Solve math problems visually — research & learning aid
Photomath is a mobile-first math tutor app that reads handwritten and printed math problems and returns step-by-step solutions, ideal for students and tutors who need on-demand worked examples; pricing includes a functional free tier and a paid Photomath Plus monthly subscription for extra explanations and access, making it affordable for individual learners.
Photomath is a research & learning app that scans handwritten or printed math problems and returns step-by-step solutions. It uses computer vision and symbolic math engines to parse equations, show solution steps, and provide graphs and explanations. The app’s key differentiator is instant camera-based recognition combined with worked steps and hints tailored for K–12 and early college math learners. Photomath serves students, tutors, and parents seeking homework help and quick verification. A free tier covers basic scanning and answers; Photomath Plus unlocks detailed explanations and additional learning content at a modest monthly cost.
Photomath launched as a mobile app focused on turning a phone camera into a math scanner and tutor. Founded to help learners check and understand math homework, the company positioned itself as a bridge between calculators and human tutors by combining optical character recognition (OCR) for math notation with built-in solution engines and curated explanations. Photomath’s core value proposition is rapid camera-based problem capture with human-readable step-by-step solutions, targeted primarily at K–12 and early college math topics. The app is known for approachable explanations, multiple solution methods on some topics, and a simple mobile-first workflow that students can use while studying or completing assignments.
Photomath’s feature set centers on a few practical capabilities. First, camera-based problem recognition reads handwritten and printed equations, parsing arithmetic, algebra, trigonometry, calculus basics, and graphs into machine-readable form. Second, the step-by-step solution viewer breaks problems into ordered steps, showing intermediate algebraic manipulations or explanations for each operation. Third, the app provides interactive graphs for functions and inequalities so users can visualize solutions. Fourth, Photomath Plus (paid) adds detailed explanations, additional solving methods, and extended conceptual notes. The app also includes a built-in scientific calculator and allows manual equation input when camera capture fails. These features combine computer vision, symbolic math solving, and curated educational text to support learning rather than just produce answers.
Photomath offers a free tier with core functionality: camera scanning, basic solutions, graphs, and a calculator. Photomath Plus is the primary paid plan, billed monthly or annually; at the time of this review, Photomath Plus is available for approximately $5–$7 per month billed annually (exact price can vary by region and platform). Plus unlocks complete step explanations, multiple solution methods for certain problems, and access to additional learning content inside the app. There is no public enterprise pricing or team plan prominently listed; schools and institutions seeking bulk licensing are typically directed to contact Photomath for custom arrangements. The free tier is useful for quick checks, while Photomath Plus is aimed at users who want deeper conceptual walkthroughs and expanded solution coverage.
Photomath is used by a wide range of learners and educators. High-school students use it to verify homework answers and see worked steps to learn algebraic techniques, while tutors use it to prepare example solutions and check student work quickly. For example, a high-school math teacher might use Photomath to generate stepwise examples for classroom board demonstrations, and a college first-year engineering student might use it to visualize integrals and check symbolic manipulations. Parents use the app to assist with homework explanations for younger children. Compared to other tools like Wolfram Alpha, Photomath emphasizes camera-first capture and education-focused step explanations rather than heavy symbolic engine depth or custom computation notebooks.
Three capabilities that set Photomath apart from its nearest competitors.
Current tiers and what you get at each price point. Verified against the vendor's pricing page.
| Plan | Price | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Camera scanning, basic solutions, graphs, calculator access | Casual students needing quick answer checks |
| Photomath Plus (Monthly) | $7.99/month | Full step explanations, extra solution methods, monthly billing | Individual learners preferring month-to-month access |
| Photomath Plus (Annual) | $4.99/month billed annually | Same Plus features, lower effective monthly price with annual billing | Regular students seeking best value |
| School / Enterprise | Custom | Volume licensing, admin controls, negotiated feature set | Schools and districts needing multiple accounts |
Copy these into Photomath as-is. Each targets a different high-value workflow.
Role: You are Photomath — a camera-based math solver for K–12. Task: Given one algebraic equation or expression (handwritten or typed) supplied after this prompt, produce a clear, correct one-shot step-by-step solution. Constraints: 1) Use elementary algebra steps only; 2) Limit to 6 numbered steps; 3) Provide the final answer boxed and a one-sentence common mistake warning. Output format: Return plain text with a numbered step list, a final 'Answer:' line, and 'Common mistake:' line. Example input format: 'Problem: 3(x-2)=2x+5'. Now solve the problem supplied.
Role: You are Photomath, explaining math to a parent helping an elementary/middle-school child. Task: For the single printed problem supplied after this prompt, produce a printable, child-friendly step-by-step explanation. Constraints: 1) Use simple language for ages 10–13; 2) Include one annotated example line showing why a step works; 3) Keep steps to at most 8 lines for printing. Output format: Provide a plain-text 'Problem:' header, numbered steps, a 'Why this works:' short paragraph, and a 'Practice question' with answer. Example input: 'Problem: 4+3x=19'. Solve and format.
Role: You are Photomath acting as a math tutor generating practice materials. Task: Create three distinct quadratic equation problems: easy, medium, hard. Constraints: 1) Provide each problem, complete numbered solution steps (max 8 steps), final answer, and one targeted hint; 2) Use different solution methods across problems (factoring, quadratic formula, completing the square); 3) Keep output structured as JSON array with keys "difficulty","problem","steps","answer","hint". Output format: JSON only. Example element: {"difficulty":"easy","problem":"x^2-5x+6=0","steps":["..."],"answer":"x=2,3","hint":"Try factoring."}. Now generate the set.
Role: You are Photomath, explaining calculus derivatives with visual aids. Task: For the single function supplied after this prompt, compute the derivative and provide concise student-friendly steps and a sketch/graph instruction. Constraints: 1) Limit to 6 numbered steps; 2) Provide derivative in plain text and in LaTeX; 3) Include graph instructions (x-range, y-range, key features: intercepts, extrema) suitable for Photomath's graphing tool. Output format: JSON with fields: 'problem','steps','derivative_plain','derivative_latex','graph_instructions'. Example input: 'Problem: f(x)=x^3-6x^2+9x'. Solve now.
Role: You are Photomath as an experienced math tutor. Task: Produce a 45-minute lesson plan teaching solving linear systems by substitution for a small tutoring session. Constraints: 1) Include learning objectives, a 15-minute warm-up (3 quick problems with answers), 20-minute guided practice (4 problems with detailed step-by-step solutions), and a 10-minute assessment (2 problems with quick answers and common errors); 2) Use K–12 friendly language and include estimated timings per activity. Output format: Structured plain text with headings: Objectives, Warm-up, Guided Practice (with full solutions), Assessment. Include two short exemplar problems at the start as few-shot examples showing expected step style.
Role: You are Photomath's parser-auditor. Task: Given a batch of up to 6 scanned handwritten equations (one batch follows), detect OCR parsing errors, correct the parsed equations, solve each correctly showing step-by-step solutions, and assign a confidence score (0–100) for the parsing and for the solution. Constraints: 1) For each input line return: 'original_image_text','parsed_equation','corrected_equation','parsing_confidence','solution_confidence','steps'; 2) If parsing_confidence<80, list top 2 alternative parses; 3) Keep steps ≤10 lines. Output format: JSON array of objects. Example input format: ['img1: "2x+3 = 5"', 'img2: "l0g(x)=2"']. Now process the supplied batch.
Choose Photomath over Microsoft Math Solver if you prioritize camera-first handwritten recognition and learner-focused step explanations.