Photomath is the better app overall, scoring 8.4 to 8.0. Photomath wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Coursera on 1.
Middle school, high school and early college students checking their math
Career changers and professionals who want courses with recognized certificates
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Photomath | Coursera |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Learning | Learning |
| Category rank | #6 of 10 | #9 of 10 |
| Developer | Coursera | |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | No |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | — | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Photomath better than Coursera?
Photomath is the better app overall, scoring 8.4 to 8.0. Photomath wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Coursera on 1.
Which is cheaper, Photomath or Coursera?
Photomath: Free step-by-step solutions; Photomath Plus is $9.99 a month or $69.99 a year. Coursera: Free first-module previews; buy a course or Coursera Plus for full access. On value for money, Photomath scores higher.
Do Photomath and Coursera work on the same devices?
Only Coursera runs on Web.
Which is more private, Photomath or Coursera?
Photomath scores higher on privacy (7.4/10). App Store label: no tracking and nothing linked to you, though photos, usage, location and IDs are collected. Camera images may help improve its recognition, and Play says data can't be deleted.
Strengths and weaknesses
Photomath
- Step-by-step explanations are free
- Reads handwriting as well as print
- No ads, and no account needed
- Needs an internet connection to solve
- Plus costs $9.99 a month
- Less reliable for advanced college math
Point your camera at a math problem, printed, handwritten or on a screen, and Photomath solves it with step-by-step explanations, multiple methods and graphs. The free explanations go a long way. Plus adds AI-powered animated tutorials, hints and textbook solutions. It needs an internet connection, updates have slowed under Google, and it's built for school math more than advanced engineering.
Full Photomath review
Coursera
- Courses from respected universities and employers
- Certificates you can add to a resume or LinkedIn
- Financial aid can cover full access for many courses
- Free access is mostly limited to first-module previews
- Course quality and engagement vary widely
Coursera puts courses from universities and companies like Google and IBM in one app, with certificates and even full degrees on top. For career skills the depth is hard to match, and downloads make offline study easy. The catch is cost: most courses now offer only a free first-module preview, and quality varies between courses. It merged with Udemy in 2026. Get it if you want recognized credentials.
Full Coursera review
