Best Photomath alternatives in 2026

Quick comparison

Why people look for Photomath alternatives

Photomath is great at one thing: scanning a math problem and showing the steps, free. People look for alternatives when they need a computer or Chromebook version (Photomath is a phone app), help in subjects beyond math, someone to explain why a step works, or practice after.

The alternatives

Gauth

Best for: Photo homework help with a voice tutor and human experts. Price (October 2026): Free with limits; Plus $11.99/month or $99.99/year. Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Android, web.

Snap a photo for step-by-step answers in most school subjects. Its AI Live Tutor explains by voice on a whiteboard in the app, Plus adds 24/7 human experts, and it turns notes or lecture audio into quizzes and flashcards.

Watch out: Built around answers ("Unlimited Answers" on Plus). Works from photos, not your live screen. Not for under 13; 18+ to buy. Full comparison.

Mathway

Best for: Quick math answers in a browser. Price (October 2026): Free answers; Step-by-Step $9.99/month or $39.99/year. Platforms: Web, iPhone, iPad, Android.

Type or photograph a problem from basic math through calculus, statistics, chemistry and physics. The free version gives answers and some steps; a subscription shows every step. Owned by Chegg.

Watch out: Full steps are paid. No tutor or voice. The free version has ads.

Symbolab

Best for: Math solver with practice quizzes and a Chrome extension. Price (October 2026): Free basic steps; App Store subscriptions from $2.49/week to $39.99/year. Platforms: Web, iPhone, Android, Chrome extension.

An AI math solver with 500+ calculators, graphing, an AI chat, and practice quizzes with feedback. Its Chrome extension can screenshot a problem on any website.

Watch out: Advanced steps are paid. 13+ or a guardian's consent. Owned by Learneo, the company behind Course Hero.

Google Gemini (Guided Learning + Live)

Best for: Best free all-rounder, with voice and screen sharing on phones. Price (October 2026): Free; AI Plus $4.99/month; AI Pro $19.99/month. Platforms: Web, Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac, Chrome.

Guided Learning breaks problems down step by step with questions, images and quizzes. Gemini Live is free voice chat that can see your camera or full screen on Android and iPhone. Gemini also makes free flashcards, study guides and full SAT practice tests.

Watch out: Live is not in the Gemini web app, and Live in Chrome is not available to users under 18. 13+ (under 13 only through a parent's Family Link). Full comparison.

ChatGPT study mode

Best for: Free step-by-step help on any device. Price (October 2026): Free; Go $8/month; Plus $20/month; Pro from $100/month. Platforms: Web, iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows.

Study mode asks questions, gives hints and checks your understanding instead of only giving answers. It is free on every plan, and it can quiz you inside the chat. Voice is on all plans; Plus includes up to 3 hours a day of Live voice.

Watch out: It can still give direct answers. The default Live voice cannot see your camera or screen; screen share is in Advanced voice on the phone apps. 13+, with a parent's permission under 18. Full comparison.

Khanmigo

Best for: Low-cost guided tutoring on Khan Academy (US). Price (October 2026): $4/month or $44/year; free for teachers. Platforms: Any web browser, including Chromebooks.

Khan Academy's AI tutor guides you to the answer instead of giving it. It covers math, science, coding, history and humanities, and works next to Khan Academy's lessons. A family plan covers up to 10 kids for the same price.

Watch out: US only. You sign up at 18+, or a parent signs up kids. No live voice conversation or screen sharing; it is turned off during Khan Academy quizzes and tests. Full comparison.

DuckyHelper (our product)

Best for: A live voice tutor that sees and marks up your screen, any subject. Price (October 2026): Free (about 6 min of talking a week); Plus $20/month; Pro $200/month; Unlimited $200/week. Platforms: Web app in any browser, including Chromebooks and Windows; Mac app (macOS 14+, Apple silicon).

A live voice tutor. Talk to Ducky and it sees your screen, explains out loud, and shows you: in the web app it draws marks on the preview of a tab, window or screen you share; in the Mac app it draws circles, arrows and labels right on your real screen and walks you through steps in your own apps, checking each one. Both make quizzes, worked steps, interactive graphs and pictures; flashcards, simulations, maps, timelines and the code runner are Mac app only, and longer practice tests are web only. A dashboard tracks time learned, streak, topics, mastery and test scores.

Watch out: New, with no track record yet. The free plan is small, and you get far less talking time per dollar than with chat apps. Drawing on your real screen, step checks inside other apps and flashcards are Mac only. No phone app. Under 13 only with verified parental consent.

How we picked

• It does the job people use the original for, or does it differently in a way that helps.
• It is available to students today.
• Its price and age rules are published, or we say they are not.
• Every fact is from the product's own pages or app store listing, checked October 1, 2026.