Verdict
Photomath turns a photo of a maths question into a worked solution, and Google says the basic step-by-step answers will stay free. It is maths only, and Plus costs £9.99 a month in the UK for animated tutorials and deeper explanations. Common Sense Media flags the obvious risk that pupils copy the working instead of learning it, and some students now use Google Lens or Gemini for the same job.
Privacy note. Policy says user photos improve its AI with no opt-out setting and no stated retention; 13+ in terms but rated 4+ in the App Store with no age check (photomath.com/privacypolicy, photomath.com/termsofuse).
Best for
GCSE pupils and parents checking maths working at home
Skip if
Subjects other than maths, or a child likely to copy answers into homework
Key facts
- Category
- Study, homework & learning
- Made by
- Google LLC (data controller Photomath LLC)
- Based in
- United States
- Launched
- 2014
- Works on
- iPhone, Android
- In the UK
- Yes
- Price from
- £9.49 a month
- Free plan
- Free scanning, calculator and core step-by-step solutions, which Google says 'will always remain free of cost'
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Billed |
|---|---|---|
| Photomath Plus (monthly) | £9.49 | month |
| Photomath Plus (annual) | £56.99 | year |
What it does
- solves maths problems scanned with the phone camera, including word problems
- shows step-by-step explanations with several solution methods
- includes a scientific calculator and interactive graphs
- Plus adds animated tutorials and textbook solutions
Ratings
What people say
People who use it to check the steps still like it, but 2025-26 user reviews posts mostly treat it as a pre-ChatGPT tool, and the main complaint is that it hands over answers without understanding. The 4.6 App Store score sits well above a 3.79 Google Play score from over three million ratings.
“me using photomath and desmos but looking at the solving steps”
Post on X, 23 April 2026 · source
“before gpt we had photomath ✊✊my day 1”
Post on X, 14 November 2025 · source
“Photomath just gives the answer, but I don't understand anything at all.”
Individual user review, 1 November 2025 · source
“Why even use Photomath when Google lens and Gemini is there. Used to use ts in 2022, never again”
Individual user review, 8 September 2026 · source
“Photomath you can't make up your own rules of math, only mathmaticians are allowed to do that.”
Individual user review, 20 December 2025 · source
Press reviews
- TechRadar 2024-12-07
A parent reviewer says it breaks problems into steps with voiced animations and 'genuinely taught me how to solve problems'; deeper help needs the paid tier.
- Common Sense Media 2024-08-26
'Point, scan, solve support tool; watch for cheating.' Rated for ages 11+; steps help understanding but kids may use it as a shortcut.
Privacy
- Trains on your data
- Yes. The privacy policy says the pictures users take are used 'to gather information about how to improve our AI' and to test and improve the service
- Opt-out
- No AI-training opt-out setting described. Users can object to processing, withdraw consent or ask for deletion by emailing privacy@photomath.com
- Retention
- No fixed period; data kept 'for as long as it is necessary' for the policy's purposes, deleted on request
- Age limit
- 13+ under the terms; minors need a parent or guardian's permission and under-16s need parental consent under the privacy policy. No age check described. UK App Store rates it 4+, Google Play PEGI 3, Common Sense Media suggests 11+
FAQ
Is Photomath free?
Yes for the basics. Google says scanning and core step-by-step solutions will always stay free, and Photomath Plus (from £9.99 a month on the UK App Store) adds animated tutorials and deeper explanations.
Is using Photomath cheating?
It depends on how it is used. Its own terms call it a learning aid and warn that cheating on exams or homework 'will primarily hurt you', and Common Sense Media says to watch for pupils copying the working. Schools set their own rules, so copied homework can still count as malpractice.
What age is Photomath for?
The terms say 13 and over, with a parent or guardian's permission for minors. The UK App Store rates it 4+ and Common Sense Media suggests 11+, and there is no age check in the app.
Does Photomath do word problems and GCSE topics?
Google says it solves word problems for a range of English-language textbooks, and partly matches other word and geometry problems when the app is set to English. There is no UK exam-board mapping in its help pages, so coverage of specific GCSE or A-level papers is unknown.
Photomath or ChatGPT and Gemini for maths homework?
Photomath is built only for maths and shows fixed worked steps from a photo. Some students in user reviews say they now use Google Lens or Gemini instead, which can also answer follow-up questions.
Scores are based on published evidence, not lab tests. How we score.
Similar tools
Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM)
Google's study tool that answers questions using only the notes, PDFs and videos uploaded to it, and turns them into quizzes, flashcards and audio summaries.
Duolingo
The free language app built on five-minute lessons and daily streaks, now with AI-written courses and AI video calls.
Gauth
A homework app from TikTok's owner that solves a photographed question step by step, in maths and most school subjects.
Gizmo: AI Tutor
A London-made app that turns notes, PDFs and videos into flashcards and quizzes, with game-style streaks and hearts.