-by-step solution; it is now published by Google LLC. The homepage describes three steps: scan (word problems included), get a solution with several methods where available, then walk through each step to understand it. Coverage runs from elementary math to college: algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics and calculus.
Features
The store descriptions list step-by-step explanations, word-problem instructions, interactive graphs, video learning, multiple solution methods and a scientific calculator. Plus adds animated tutorials and detailed textbook solutions. According to the vendor, explanations are developed by Photomath's own team of mathematicians and former math teachers.
Pricing
The Basic tier is free. Plus has two prices on the homepage: 9.99 USD/month or 69.99 USD/year, both with a trial button. Purchases go through Google Play or the App Store, so refunds follow each store's policy; EEA and UK users also have a 14-day withdrawal right.
More analysis
Things to weigh
Common Sense Media, a parent-oriented review site, suggests ages 11+ and warns kids may use the app as a cheat sheet; it advises checking answers after attempting problems and reviewing steps to find mistakes. On data, the privacy policy and the Google Play declaration do not fully agree, so read both.
Compared with alternatives
Gauth and Brainly also solve homework from photos but span more subjects; Khan Academy focuses on free lessons and practice; Chegg charges for solutions and tutoring. Photomath is narrower, math only, with a focus on showing each step.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026
Basic
PersonalFree
Free. Per the homepage, it includes step-by-step explanations, custom visual aids and extra "how" and "why" tips.
Photomath Plus (monthly)
Personal$9.99/mo/user
9.99 USD/month, auto-renewing. Per the store descriptions, Plus adds animated tutorials, detailed textbook solutions and more.
Photomath Plus (annual)
Personal$5.83/mo/user
69.99 USD/year (about 5.83 USD/month), labelled best value on the homepage.
- Free plan limits
- Basic step-by-step explanations are free when you download the app.
- Free trial
- No free trial
Cancellation & refunds
Per the terms (effective 1 October 2025): paid services are billed through Google Play or the App Store and follow each store's refund policy; otherwise cancellation is not refunded. Users in the EEA and UK may withdraw within 14 days. Free trials, when offered, convert to paid unless cancelled before they end.
Privacy
The privacy policy (effective 31 October 2023) says Photomath does not sell personal data and will never share images users take with service providers, advertisers or other third parties. It still describes analytics and advertising tools (Google Analytics, Google Ads, Facebook Pixel) on the website and possible sharing with advertising partners. The Google Play data-safety section, by contrast, says the app may share photos, user IDs, app interactions and device IDs with third parties, and offers no way to request data deletion. The two sources differ, so both are worth reading. The policy says it does not knowingly collect data from children under 13, and on Google Play the developer commits to the Play Families Policy.
Photomath alternatives
Frequently asked questions
Is Photomath free?
There is a free Basic tier with step-by-step explanations. Plus costs 9.99 USD/month or 69.99 USD/year.
Who owns Photomath?
Google announced the acquisition in May 2022; it closed after European Commission approval in March 2023. The app is now listed under Google LLC on the App Store and Google Play.
Can Photomath handle word problems and handwriting?
The homepage says word problems can be scanned and the app description mentions handwritten problems. Common Sense Media notes handwriting recognition works if the writing is neat enough.
Does Photomath share the photos I scan?
The privacy policy says it will never share images you take with service providers, advertisers or third parties. The Google Play data-safety section, however, lists photos among data that may be shared, so the two sources do not match.
Review evidence & sources11
Scores
- Ease of use
- 8.5
- Features
- 7.5
- Value for money
- 8.0
- Performance
- 7.5
- Support
- 6.0
- Privacy & security
- 6.5
Why this score
Scan, solve, learn flow is simple per the homepage; Common Sense Media praises the easy design but notes holding the camera steady takes practice.
Why this score
Steps, multiple methods, graphs, word problems and a scientific calculator; Common Sense Media noted some problem types missing at the time of its review. Scope is essentially math only.
Why this score
The basic tier is free; Plus at 69.99 USD/year (5.83 USD/month) is moderate next to many paid study apps.
Why this score
App Store 4.8/5 and Google Play 4.3/5 across millions of ratings, with frequent updates (version 8.47.0 on 31 Aug 2026). No independent accuracy measurements were found, so it is not scored higher.
Why this score
A Google-run help center (support.google.com/photomath) covers technical issues, supported math content, Plus subscriptions and refund requests, and the Google Play listing gives [email protected]. No chat or live support was found.
Why this score
The policy says no data sale and no sharing of photos, but advertising and analytics run on the website, and the Google Play declaration lists sharing of photos, user IDs and device IDs with no way to request deletion.
What users say
- App Store (US)4.8/5 · 733,203
- Google Play (US)4.3/5 · 3,100,000
Sources
- Vendor-providedOfficial homepage and pricingNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedOfficial privacy policyNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedOfficial terms of serviceNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedPhotomath Help Center (Google)Nov 10, 2026
- storeApp Store listingNov 10, 2026
- storeGoogle Play listingNov 10, 2026
- storeGoogle Play data safetyNov 10, 2026
- review-siteCommon Sense Media reviewNov 10, 2026
- Community-reportedWikipedia: PhotomathNov 10, 2026
- press9to5Google (2024-02-29)Nov 10, 2026
- pressSeeNews (2023-02-23)Nov 10, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- Google LLC
- Headquarters
- United States
- Launched
- 2014
- Category
- Education
Capabilities
- Mobile app
Platforms
- iOS
- Android
Interface languages
- English
- Vietnamese
- French
- Spanish
- German
- Japanese
- Korean
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Chinese
- Thai
- Indonesian
Support
- Help center
Change history
- Update.Photomath's current Terms of Service take effect.
- Company.Photomath's Play Store and App Store listings move to Google's publisher account; Plus pricing stays 9.99 USD/month or 69.99 USD/year.
- Company.The European Commission approves Google's acquisition of Photomath; the deal closes afterwards.
Full change history (5)
- Company.Google announces it will acquire Photomath for an undisclosed amount.
- Launch.Photomath's first release date on the App Store (iOS).
About the author
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