10 Best AI Math Solvers That Show the Steps
Photomath, ChatGPT study mode, Gemini Guided Learning, Wolfram|Alpha, Symbolab and five more AI math solvers compared on free steps, prices and accuracy for students.
On this page
The best AI math solver for most students in 2026 is Photomath for scanning a problem and seeing free step-by-step solutions, ChatGPT’s study mode or Gemini’s Guided Learning for explanations of word problems, and Wolfram|Alpha when the answer must be exactly right. Symbolab is the cheapest dedicated step-by-step tool, and Khanmigo is the best choice if you want an AI tutor that teaches rather than hands over answers.
Below we compare 10 AI math solvers that show the steps, with prices, free limits and the best use for each, as of October 2026. We also explain why chatbots still get math wrong sometimes and how to use any AI math solver to learn instead of copy.
Key takeaways
- Photomath, Google Lens and Gemini give free step-by-step help from a photo; Symbolab, Mathway and Wolfram|Alpha put full steps behind a paid plan.
- ChatGPT study mode and Gemini Guided Learning ask questions and give hints instead of just the answer, and both are free to try.
- Wolfram|Alpha is the most reliable for exact computation; students pay $5/month or $60/year for Pro with step-by-step solutions.
- General chatbots can make arithmetic or algebra slips. Check final answers with a calculator, Wolfram|Alpha or by substituting back.
- Microsoft Math Solver was retired in July 2025, so skip older lists that still recommend it.
Quick picks: the best AI math solvers compared
| AI math solver | Best for | Starting paid price | Free steps? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photomath | Scanning homework problems | Plus about $9.99/mo or $69.99/yr | Yes, core solutions |
| ChatGPT (study mode) | Word problems and concept explanations | Go $8/mo, Plus $20/mo | Yes |
| Gemini (Guided Learning) | Free tutor-style help | Google AI Plus $4.99/mo | Yes |
| Wolfram|Alpha | Exact answers and advanced math | Student Pro $5/mo or $60/yr | No, answers only |
| Symbolab | Cheap step-by-step practice | Pro about $29.99/yr | Final answers only |
| Google Lens and Search | Quick free checks | Free | Yes, many problems |
| Khanmigo | Learning without being given answers | $4/mo or $44/yr (US billing) | Hints, not answers |
| Claude | Proofs and explaining reasoning | Pro $20/mo ($17 annual) | Yes |
| Mathway | Broad topic coverage | About $9.99/mo or $39.99/yr | Answers only |
| Gauth | Multi-subject homework help | Premium about $11.99/mo | Limited daily |
Watch out: Copying AI solutions into graded homework usually breaks school rules and leaves you stuck in exams, where no app is allowed. Use an AI math solver to check your work, find where you went wrong and practice similar problems. Teachers can tell when steps do not match what a student can explain.
The 10 best AI math solvers that show the steps
We compared each tool on free step access, topic range, reliability, teaching style and price. We did not run a scored accuracy benchmark, so there are no invented percentages here, only editorial judgments.
1. Photomath: Best AI math solver for scanning homework
- Starting price: Photomath Plus about $9.99/month or $69.99/year (third-party listing)
- Free plan: Yes, step-by-step solutions by camera or typing
- Best for: school algebra, geometry, trigonometry and early calculus
Point your phone at a printed or handwritten problem and Photomath shows the answer with steps you can expand. Google bought Photomath in 2023 and the app still runs on iOS and Android. The free version covers standard step-by-step solutions, while Plus adds animated tutorials and textbook-specific solutions, with a 7-day trial reported. Prices vary by country and app store, so check in the app.
Skip it if: you need help with long word problems or proofs; a chatbot explains those better.
2. ChatGPT with study mode: Best for word problems and explanations
- Starting price: Free; Go $8/month, Plus $20/month
- Free plan: Yes, study mode works on all plans
- Best for: understanding why a method works, word problems, exam revision
ChatGPT can read a photo of a problem, explain the method in plain language and adjust to your level. Turn on study mode by typing @study or choosing Study from the + menu: instead of dumping the answer, it asks guiding questions, explains in layers and quizzes you one question at a time. OpenAI notes it can still make mistakes. With GPT-6 and Intelligent UI, answers can include interactive charts and modules, which help with graphs and functions. Our Intelligent UI guide and ChatGPT beginner guide show how.
Skip it if: you want to trust a long calculation without checking; verify numbers separately.
3. Gemini with Guided Learning: Best free tutor-style math help
- Starting price: Free; Google AI Plus $4.99/month (Rs 399), AI Pro $19.99/month (Rs 1,950)
- Free plan: Yes
- Best for: students who want a study plan and practice questions
Gemini’s Guided Learning mode acts as a study partner: it lays out a plan, explains concepts with images and videos, checks your understanding and walks you through homework “without handing over the answers”, in Google’s words. You can upload class notes to generate a study guide. Indian university students aged 18+ can claim Google AI Plus free for a year until 31 December 2026, and US college students can get AI Pro free for a year. Our Gemini review covers model quality.
Skip it if: you prefer a dedicated camera-first math app.
4. Wolfram|Alpha: Best for exact answers and advanced math
- Starting price: Student Pro $5/month or $60/year; Pro Premium $8.25/month or $99/year
- Free plan: Yes, answers without step-by-step solutions
- Best for: college math, engineering, physics and checking chatbot answers
Wolfram|Alpha is a computational engine rather than a chatbot, which makes it the most dependable tool here for exact results: integrals, differential equations, matrices, statistics and unit conversions. Step-by-step solutions require Pro or Pro Premium, and the student pricing page lists Pro at $5 a month or $60 a year. Pro Premium adds longer computation time and larger uploads.
Skip it if: you need a friendly explanation of basic concepts; it is precise but terse.
5. Symbolab: Best cheap step-by-step practice
- Starting price: Pro about $6.99/month or $29.99/year (third-party listing)
- Free plan: Final answers with daily limits
- Best for: high school and college students practicing many problems
Symbolab covers algebra through calculus with detailed steps, practice problems and an AI chat for math questions. Recent reports say the free tier now has daily limits and shows only final answers, so step-by-step solutions need Pro. The annual plan is among the cheapest in this list, and a bundle with QuillBot’s writing tools is reported. A 7-day trial is available for new users.
Skip it if: you only need help once in a while; free Photomath or Gemini may be enough.
6. Google Lens and Search: Best for quick free checks
- Starting price: Free
- Free plan: Yes
- Best for: checking a single equation, triangle problem or physics formula
Type an equation into Google Search or photograph it with Lens to get a step-by-step explanation and solution, including trigonometry and calculus. Lens can read triangle diagrams for some geometry problems, and Search identifies known and unknown values in basic physics word problems. It is the fastest free option when you just want to confirm your method.
Skip it if: you want a conversation or follow-up questions.
7. Khanmigo: Best for learning without being handed the answer
- Starting price: $4/month or $44/year for learners (US billing address required)
- Free plan: Free for verified teachers in 40+ countries
- Best for: younger students, parents and teachers
Khan Academy’s Khanmigo is designed to coach: it asks questions and gives hints so students solve problems themselves, linked to Khan Academy’s exercises and videos. That design makes it the safest choice for parents worried about shortcuts. The catch for Indian families is that learner subscriptions currently need a US billing address, though the core Khan Academy site remains free for everyone. Teachers should also see our guide to AI for teachers.
Skip it if: you are outside the US and want the paid learner version.
8. Claude: Best for proofs and explaining reasoning
- Starting price: Free; Pro $20/month or $17/month billed annually
- Free plan: Yes
- Best for: university students, proofs, statistics concepts and checking logic
Claude is strong at explaining reasoning clearly and spotting the exact line where a proof or derivation goes wrong. Choose the Explanatory style (Search and tools, then Use style) for teaching-oriented answers, or upload your handwritten working as a photo and ask Claude to review it without giving the final answer. As with any chatbot, double-check long arithmetic. Our Claude review explains plans and limits.
Skip it if: you mostly need fast answers to school-level exercises.
9. Mathway: Best for broad topic coverage
- Starting price: About $9.99/month or $39.99/year (third-party listing)
- Free plan: Answers without detailed steps
- Best for: students who jump between many math topics
Mathway covers a wide range of math topics, from basic math and algebra to calculus and statistics, with typed or photographed input. Like Symbolab, it charges for detailed steps. It is a reasonable pick if you want one app across subjects, but compare it with Symbolab’s cheaper annual plan first. Its prices come from a third-party listing, so check the app.
Skip it if: you mainly want free steps; Photomath and Google Lens offer them.
10. Gauth: Best for multi-subject homework help
- Starting price: Premium about $11.99/month or $99.99/year (third-party listing)
- Free plan: Limited AI solutions per day
- Best for: students who need math, physics and chemistry help in one app
Gauth, made by ByteDance (formerly Gauthmath), solves photographed problems across math and sciences, with an optional human tutor add-on. The free tier limits daily solutions, and reported prices have not been date-checked, so confirm in the app before you subscribe. As with every solver here, use it to check work rather than replace it.
Skip it if: you want a tool built around learning rather than answers; choose Khanmigo or a study mode.
Why chatbots still get math wrong (and how to check)
Large language models predict text, so they can write a perfect explanation and still slip on a sign, a decimal or a long multiplication. Dedicated engines like Wolfram|Alpha compute exactly but explain less. The best approach combines both.
- Solve it yourself first. Even a partial attempt tells the AI where you are stuck and makes the explanation useful.
- Ask for steps, not just the answer. Prompt: “Explain each step and why it is allowed. Do not skip algebra.”
- Verify the final answer. Substitute the answer back into the original equation, use a calculator, or check it in Wolfram|Alpha or Google Search.
- Compare two tools on hard problems. If ChatGPT and Wolfram|Alpha disagree, work through the steps to find the error.
- Practice a similar problem. Ask: “Give me two similar problems with different numbers and check my answers.” This is where learning happens.
Tip: For data-heavy math such as statistics or finance, ask ChatGPT to run the calculation with its data analysis tool and show the code. Code-based results are far more reliable than mental arithmetic in a chat. Our guide to using ChatGPT for Excel and data analysis shows the workflow.
Best AI math solver by student type
| Student | Best pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Classes 6 to 10 (CBSE, ICSE, state boards) | Photomath plus Gemini Guided Learning | Free steps from a photo, then explanations in simple language |
| Classes 11 and 12, JEE or NEET preparation | ChatGPT study mode plus Wolfram|Alpha | Concept explanations, with exact checking for calculus and physics |
| Engineering and science undergraduates | Wolfram|Alpha Pro plus Claude | Exact computation and clear proof or derivation review |
| Budget-conscious daily practice | Symbolab Pro annual | Low yearly price for full steps |
| Parents of younger kids | Khanmigo (US) or free Khan Academy | Hints instead of answers |
Students looking for free or discounted plans should read our roundup of AI student discounts and our guide to free AI Pro plans in India. For study prompts beyond math, see our ChatGPT prompts for students.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free AI math solver?
Photomath gives free step-by-step solutions from a photo for most school math, and Google Lens and Search do the same for many equations. For explanations, free ChatGPT with study mode and free Gemini with Guided Learning are excellent. Wolfram|Alpha is free for answers, but its step-by-step solutions need Pro.
Can ChatGPT solve math problems accurately?
ChatGPT explains methods well and solves most school-level problems correctly, but it can make arithmetic or algebra slips, especially in long calculations. Ask it to show every step, use its data analysis tool for heavy calculations, and check final answers by substituting back or using Wolfram|Alpha.
Is using an AI math solver cheating?
It depends on how and when you use it. Checking your own work, understanding a method or practicing similar problems is learning. Copying answers into graded homework, or using a solver during a test, usually breaks school rules. Study modes and Khanmigo are designed to give hints rather than answers, which keeps you on the right side.
Is Microsoft Math Solver still available?
No. Microsoft Math Solver was retired on July 7, 2025. Good free replacements are Photomath and Google Lens for camera-based steps, and ChatGPT or Gemini for explanations. If an older article still recommends Microsoft Math Solver, treat its other picks with caution too.
Which AI is best for JEE math preparation?
Use ChatGPT study mode or Gemini Guided Learning to understand concepts and get practice questions, and Wolfram|Alpha to verify calculus and algebra answers exactly. Claude is useful for reviewing your working line by line. Always solve problems yourself first; exam conditions reward speed and method you have practiced.
Our verdict: pair an explainer with a checker
The best AI math solver setup is two tools: one that explains (ChatGPT study mode, Gemini Guided Learning or Claude) and one that computes exactly (Wolfram|Alpha, Photomath or Google Lens). Most students can do this entirely free; pay for Symbolab or Wolfram|Alpha Pro only if you need full steps every day. Above all, use these tools to understand the method, not to skip it. For more study tools, see our list of the best AI tools for students. Prices change often, so confirm them on each vendor’s site or app store before you subscribe.
Pricing and features are checked at the time of writing and can change. Some links may be affiliate links, which never affect our verdicts.
