Mathway
mathway.com
What it is
Mathway is an AI-powered solver and calculator for math and related subjects, available on Android, iOS, web, and Windows. Users can enter a problem by typing or submit a photo of handwritten or printed work. Its listed subjects range from Basic Math, Pre-Algebra, Algebra, and Trigonometry through Calculus, Statistics, Linear Algebra, Chemistry, and Physics. Dedicated calculators cover tasks such as equations, factoring, derivatives, graphing, and statistics. Mathway says the solver explains the method behind solutions, while a subscription unlocks full step-by-step work. The service can be used without signing up, and the Free plan is listed at free. Step-by-Step Access costs $9.99 a month and limits advertisements. A 7-day trial is listed. Premium subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled, and subscriptions bought in mobile apps are billed through the relevant app store. Mathway describes its service as a problem-solving resource for students, parents, and teachers.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- Mathway is an AI-powered solver and calculator that accepts typed problems or photos and returns worked solutions.Read 19 Oct 2026 · mathway.com
- Product
- Mathway is an AI-powered math solver and calculator for students.Read 30 Sep 2026 · mathway.com
- Audience
- Mathway describes its service as a problem-solving resource for students, parents, and teachers.Read 30 Sep 2026 · mathway.com
- Support
- The contact page directs users to [email protected] for help.Read 19 Oct 2026 · mathway.com
- License
- The reviewed Mathway pages do not state an open-source license or provide self-hosting instructions.Read 19 Oct 2026 · mathway.com
- Company
- Mathway Premium is provided by Mathway, LLC, a subsidiary of Chegg, Inc.Read 30 Sep 2026 · mathway.com
- Acquisition news
- Chegg announced on June 4, 2020 that it acquired Mathway for about $100 million in cash, with up to $15 million in potential additional payments.Read 19 Oct 2026 · investor.chegg.com
- Android app
- The Google Play listing says the app encrypts data in transit and lets users request deletion of their data.Read 30 Sep 2026 · play.google.com
- Browser requirement
- The website states that JavaScript and a modern browser are required.Read 19 Oct 2026 · mathway.com
- Calculator library
- Mathway lists 59 free calculators spanning algebra, calculus, statistics, physics and other subjects.Read 19 Oct 2026 · mathway.com
- Calculators
- Mathway offers dedicated calculators for tasks including equations, factoring, derivatives, graphing, and statistics.Read 30 Sep 2026 · mathway.com
- Company founding discrepancy
- LinkedIn lists 2008 as the founding year, while Chegg's acquisition announcement says the founders started Mathway in 2002.Read 19 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
- Company headquarters and size
- LinkedIn lists Mathway as a privately held software company headquartered in Center Valley, Pennsylvania with 11–50 employees.Read 19 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
- Company legal entity
- The subscription terms identify Mathway, LLC as a Chegg subsidiary.Read 19 Oct 2026 · mathway.com
- Data safety on Google Play
- Google Play says the app shares no data with third parties, may collect location and personal information, encrypts data in transit and supports deletion requests.Read 19 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Developer documentation
- Mathway's public navigation exposes examples, glossary, help and subscription pages but no official API or SDK documentation link.Read 19 Oct 2026 · mathway.com
- Examples library
- Its examples area provides worked problems, chapter groupings, calculator links and formula references across subjects.Read 19 Oct 2026 · mathway.com
- Free access
- Mathway says it can be used without signing up, and an optional subscription unlocks the full work shown for each step.Read 30 Sep 2026 · mathway.com
- Historical product breadth
- Chegg's announcement described more than 400 math topics and an Ask an Expert Live feature in 2020.Read 19 Oct 2026 · investor.chegg.com
- International reach at acquisition
- Chegg said Mathway had subscribers in about 100 countries and localization in 13 languages at acquisition.Read 19 Oct 2026 · investor.chegg.com
- iOS app
- The App Store lists Mathway as a free download with in-app purchases for iPhone and iPad.Read 30 Sep 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Limit: cancellation and billing
- Trustpilot reports repeated complaints about difficult cancellation and unexpected subscription charges.Read 19 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
- Limit: coverage gaps
- Apple reviewers report that some advanced or seemingly basic problems are marked unsolvable and that word-problem handling is limited.Read 19 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Limit: reliability
- Google Play reviewers describe slow loading, photo scans that fail to load and calculation screens that become stuck.Read 19 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Limit: subscription value
- Trustpilot reviewers complain that step-by-step explanations are paywalled and that the product is not student friendly at the price.Read 19 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
- Mobile billing
- Subscriptions purchased in the mobile app are billed through the relevant app store.Read 30 Sep 2026 · mathway.com
- Ownership
- Crunchbase identifies Mathway as an active Chegg sub-organization founded by Frank Balcavage and Jake Kuehner.Read 19 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
- Photo input
- Users can photograph handwritten or printed questions for recognition and solving.Read 19 Oct 2026 · mathway.com
- Praise: broad solving tools
- An Apple reviewer praised the app's algebra accuracy, physics support, graphing and trigonometry tools.Read 19 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Praise: speed and usefulness
- Trustpilot includes praise that answers are found quickly and without waiting.Read 19 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
- Problem input
- Users can type a problem or upload a photo of handwritten or printed work.Read 30 Sep 2026 · mathway.com
- Rating on Apple App Store
- 4.9 out of 5 from 423.5K ratingsRead 19 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Rating on Chrome Web Store
- 4.6 out of 5 from 9 ratings for the Mathway Screenshot Support extensionRead 19 Oct 2026 · chromewebstore.google.com
- Rating on Google Play
- 4.1 out of 5 from 414K reviewsRead 19 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Rating on Trustpilot
- 1.7 out of 5 from 77 reviewsRead 19 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
- Scale claim
- Mathway says it has solved more than 5 billion problems and has operated for over 20 years.Read 19 Oct 2026 · mathway.com
- Security incident
- Mathway disclosed that unauthorized parties acquired account email addresses and hashed, salted passwords in a 2020 incident; it said payment data was stored separately.Read 19 Oct 2026 · mathway.com
- Step-by-step
- Mathway says its solver explains the method behind solutions, while Premium provides step-by-step access.Read 30 Sep 2026 · mathway.com
- Subjects
- The service covers basic math, pre-algebra, algebra, trigonometry, precalculus, calculus, statistics, finite math, linear algebra, chemistry and physics.Read 19 Oct 2026 · mathway.com
- Subscriptions
- Premium subscriptions automatically renew at the end of each billing period unless canceled.Read 30 Sep 2026 · mathway.com
- Windows availability
- The premium terms page advertises a free Windows Store download.Read 19 Oct 2026 · mathway.com
Plans and prices
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Accepts typed problems and photos of work.
- Covers math, chemistry, and physics subjects.
- Offers dedicated calculators for equations and graphing.
- Can be used without signing up.
Limits
- Full step-by-step work requires a subscription.
- Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled.
- Mobile app subscriptions are billed through the app store.
Who it suits
Mathway suits students, parents, and teachers seeking help across a range of math and science subjects. It also fits users who want to enter problems by typing or by photo.
Mathway in depth
Read the full write-up
Overview
Mathway is an AI-powered solver and calculator that accepts typed problems and photos of handwritten or printed work. It is a strong fit for students who want one tool across many subjects, but learners who need to follow the full solution should weigh the subscription against free access.
Key features
Problem entry by text or photo makes Mathway useful for both a problem on screen and one on a worksheet. It also offers dedicated calculators for equations, factoring, derivatives, graphing, and statistics, giving students ways to focus on common tasks rather than treating every question as a generic calculation.
Coverage ranges from Basic Math and Pre-Algebra through Calculus, Statistics, Finite Math, and Linear Algebra, and extends to Chemistry and Physics. That breadth is valuable for students moving between coursework; someone who needs only a single narrow math function may find the wider subject range unnecessary.
Mathway says its solver explains the method behind answers, while its subscription unlocks full step-by-step work. Free users can access the solver and calculators without signing up, but the difference matters: seeing a result is not the same as being able to study every intermediate step.
Pricing
Mathway uses a freemium model. The Free plan costs nothing and provides access to the solver and calculators; an optional subscription unlocks full step-by-step solutions. This is the sensible starting point for occasional answer checking, but it is less suitable for learners who need the complete working.
Step-by-Step Access costs $9.99 a month, billed monthly. It includes step-by-step solutions and limits advertisements. This is the clearest paid choice for a student who needs to see the process, though the recurring monthly cost is worth comparing with how often that access will be used.
Mathway Premium offers step-by-step solutions, with subscription rates varying by subscription period and purchase channel; the current rate is shown at signup. It automatically renews for the selected subscription period unless canceled. App purchases are billed through the relevant app store, so buyers should account for that billing route as well as the renewal. A 7-day trial is offered.
Platforms
Mathway runs on Android, iOS, web, and Windows, giving it a wider range than a phone-only solver. The iPhone and iPad app is a free download with in-app purchases. The Android listing says data is encrypted in transit and users can request deletion; support is available at [email protected].
Who it's for
Students are the primary audience, with parents and teachers also described as users of the service. Mathway is particularly well suited to coursework that spans several listed subjects or to users who want to submit a photo instead of retyping a problem. It is a weaker fit for anyone who expects comprehensive worked explanations without a subscription.
Pros and cons
Pros: Typed and photo problem input gives students more than one route to a solution.
Pros: Coverage across math, Chemistry, and Physics makes it useful beyond a single course or topic.
Pros: Free access without signup lets users try the solver and calculators before subscribing.
Cons: Full step-by-step access requires a subscription, limiting the value of free access for learning the method.
Cons: Premium renews automatically, and mobile purchases are billed through the app store.
Alternatives
AskSia is worth considering for users who want free daily problem solves with step-by-step solutions and photo input, or need browser-extension and macOS access alongside mobile and web.
Photomath is a phone-based alternative for Android and iOS users; its free Basic plan includes step-by-step explanations, while custom visual aids and extra how-and-why tips are excluded. Its annual Plus plan costs $69.99 a year.
CameraMath offers free online photo, screenshot, handwritten, text, and calculator inputs with step-by-step solutions, making it a reasonable alternative for users who want those entry methods in a web-accessible tool.
ShowYourWork may suit users who value explanations and practice problems that remain free, though its free plan allows three generations per month, with three more through referrals.
Solvely is another freemium option with Android, iOS, web, and browser-extension support.
Cymath is a narrower comparison for people focused on math solutions: its free plan includes step-by-step solutions, while Cymath Plus costs $5 a month and adds ad-free use and detailed sub-steps on most problems.
Sovi.AI is another freemium option for Android, iOS, and web.
StudyX may appeal to users seeking broader homework support, with its Plus plan describing AI notes, flashcards, quizzes, live transcription, AI chat, and an ad-free experience.
For broader comparisons, see AI Homework Helpers and Math Solver Apps.
Verdict
Choose Mathway if you want a multiplatform solver with broad subject coverage and the flexibility to type or photograph problems. Its main advantage is range; its main drawback is that complete step-by-step learning requires recurring paid access. If the method matters on every problem, compare the $9.99 a month plan with alternatives whose free tiers include worked explanations.
Verdict
Mathway offers broad subject coverage and multiple ways to submit problems. Compare the free access with the $9.99 a month Step-by-Step Access plan if seeing full work matters.
Where Specifiction places it
- Math Solver Apps#3 of 688.9
- Calculators#1 of 219.0
- AI Homework Helpers#2 of 309.2