Mathway Review
An educational math solver that answers problems from arithmetic to calculus via text or photo input, with step-by-step explanations on premium.
Is Mathway Worth It?
Mathway is worth it for middle school, high school, and college students who need reliable answers and worked steps. It solves across 10 math disciplines from text or a photo, and Premium at $9.99/month unlocks the step-by-step breakdowns. The free tier shows final answers only.
About Mathway
Mathway is an educational software platform that solves mathematical problems and provides step-by-step methods for students and professionals. It processes inputs from basic arithmetic to advanced calculus via text input or photo upload, and was acquired by Chegg in 2020. It runs on desktop browsers and dedicated iOS and Android apps.
Users input expressions with a digital keyboard or upload a photo, which an OCR system converts into a digital equation. The free version displays the final answer; Premium adds step-by-step explanations of the theorems and rules applied. Mathway covers 10 distinct disciplines and relies on structured algorithmic computation rather than generative text models.
Our Verdict
Pros
- Covers 10 math disciplines through calculus
- Photo-to-solution via OCR
- Unlimited final answers on the free plan
- Step-by-step breakdowns on Premium
- Interactive 2D graphing
Cons
- Free plan hides the solving steps
- No free trial for Premium
- No generative tutoring or explanations beyond steps
- Refunds depend on the billing platform
- Steps require a subscription
How It Works
Open Mathway
Open the Mathway website or app.
Pick subject
Select the math discipline from the top menu.
Input
Type the equation or upload a photo of the problem.
Choose operation
Select the operation from the prompt menu.
Solve
Tap send to generate the solution.
Review
Review the final answer on screen.
View steps
Tap "view steps" for the breakdown (Premium).
Mathway Features
Basic Math & Pre-Algebra
Fractions, decimals, roots, expressions.
Algebra
Linear, quadratic equations, and inequalities.
Trigonometry
Sine, cosine, tangent, and identities.
Precalculus & Calculus
Limits, derivatives, integrals, series.
Statistics
Probability, permutations, standard deviation.
Graphing
Interactive 2D graphs from equations.
Mathway Pricing
- Full step-by-step breakdowns
- Theorem & rule explanations
- Across all disciplines
Who Is Mathway Best For?
Foundational math and pre-algebra homework help.
Algebra, trig, and calculus with worked steps.
Higher-level calculus and statistics support.
Mathway Alternatives
| Tool | Best for | Price | Notes | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photomath | Mobile photo-scan solving | Free + paid | Free tier available | vs → |
| Symbolab | University-level steps | $6.99/mo | Free tier available | vs → |
| Microsoft Math Solver | Free with video tutorials | Free | Free | vs → |
| Mathway — this review | Broad disciplines & graphing | Free + paid | Free tier |
Mathway vs Photomath
Photomath focuses on mobile photo-scanning with animated steps for basic math and algebra; Mathway covers a broader set of disciplines through calculus and statistics with graphing. Photo-first basics → Photomath; broad coverage → Mathway.
Mathway FAQ
Is Mathway free?
Mathway’s free plan provides unlimited final answers across all disciplines, but step-by-step solving requires Premium at $9.99/month.
How much does Mathway Premium cost?
Mathway Premium costs $9.99 per month or $39.99 per year, unlocking step-by-step explanations. There is no free trial.
Can Mathway solve from a photo?
Yes — Mathway’s OCR system reads a photo of a printed or handwritten equation, converts it to digital form, and solves it.
Who owns Mathway?
Chegg acquired Mathway in 2020. It runs on desktop browsers and iOS and Android apps.
Ready to try Mathway?
Start free, or take the trial to explore premium features across all your devices.
Visit Mathway →Related Tools
A freelance academic writing marketplace that connects students with writers via an open bidding system, escrow payments, and a built-in plagiarism checker.
An AI learning platform that turns lecture notes, slides, and videos into flashcards, quizzes, and study guides, with a Spark.e AI tutor for Q&A.
An AI-powered academic search engine that extracts direct answers from over 200 million peer-reviewed papers and synthesizes scientific consensus.
A mobile AI math solver that scans handwritten or printed equations with a smartphone camera and returns step-by-step solutions.
Khan Academy's AI tutor and teaching assistant that guides students with a Socratic method and helps teachers plan lessons.
A subscription language-learning platform with expert-designed lessons, speech recognition, and spaced-repetition review across 14 languages.