Disclosure: Socratic Solve is our app, so it is not in the numbered list; we describe it separately after the list, limitations included. Facts about other apps come from their own websites, help centers and App Store listings, checked on October 21, 2026. Prices are US prices and may vary by region.
What Mathway does well
Mathway, owned by Chegg, is hugely popular, rated 4.9 from about 425,000 ratings on the US App Store. You can type a problem or upload a photo of it, and it covers 11 subjects: basic math, pre-algebra, algebra, trigonometry, precalculus, calculus, statistics, finite math, linear algebra, chemistry and physics.
Mathway's site says it's free to use and gives step-by-step solutions without signing up, and that "an optional subscription unlocks the full work shown for every step." Its premium terms call that plan Step-by-Step Access, at $9.99 a month or $39.99 a year (the App Store also lists $19.99 and $79.99 price points).
Why people look for a Mathway alternative
- The full working is paid. The free version shows steps, but Mathway says the subscription unlocks the full work for every step, and its premium terms sell the plan as Step-by-Step Access.
- Ads in the free version. Mathway's Google Play listing is labeled "Contains ads," and its premium terms say a subscription limits the ads you see rather than removing them.
- Wanting more explanation. Some students want each step explained in words, not just shown.
- Subjects beyond its list. Mathway covers math, chemistry and physics. For biology or history homework, you need something else.
Mathway alternatives compared
| App | Best for | Subjects | Free steps? | Paid price (US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathway (for reference) | Quick answers across 11 subjects | Math, chemistry, physics | Yes; full work is paid | $9.99/month, $39.99/year |
| Photomath | Free step-by-step math | Math only | Yes, for symbolic math | Plus: in-app from $5.99 (periods not shown) |
| Symbolab | Calculus and 500+ calculators | Math only | Basic steps | In-app from $7.99/month, $34.99/year |
| Wolfram|Alpha | Advanced computation | Math and more | No (Pro only) | Pro in-app: $9.99/month, $59.99/year |
| Gauth | All subjects with expert help | Math, science and more | Free limits not stated | Plus: $11.99/month, $31.99/quarter, $99.99/year |
| GeoGebra | Free graphing, plus a photo math solver | Math | Calculators are free | Math Solver Premium in-app from $4.99/month |
| Google Lens | Free lookup in any subject | All subjects | Free (web results) | Free |
| Socratic Solve (our app) | Steps in every subject, saved history, 20+ languages | Math, science, history and more | Free credits to start | In-app: $6.99/week, $14.99/month, $49.99/year |
For a wider comparison of nine homework apps, see our best homework helper apps guide.
1. Photomath: best free step-by-step math
Best for: full steps on math homework without paying.
Photomath, made by Google, solves math from a photo and is rated 4.8 from about 733,000 ratings on the US App Store. Google's help center says core features with step-by-step solutions to symbolic math "will always remain free of cost," for as many problems as you need. Photomath Plus adds animated tutorials, deeper explanations and hints; the App Store lists Plus purchases from $5.99 to $9.99 without showing the billing periods.
Limitations: math only, and the deeper explanations are paid. Our Photomath alternatives guide covers its tradeoffs.
2. Symbolab: best for calculus and calculators
Best for: high school and college math with lots of specialized calculators.
Symbolab solves typed or photographed math and has more than 500 calculators. Its App Store listing says free solutions come with basic steps, and a subscription adds more advanced steps and explanations. In-app prices include $7.99 or $9.99 a month and $34.99 or $39.99 a year (the listing shows more than one price per plan). It's rated 4.6 from about 26,000 ratings.
Limitations: math only, and the fuller explanations are paid.
3. Wolfram|Alpha: best for advanced computation
Best for: college-level problems and checking hard answers.
Wolfram|Alpha is a computation engine: you type a question and it calculates the answer. The main app is free to download, but Wolfram's pricing page says the free Basic account doesn't include step-by-step solutions. In the app, Pro costs $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year and adds steps and photo input.
Limitations: no free steps, and the main iOS app has a low 2.8 rating from 133 ratings.
4. Gauth: best for all subjects with expert backup
Best for: students who want an all-in-one app with human experts on call.
Gauth covers math, biology, physics, chemistry and more, and is rated 4.8 from about 1.5 million ratings. Its App Store listing prices Gauth Plus at $11.99 a month, $31.99 a quarter or $99.99 a year, but doesn't say what the free version includes.
Limitations: the free limits aren't published, and Plus costs more than most apps here. See our Gauth alternatives guide for more.
5. GeoGebra: best free graphing
Best for: graphing functions and geometry, for free.
GeoGebra's calculators and apps are free on the web, Windows, iOS and Android. It also makes a separate GeoGebra Math Solver app that solves a photo of a problem step by step and can check your own handwritten work; its Premium plan starts at $4.99 a month in the App Store.
Limitations: the Math Solver app has only 10 App Store ratings so far, and the graphing apps graph rather than explain your homework.
6. Google Lens: best free lookup in any subject
Best for: a free search when you're stuck.
Google Lens, in the free Google app, lets you photograph a question to find explainers, videos and web results for math, history, chemistry, biology, physics and more.
Limitations: it points you to web pages rather than working your exact problem in one place, and result quality varies.
Our app: Socratic Solve
Best for: students whose homework goes beyond math.
Socratic Solve scans printed or handwritten questions with your camera, or you can type a question or upload a photo. You get a step-by-step solution with rendered math notation, in math (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, logarithms, matrices and calculus), physics, chemistry, biology, history and more. Every question is saved to a searchable history tagged by subject, and the app works in 20+ languages on iPhone, iPad (iOS 16+) and Android.
Limitations: it's a newer app with a 4.8 App Store rating from only 6 ratings, so there's far less public feedback than Mathway's. It has no graphing calculator. Free credits get you started, but regular use needs a subscription (App Store in-app purchases: $6.99 a week, $14.99 a month or $49.99 a year). Socratic Solve is independent and isn't affiliated with Chegg, Google or the former Socratic by Google app.
Test any Mathway alternative with one problem
The fastest way to choose is to give two apps the same problem and compare the explanations. Use one with a trap, so you can see whether the app shows the step that matters.
Problem: Solve log2(x) + log2(x − 2) = 3.
A complete solution looks like this:
- Combine the logs with the product rule: log2(x(x − 2)) = 3.
- Rewrite in exponential form: x(x − 2) = 2³ = 8.
- Make it a quadratic: x² − 2x − 8 = 0, which factors as (x − 4)(x + 2) = 0, so x = 4 or x = −2.
- Check the domain: you can't take the log of a negative number, so x = −2 is not allowed (log2(−2) is undefined).
- Answer: x = 4. Check: log2(4) + log2(2) = 2 + 1 = 3.
The trap: stopping at step 3 and writing "x = 4 or x = −2." That answer is marked wrong. A good app shows the domain check in step 4 and explains why one solution gets thrown out; an answer-only view can't teach you that. For more practice like this, see our algebra solver with steps guide.
Which Mathway alternative should you choose?
- You want full steps for free and mostly do math: Photomath.
- You have science or history homework too: Socratic Solve (our app), especially if you want a searchable history of your questions or study in a language other than English.
- You're in calculus or college math: Symbolab, or Wolfram|Alpha Pro for heavier computation. For the method itself, see our calculus solver with steps guide.
- You need graphs: GeoGebra, free on every device.
- You need something free right now: Google Lens.
- Mathway's steps already work for you: stay with Mathway; its free version is a solid place to start.
Whichever you pick, read the steps, then redo the problem on paper without looking, and follow your school's academic integrity policy.
Try Socratic Solve free
Snap a math or science problem and get every step explained. Free credits to start on iPhone, iPad and Android.
