Decision Support · Side-by-side
Compare pricing, strengths, and use cases so it is easier to pick the right fit.
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Photomath wins for pure math help—it's free to start, works great on your phone, and teaches you step by step. Bartleby is better if you need help across multiple subjects (essays, science, textbook answers) and are willing to pay for expert tutors. The biggest difference: Photomath is a quick math solver you can use daily for free; Bartleby is a full homework subscription service.
Bartleby
Photomath
Scores at a glance
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Key differences
Facts side by side
| Bartleby | Photomath | |
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| Free plan | ||
| Mobile app | ||
| API access |
Common questions
For pure math, Photomath is usually better because it's faster, free, and explains steps clearly. Bartleby is better if you need a human to check your work or if the math problem is very complex and the AI can't solve it.
Yes, Photomath is a mobile app for iOS and Android. That's the only way to use it—there's no web version.
Yes, Bartleby offers a free trial, but it's limited. After that, you need a paid subscription to access most features like expert Q&A and writing tools.
It depends on your courses. If you're taking math-heavy classes (calculus, statistics), Photomath is great. If you need help with essays, science labs, and multiple subjects, Bartleby is more versatile.
Yes, Photomath can handle many word problems, but it may struggle with very complex or multi-step ones. Bartleby's human experts are better for tricky word problems.
If you need help across several subjects and use it regularly, yes. If you only need occasional math help, Photomath's free version is a better value.
Photomath wins for instant, free math help on your phone; Bartleby wins for all-in-one homework support with human experts.
If you mostly need math help and want something free and easy on your phone, go with Photomath. If you're juggling essays, science, and math and don't mind paying for expert help, Bartleby is a solid choice. For most students, start with Photomath—it's free and covers the most common pain point.