Lens
Best photo math solver apps in 2026
Scan equations, check each step, and get help with the rest of the worksheet from one camera app.
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Quick answer
Lens AI is the best photo math solver for students whose homework mixes equations with diagrams, translations, or science objects. It reads printed and handwritten problems, explains the steps, and takes follow-up questions. Photomath is the stronger math-only choice, especially for advanced courses. Gauth suits students who want broader tutoring and study tools.
It is 10 p.m. A worksheet has a quadratic equation at the top, a labeled cell in the middle, and a Spanish paragraph on the back. A math-only scanner handles one piece. A broader homework scanner app can deal with the whole page.
That difference shaped this list. Lens AI covers math plus visual questions and photo translation for students, while apps such as Photomath and Symbolab put more of their attention into mathematical methods, calculators, and advanced coursework.
TL;DR: the apps compared
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free tier | Price | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lens AI | Math and mixed-subject homework | iPhone, iPad, Android, web | Daily mobile scans and one web scan per day | From $7.99/week; $89.99 lifetime | Ask AI chat on every scan |
| Photomath | Dedicated math explanations | iPhone, iPad, Android | Basic step-by-step explanations | Plus costs $69.99/year | Multiple methods for some problems |
| Gauth | Multi-subject tutoring | iPhone, iPad, Android, web | Limited free searches; exact limit varies | From $11.99/month | Voice tutor with a whiteboard |
| Mathway | Fast answers across technical subjects | iPhone, iPad, Android, web | Answers are free; full steps may require payment | From $9.99/month or $39.99/year | Dedicated graphing and subject calculators |
| Symbolab | Algebra and calculus | iPhone, iPad, Android, web | Basic solutions and limited steps | From $2.49/week or $34.99/year | More than 500 math calculators |
| Brainly | Broad homework and tutor access | iPhone, iPad, Android, web | Limited homework help | Plus from $2/month; Tutor from $29.99/month | AI help plus human tutors |
| Answer.AI | Homework and college planning | iPhone, iPad, Android, web | Free download; current usage limit is unclear | Check the listing | Study tools and admissions guidance |
Prices are US App Store or developer prices checked in October 2026 and can change.
How we picked
We read the US App Store and Google Play listings, developer sites, pricing pages, and available help or comparison pages in October 2026. Store listings took priority when prices, platforms, or update details conflicted.
Lens AI appears first because it is our app. We ordered the other picks by math depth, subject range, explanation style, free access, and the type of student each app suits. We did not run an accuracy test, so this comparison does not assign accuracy scores or claim that any solver gets every problem right.
- The camera must read printed or handwritten work.
- Explanations should include useful working alongside the answer.
- Free limits and paid steps must be stated plainly.
- Subject coverage must fit the student's classes.
- Calculators, chat, and tutor access should solve a real need.
- Current platform support must match the reader's device.
Lens AI: Best for mixed homework
Lens AI is a general AI camera app, and its homework helper from a photo reads printed or handwritten problems, then explains the steps behind the answer.
Snap one equation at a time and you get the setup, the method and the arithmetic. Stuck on why a sign flipped between two lines? Ask in the chat that sits under every result. That follow-up is where Lens AI earns its spot: you can push back on a step, ask for a simpler version, or check your own attempt against the standard approach.
The bigger reason to pick it is the rest of the backpack. The same app labels a cell diagram for biology, translates a Spanish worksheet in about 40 languages, and identifies the rock or leaf a science teacher hands out. One download covers a night of mixed homework.
Now the honest limit (and it's a real one): Lens AI is a general scanner, so it has no graphing calculator, no textbook-solution library and fewer math-specific tools than Photomath or Symbolab. For a full semester of calculus, a math-only app goes deeper. Faint pencil and cramped exponents can also misread, so check the captured problem before trusting the steps.
Lens AI is free to download with free daily scans on mobile, plus one free scan a day on the lensapp.io web scanner. Paid plans on the US App Store are $7.99 a week, $9.99 a month, $39.99 a year or $89.99 lifetime.
| App Store | 4.55 stars from 1,593 ratings |
|---|---|
| Google Play | 4.26 stars from 1,889 reviews, 50K+ installs |
| Price | Free daily scans on mobile and one free web scan a day; $7.99 weekly, $9.99 monthly, $39.99 yearly or $89.99 lifetime on the US App Store, checked October 2026. |
| Platforms | iPhone and iPad (iOS 17 or later), Android, and a web scanner at lensapp.io. |
| Download | App Store, Google Play |
Pick Lens AI if your homework mixes equations with diagrams, foreign-language pages or science objects and you want to ask follow-up questions about each step.
Photomath: Best for math depth
Photomath is a photo math solver that scans printed, handwritten, or on-screen problems and breaks the solution into steps.
Its math coverage is the reason to download it. Photomath handles subjects from elementary arithmetic through algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and calculus. It also reads word problems, accepts calculator input, and can show more than one solution method. At 2 a.m., with a derivative that keeps coming out wrong, those intermediate steps are more useful than a bare answer.
Basic step-by-step explanations are free. Some deeper explanations, animated tutorials, and textbook solutions require Photomath Plus. Look closely at the scanned equation before following the work, especially with cramped handwriting, exponents, or a poorly cropped fraction. Photo recognition isn't guaranteed to read every symbol correctly.
The tradeoff is scope. Photomath is a math-only homework scanner app, so it won't help much with a biology diagram, foreign-language worksheet, or history question. Lens AI and Gauth cover more subjects, but Photomath goes deeper on pure math. The app runs on iPhone, iPad, and Android. Plus is listed at $9.99 per month or $69.99 per year.
| App Store | 4.77 stars from 733,182 ratings |
|---|---|
| Google Play | 4.27 stars from 3,097,901 reviews, 100M+ installs |
| Price | Basic step-by-step solving is free; Photomath Plus is $9.99 per month or $69.99 per year, checked October 2026. |
| Platforms | Photomath is available on iPhone, iPad, and Android; web solver availability was not verified. |
| Official link | photomath.com |
Pick Photomath if you want the best photo math solver for detailed work from basic arithmetic through calculus.
Gauth: Best for guided tutoring
Gauth is a multi-subject AI study app from GauthTech that solves photographed or typed questions with step-by-step explanations.
Its strongest feature is the AI Live Tutor. You talk through a problem by voice, and the app works it out on a virtual whiteboard, which suits a student who learns better from a walkthrough than from a static list of steps. Gauth also covers more than math: the developer lists science, writing and other subjects, plus a study converter that turns notes, audio or lecture links into quizzes and flashcards. There's a human layer too, with subject experts available for homework guidance on top of the AI answers.
The catch is the free tier. Gauth doesn't state a clear free limit on its store listing, and third-party sources disagree about how many free searches you get. Expect to hit a paywall during a busy week. The paid plan is listed at $11.99 a month, $31.99 a quarter or $99.99 a year on the US App Store, with occasional special offers (a $49.99 annual offer appears in the same list), so read the checkout screen before you start a trial.
Compared with Photomath, Gauth trades some math-only depth for breadth and tutoring. Compared with Lens AI, it is a study app first; it won't identify the leaf or translate the street sign from the same scan. It runs on iPhone, iPad and Android, plus a web version.
| App Store | 4.83 stars from 1,531,152 ratings |
|---|---|
| Google Play | 4.79 stars from 2,170,131 reviews, 100M+ installs |
| Price | Free download with a limited, unstated free allowance; $11.99 monthly, $31.99 quarterly or $99.99 yearly on the US App Store, checked October 2026. |
| Platforms | iPhone and iPad (iOS 15 or later), Android, and web. |
| Official link | gauthmath.com |
Pick Gauth if you want voice tutoring with a whiteboard, quizzes and flashcards across several school subjects.
Mathway: Best for quick calculations
Mathway is a math solver app that accepts a photo or typed problem and returns an answer, with detailed working available through its paid plans.
Speed and subject range are Mathway's strengths. You can choose a dedicated calculator for basic math, algebra, trigonometry, precalculus, calculus, statistics, linear algebra, chemistry, physics, or graphing. That setup is handy when a worksheet mixes factoring, derivatives, and graph questions: select the subject, photograph the problem, then check the recognized expression before solving. The web version also lets you enter problems without reaching for a phone.
The catch is the paywall around full solution steps. Free access can provide the final answer, but the detailed method generally requires a subscription. That makes Mathway useful for checking a calculation, yet less appealing when you need to understand every line of the work. Photo recognition can also stumble on cramped handwriting, faint exponents, or a graph cropped too closely, so inspect the entered problem before relying on the result.
Mathway is free to download on iPhone, iPad, and Android, and it also works on the web. The US App Store listed monthly Steps purchases at $9.99 and $19.99, plus annual options at $39.99 and $79.99, in October 2026. The price shown to you may depend on the plan presented in the app.
| App Store | 4.88 stars from 424,607 ratings |
|---|---|
| Google Play | 4.11 stars from 414,104 reviews, 50M+ installs |
| Price | Free answers are available; paid Steps plans were listed at $9.99 or $19.99 monthly and $39.99 or $79.99 annually, checked October 2026. |
| Platforms | iPhone and iPad with iOS 17 or later, Android, and web. |
| Official link | mathway.com |
Pick Mathway if you want quick calculations across several math subjects and don't mind paying when you need the full working.
Symbolab: Best for advanced math
Symbolab is a photo math solver and symbolic calculator built for subjects from pre-algebra through calculus.
Look closely at the tool list. Symbolab has more than 500 calculators, including dedicated tools for derivatives, integrals, limits, matrices, inequalities, series, differential equations, Laplace transforms and graphing. You can type a problem or photograph printed and handwritten work, including word problems. That depth is useful when a calculus assignment asks for critical points, asymptotes and a graph from the same function.
The catch is the paywall. Free users get solutions with basic steps, but advanced steps and fuller explanations require a subscription. Symbolab also stays focused on math, so it isn't the right homework helper app for a worksheet that mixes equations with biology or writing. Use its steps to learn the method and check your work against your teacher's rules.
Symbolab is free to download on iPhone, iPad and Android, and it also has a web version. The US App Store lists paid plans at $2.49 weekly, $7.99 or $9.99 monthly, $24.99 or $32.99 for six months, and $34.99 or $39.99 yearly. The available price can depend on the offer shown.
| App Store | 4.57 stars from 26,242 ratings |
|---|---|
| Google Play | 4.32 stars from 149,307 reviews, 10M+ installs |
| Price | Free basic solutions and steps; paid plans cost $2.49 weekly, $7.99 to $9.99 monthly, $24.99 to $32.99 for six months, or $34.99 to $39.99 yearly, checked October 2026. |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Android and web. |
| Official link | symbolab.com |
Pick Symbolab if advanced algebra, calculus or symbolic math tools are more useful to you than broad homework coverage.
Brainly: Best for human tutoring
Brainly is a broad homework helper app that combines photo and typed questions, AI explanations, community answers, and access to human tutors.
Human help is the reason to choose it. Brainly Tutor provides one-on-one support without scheduled appointments, while the standard app covers math, science, history, English, and other K-12 subjects. A student can scan homework, read the step-by-step response, then seek more guidance when an algebra method still doesn't click at 10 p.m. That mix goes beyond a basic photo math solver.
The tradeoff is cost and focus. Limited features are free, but human tutoring sits in the pricier Brainly Tutor plan. Brainly also isn't as tightly built around symbolic calculations as a dedicated math solver app, so students who only need equations worked line by line may find its broader interface distracting. On Apple devices, the current app requires iOS 18.0 or later, which rules out some older iPhones and iPads.
Brainly runs on iPhone, iPad, Android, and the web. The US App Store lists several Brainly Plus price points, from $2.00 to $9.99 monthly and $15.00 to $39.99 annually. Brainly Tutor is listed at $29.99 monthly or $95.99 annually; check the purchase screen for the plan currently available to your account.
| App Store | 4.72 stars from 284,272 ratings |
|---|---|
| Google Play | 4.49 stars from 4,470,606 reviews, 100M+ installs |
| Price | Free with limited features; Brainly Plus is listed at $2.00 to $9.99 monthly or $15.00 to $39.99 annually, and Brainly Tutor is $29.99 monthly or $95.99 annually. Prices checked October 2026. |
| Platforms | iPhone and iPad with iOS 18.0 or later, Android, and web. |
| Official link | brainly.com |
Pick Brainly if you want a scan homework app with broad subject coverage and the option to ask a human tutor for more help.
Answer.AI: Best for study planning
Answer.AI is a cross-subject homework helper app built around explanations, study tools and longer-term school planning.
Its real strength appears after the first answer. Answer.AI can turn study material into flashcards and customized quizzes, connect students through study groups, and keep chat history for later review. The app also lists mock exercises, an AI reader, a writing helper and AP tutoring. College admissions guidance and counseling broaden its scope further. That mix suits a student organizing several classes, upcoming tests and application work in one place.
For a photographed problem, Answer.AI provides step-by-step breakdowns and supports follow-up questions. Still, its store listing gives less detail about dedicated math calculators, supported equation types and graphing than a math-only app would. The iPhone and iPad version also requires iOS 18.0 or later, which rules out some older devices.
The download is free, but the exact free-use limit isn't stated in the supplied listing. Answer.AI advertises a Pro plan with unlimited use, faster queries and early access; however, the US App Store showed no in-app purchase prices in October 2026, so check the current listing before subscribing. Answer.AI is available for iPhone, iPad and Android, with web tools on its site.
| App Store | 4.69 stars from 166,314 ratings |
|---|---|
| Google Play | 4.74 stars from 55,715 reviews, 1M+ installs |
| Price | Free download with an unspecified usage limit; Pro is advertised, but no US App Store in-app purchase prices were listed, so check the listing. Prices checked October 2026. |
| Platforms | iPhone and iPad with iOS 18.0 or later, Android, and web. |
| Official link | answerai.pro |
Pick Answer.AI if you want homework explanations plus flashcards, quizzes, study groups and college-planning tools in the same app.
Lens AI vs Photomath
Both apps can turn a photo of handwritten or printed math into an explanation, but they are built for different school bags. Lens AI is the broader camera tool. Photomath is the dedicated math solver app, with more attention given to mathematical methods and course coverage.
| Point | Lens AI | Photomath |
|---|---|---|
| Homework scope | Handles math, diagrams, foreign-language worksheets, rocks, leaves, and other visual questions | Concentrates on math from elementary arithmetic through calculus |
| Problem input | Reads printed and handwritten problems from the camera or an uploaded image | Scans printed, handwritten, on-screen, and word problems; also has a smart calculator |
| Explanations | Explains the solution and accepts questions about a confusing step | Breaks solutions into steps and may show multiple methods or animated steps |
| Follow-up help | Every result has an Ask AI chat | Focuses on structured math explanations and paid learning aids |
| Math toolkit | Lens AI is a general scanner, so it has no graphing calculator, no textbook-solution library, and fewer math-specific tools than Photomath or Symbolab; for a full semester of calculus, a math-only app goes deeper | Has math-specific scanning, calculator input, visual aids, and deeper course coverage |
| Free access | Free daily scans on mobile and one free web scan each day | Basic step-by-step explanations are free |
| Device support | iPhone, iPad, Android, and a browser scanner | iPhone, iPad, and Android |
Photomath wins when the entire decision is about math. Its dedicated calculator, multiple solution methods, and coverage through calculus fit a student who expects to use the same solver throughout a math course.
Lens AI makes more sense when the camera needs to answer whatever lands on the desk next. One scan might contain an equation; the next could be a leaf from biology class or a paragraph that needs a document translation from a photo.
How to choose a homework scanner app
Check what the free tier explains
A free answer and a free explanation are different things. Mathway may display an answer without giving all the steps, while Photomath lists basic step-by-step work in its free plan. Lens AI uses daily scan limits. Before subscribing, scan the sort of problem you actually receive and see where the paywall appears: recognition, full working, follow-up chat, or advanced methods.
Match the app to the course
Middle-school arithmetic does not need the same toolkit as college calculus. Symbolab and Photomath have deeper math systems, while Mathway covers math plus chemistry and physics calculators. Lens AI, Gauth, Brainly, and Answer.AI spread their attention across more subjects. If every assignment involves derivatives, matrices, or graphing, pick the specialist. For mixed worksheets, a broader homework helper app may earn its place.
Inspect the captured equation
Look closely at the transcribed problem before trusting the solution. A faint exponent, cramped fraction bar, or cropped minus sign can change the answer completely. Handwriting support is listed for several apps, but no supplied source proves a universal recognition rate. A scan homework app should let you retake the image or enter the expression another way when the camera gets a symbol wrong.
Decide how much explanation you need
Some students need a quick check after solving the problem on paper. Others need to ask why a sign changed between two lines. Lens AI and Gauth suit conversational follow-ups, while Photomath and Symbolab lean into structured mathematical steps. Brainly adds access to human tutors at a higher price. Pick the format that matches the sticking point, not the app with the longest feature list.
Read the billing and privacy details
Weekly plans can cost far more over a semester than an annual plan, and store prices may include several offers for the same subscription. Check the confirmation screen before paying. For privacy, read the current store disclosure, camera permissions, and account terms. Lens AI says scan photos are processed for analysis, deleted afterward, and never sold; its scan history stays on the device.
The best app to download
Start with Lens AI if your homework rarely stays inside one subject. It can scan an equation, explain the work, answer a follow-up, and then handle the diagram or translated paragraph beside it. That same camera can also help identify objects and materials from a photo.
Choose Photomath instead when math depth is the whole point, especially for regular algebra, trigonometry, or calculus work. Symbolab is another strong specialist for calculator-heavy advanced math.
Try Lens AI free
Free daily scans on iPhone and Android. Snap a photo and ask follow-up questions about the result.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best photo math solver?
Lens AI is the best photo math solver here for mixed-subject homework and follow-up questions. Photomath is better for students who want a dedicated math system with deeper course coverage.
What is the best free math solver app?
Photomath includes basic step-by-step explanations for free, while Lens AI includes free daily scans. The better free option depends on whether you need math depth or support for other subjects.
Can a photo math solver read handwriting?
Lens AI, Photomath, and several other apps on this list accept handwritten problems. Recognition can fail with faint symbols, cramped fractions, or a poorly cropped photo, so check the captured equation.
Which app is best for calculus?
Photomath and Symbolab are stronger calculus choices because both concentrate on advanced math. Symbolab also has dedicated calculators for derivatives, integrals, limits, series, and related topics.
Can Lens AI solve homework besides math?
Lens AI can explain homework pages, translate photographed text, identify labeled objects, and answer questions about plants, animals, rocks, and other visual subjects. Lens AI also keeps an Ask AI chat attached to each result.
Does Photomath show steps for free?
Photomath lists basic step-by-step explanations in its free plan. Photomath Plus adds deeper explanations and other paid learning tools.
Is using a photo math solver cheating?
Lens AI, Photomath, and similar apps can support academic integrity when students use the steps to learn or check their own work. Copying generated work may break a teacher's rules, so follow the policy for the class.