Photomath
Scan a maths problem and see every step, free; owned by Google since 2023
Overview
Photomath is a camera maths app: scan a printed or handwritten problem, or type it in, and it shows a step-by-step solution from arithmetic through introductory calculus. Google has owned it since 2023, the core solutions are free, and Photomath Plus adds animated tutorials, deeper explanations and hints.
Pricing
Pricing shown for reference only. These figures reflect RECATOOLS research as of 14 Oct 2026 and may be out of date or incomplete. This is not financial or purchasing advice — always confirm the current price on the provider’s official website before making any decision.
- Step-by-step explanations
- Step-by-step explanations
- Custom visual aids
- Extra "how" and "why" tips
- Step-by-step explanations
- Custom visual aids
- Extra "how" and "why" tips
Use cases
What you can produce with Photomath
- A step-by-step solution to a scanned printed or handwritten maths problem, including word problems
- Alternative solving methods shown side by side where more than one applies
- Graphs, roots, extrema and asymptotes for functions
- Worked limits, derivatives and integrals for introductory calculus
- AI-powered animated tutorials with voice-over (Plus)
- Contextual hints and deeper "how" and "why" explanations (Plus)
ASEAN Perspective
Photomath in Southeast Asia
Photomath's broad language support (32 languages) and fully free core tier make it accessible across ASEAN's diverse education markets, particularly in countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia where smartphone penetration is high and supplementary tutoring costs can be a barrier. Academic research in the Philippines (2024–2025) found measurable improvements in senior high school students' algebra independence after Photomath intervention. However, the app's Photomath Plus textbook solutions are built primarily around US-published curricula, so ASEAN students using local textbooks will get less value from the paid tier and should rely primarily on the free step-by-step solver.
Photomath is still one of the best free maths helpers: scanning is quick, the step-by-step solutions stay free by the company's own commitment, and coverage runs from arithmetic through calculus in 32 languages, including Indonesian, Malay, Thai and Vietnamese. Plus is optional and buys animated tutorials and hints rather than the answers.
Know the edges. Statistics and probability are listed as unsupported, the app needs an internet connection, and there is no developer API. For ASEAN students working through school algebra and calculus, it is an easy recommendation; for anything beyond, look elsewhere.
What we found
Photomath is the camera maths app that started in Zagreb and has belonged to Google since 2023. It first appeared on the iPhone in October 2014; the European Commission cleared Google's purchase in March 2023 without conditions, and both app stores now list Google as the seller. Photomath LLC is named in the current terms, and the help centre has moved onto Google's support site.
The workflow has not changed: scan a printed or handwritten problem, including word problems, or type it into the smart calculator, and Photomath returns a solution with each step explained, sometimes by more than one method. The help centre lists coverage from arithmetic and fractions through equations, functions, trigonometry and calculus, with limits, derivatives and integrals. It also lists gaps, including statistics and probability, interest-rate questions and inequalities in two variables, even though the homepage advertises statistics. Solving now happens in the cloud, so the app needs an internet connection. It runs in 32 languages, among them Indonesian, Malay, Thai and Vietnamese.
Photomath states that step-by-step solutions to symbolic maths will always stay free. Photomath Plus adds more than 400 AI-powered animated tutorials with voice-over, deeper explanations and contextual hints, at $9.99 billed monthly or $69.99 billed annually, with a six-month option mentioned in the help centre but not priced. Billing runs through Google Play or the App Store, and Photomath says it handles no payment data itself.
Users rate it well. Read on 14 October 2026, the iPhone app scores 4.8 from 733,156 ratings on Apple's US App Store and the Android app 4.3 from 3.1 million Google Play reviews, with more than 100 million downloads. Earlier versions of this page promised textbook-matched solutions and a stated acquisition price; neither could be traced to Photomath or Google. It is a strong free homework helper through introductory calculus, not a tool for statistics or proofs.
Compiled by RECATOOLS from public sources: vendor documentation and pricing, code repositories and published reporting.
Notable facts
- Photomath began as a demo app to showcase MicroBlink's banking OCR technology — its consumer success was entirely accidental.
- Within days of debuting at TechCrunch Disrupt London in October 2014, it knocked Facebook Messenger off the top spot on the iOS App Store.
- Google announced the acquisition in May 2022 but had to wait over a year for EU regulatory approval before completing the deal in June 2023.
- At the time of its Series B fundraise in early 2021, Photomath was resolving 2.2 billion math problems every single month.
Frequently asked questions
About this listing
This entry was compiled from publicly available data including Photomath's official website, press releases, documentation, and reputable third-party publications. RECATOOLS is not affiliated with Photomath unless explicitly stated.
Third-party AI tools update their pricing, features, availability, and policies frequently. Information here may be outdated by the time you read this — we make reasonable efforts to keep listings current, but cannot guarantee absolute accuracy.
For the latest details, please refer to Photomath directly →
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