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Photomath

Photomath is a mobile app that solves math problems by scanning them with a camera or manual input, then provides ste...

Updated Jun 2026
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About Photomath

Photomath is a freemium mobile app that solves math problems by scanning them with your camera or entering them manually, then explains each solution step by step. Covering everything from elementary arithmetic to calculus, it's built for learning rather than just delivering answers. Free tier includes core explanations; Photomath Plus ($9.99/month or $69.99/year) adds visual aids and deeper guidance. Founded in 2014 and acquired by Google in 2023, it serves hundreds of millions of learners worldwide.

Photomath is a mobile-first math help app that turns your phone's camera into a problem solver. Point it at a printed or handwritten equation and its optical character recognition reads the problem, then returns a step-by-step solution you can follow at your own pace. When scanning isn't practical, a built-in smart calculator lets you type problems in directly, including many word problems. The app was created by engineer Damir Sabol, who co-founded the company with Sasa Skevin, originally to help his own children with homework. Founded in 2014 in Croatia, Photomath grew into one of the world's most-used math education apps and was acquired by Google in 2023. It now serves hundreds of millions of learners globally, spanning topics from elementary arithmetic through algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and calculus. What sets Photomath apart from a plain answer engine is its emphasis on learning rather than just answers. Each solution breaks down into individual steps so students can see the reasoning behind a result, and many problems can be solved with more than one method. This makes it useful both for checking finished work and for understanding where a solution went wrong. Photomath runs on a freemium model. The Basic tier is free and includes core step-by-step explanations. The paid Photomath Plus tier unlocks custom visual aids and deeper "how" and "why" tips, and is billed at $9.99 per month or $69.99 per year. Buyers should confirm current pricing and trial terms on the official site, as plans and features can change. Because the app makes solving problems fast and frictionless, some educators raise a fair concern that it can be used to bypass the learning process rather than support it. Used as intended—as a tutor and a check on your own work—it is a genuinely capable study companion for math learners at nearly every level.

TL;DR

Photomath is a freemium mobile app that scans and solves math problems, delivering step-by-step explanations across topics from arithmetic to calculus. Founded in Croatia in 2014 by Damir Sabol and Sasa Skevin, it became one of the world's most-used math education apps with hundreds of millions of learners and was acquired by Google in 2023. It's best used as a learning aid and homework check rather than a shortcut.

Company overview

Photomath was founded in 2014 in Croatia by Damir Sabol and Sasa Skevin. The idea originated with Sabol's desire to help his own children with math homework, and the app grew into one of the most successful Croatian startups and the world's most-used math education app, serving over 300 million learners globally as of mid-2023.

In February 2023, Photomath was acquired by Google, bringing the product under Google's AI and infrastructure resources. Its stated mission is to transform learning and help every student succeed by making math approachable through instant scanning, accurate solving, and intuitive step-by-step explanations that promote genuine understanding of concepts.

Product features

At its core, Photomath uses camera scanning and OCR to recognize math problems from textbooks or handwritten work, then generates step-by-step solutions. A built-in smart calculator provides a manual input path, and the app can handle many word problems in addition to standard equations and expressions.

Coverage spans elementary arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and calculus, targeting learners from elementary school through college. The app frequently offers multiple solution methods per problem so students can pick an approach that fits how they learn.

The paid Photomath Plus tier extends the free experience with custom visual aids and additional 'how' and 'why' tips that provide deeper explanation, while the free Basic tier retains core step-by-step solving.

Target market

Photomath primarily serves the consumer education market: individual students from elementary through college level, parents helping children with homework, and self-directed learners seeking on-demand math help. It is a mobile-first, direct-to-consumer product rather than an institutional or enterprise tool.

Buyer personas

End users

Students of all levels who scan problems for instant, explained solutions, along with parents using the app to help their children and check homework.

Buyers

Because it's a consumer app, the buyer is typically the individual learner or a parent deciding whether to upgrade to Photomath Plus for deeper explanations.

Key influencers

Teachers, tutors, and parents shape adoption—some recommend it as a study aid while others caution against using it to bypass learning.

Ideal customer profile

A motivated student or supportive parent who wants to understand the steps behind math solutions and is willing to pay a modest subscription for richer explanations and visual aids.

Funding & performance

Photomath is a math-solving education app (scan a problem with your camera, get step-by-step solutions) founded in 2014 by Damir Sabol, with roots in the Croatian text-recognition company Microblink. It raised about $29M as an independent company before being acquired by Google — announced May 2022 and completed June 2023 (reportedly up to ~$550M, the largest startup acquisition in Croatian history). Photomath is now a Google product and no longer an independent company.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Over 100 million downloads with 4.4/5 app store ratings, indicating strong user satisfaction and reliability
  • Provides multiple solution methods for many problems, allowing learners to choose the approach that makes most sense to them
  • Covers a wide range of math levels from elementary through college, including word problems and various subjects
  • Backed by Google since 2023 acquisition, suggesting long-term support and development

Cons

  • Step-by-step explanations and advanced features like animated tutorials require a paid Photomath Plus subscription, limiting free users to basic solutions
  • Teachers report concerns about students using the app to bypass actual learning rather than as a study aid
  • Some users on Reddit suggest competing apps like Studdy.ai may provide more accurate responses in certain cases

Pricing plans

Free
$0 / month
  • Basic problem scanning and solutions
  • Smart calculator for manual input
  • Unlimited problem solving
Photomath Plus
$9.99 / month
  • Step-by-step explanations
  • Animated tutorials
  • Custom visual aids
  • Textbook solutions
  • Deep-dive solutions
Photomath Plus Annual
$69.99 / year
  • All Photomath Plus features
  • Save approximately 42% vs monthly billing

Key features

Mobile app
Multi-language
Input types
image, text, handwriting
Output types
text, step-by-step solutions, visual aids

Compare key features

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Pricing
Freemium
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Free plan
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Free trial
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API
No
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Team support
No
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Frequently asked questions

Is Photomath free, and what do I actually pay for the paid version?+

Photomath's Basic plan is free and includes core step-by-step explanations. The paid Photomath Plus tier costs $9.99 per month or $69.99 per year and unlocks custom visual aids plus extra 'how' and 'why' tips. Verify current pricing and any trial terms on the official site before subscribing.

How does Photomath actually work?+

You scan a math problem with your phone's camera—printed or handwritten—and the app uses OCR to recognize it, then generates a step-by-step solution. If scanning isn't convenient, you can type the problem in using the built-in smart calculator, which also handles many word problems. Each solution is broken into steps so you can follow the reasoning.

What devices and platforms does Photomath support?+

Photomath is a mobile app available for both iOS and Android, downloadable from the App Store and Google Play. It is primarily designed for phones with a camera for scanning problems. There is no dedicated desktop application.

What kinds of math can Photomath solve?+

The app covers a wide range from elementary arithmetic through algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and calculus, aimed at learners from elementary school through college. It can handle equations, expressions, and many word problems. Very advanced, non-standard, or ambiguously written problems may fall outside its reliable range.

Who owns Photomath and did anything major change recently?+

Photomath was founded in 2014 by Damir Sabol and Sasa Skevin in Croatia. Google acquired the company in 2023, which brought it under Google's product and infrastructure umbrella. Support is now handled through Google's help channels.

Is Photomath a good substitute for a teacher or tutor?+

It works best as a supplement—a way to check your work and understand the steps behind a solution rather than a replacement for instruction. Because answers appear instantly, it's most valuable when used to learn the reasoning rather than to skip it. Some math problems still benefit from a human's context and explanation.

Is Photomath free?+

Yes, Photomath offers a free version with core problem-solving features and basic solutions. However, advanced features like step-by-step explanations, animated tutorials, and textbook solutions require a Photomath Plus subscription at $9.99/month or $69.99/year.

What does Photomath integrate with?+

Integration details were not found in our research — check the official website. Photomath appears to function as a standalone mobile app for iOS and Android without documented third-party integrations.

How does Photomath compare to alternatives?+

Photomath is frequently compared to Kahoot!, MathGPT Pro, Mathway, Mathpix Snip, and Socratic. While Photomath has over 100 million downloads and strong ratings, some users report that newer AI tutors like Studdy.ai provide more accurate responses in certain cases. MathGPT Pro claims up to 17% higher accuracy than Photomath, though independent verification of this claim was not found in the research.

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