An educational math solver that answers problems from arithmetic to calculus via text or photo input, with step-by-step explanations on premium.
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.
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.
Open the Mathway website or app.
Select the math discipline from the top menu.
Type the equation or upload a photo of the problem.
Select the operation from the prompt menu.
Tap send to generate the solution.
Review the final answer on screen.
Tap "view steps" for the breakdown (Premium).
Fractions, decimals, roots, expressions.
Linear, quadratic equations, and inequalities.
Sine, cosine, tangent, and identities.
Limits, derivatives, integrals, series.
Probability, permutations, standard deviation.
Interactive 2D graphs from equations.
Foundational math and pre-algebra homework help.
Algebra, trig, and calculus with worked steps.
Higher-level calculus and statistics support.
| 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 |
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’s free plan provides unlimited final answers across all disciplines, but step-by-step solving requires Premium at $9.99/month.
Mathway Premium costs $9.99 per month or $39.99 per year, unlocking step-by-step explanations. There is no free trial.
Yes — Mathway’s OCR system reads a photo of a printed or handwritten equation, converts it to digital form, and solves it.
Chegg acquired Mathway in 2020. It runs on desktop browsers and iOS and Android apps.
Start free, or take the trial to explore premium features across all your devices.
Visit Mathway →