Alternatives
Best Mathway alternatives in 2026
Mathway is math problem solver with step-by-step solutions and calculators. These 9 alternatives come from the same rankings, ordered by editorial score. Connected products carry a small, disclosed lift.
Ranked alternatives
- 1
Desmos
Free graphing, scientific, geometry and 3D calculators that run in a browser with no install. It is weak for symbolic algebra, which Wolfram|Alpha and SageMath handle better.
Best for Graphing and visual math in the browser
WebiOSAndroidFree
- 2
GeoGebra
Also runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Free dynamic math tools for graphing, geometry and classroom work, though its license limits commercial use. Its source is public, but the program is not open source as a whole.
Best for Interactive geometry and graphing lessons
WebWindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroidFree
- 3
Mathematica
Also runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Wolfram Language system for technical computing, with notebooks and cloud access, on Windows, macOS and Linux. It is a paid research environment, so it asks more of users than GeoGebra or Desmos, which are free.
Best for Research computation and notebook documents
WindowsmacOSLinuxPaid
- 4
Wolfram|Alpha
Computes symbolic answers and, on Pro, step-by-step solutions, with mobile apps. It is a calculator and reference rather than a course, and Pro is a paid subscription.
Best for Symbolic answers and computed results
WebiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
- 5
SageMath
Is open source; also runs on Linux, macOS. The open-source option here, under the GPL, combining many math packages behind Python. Setup is heavier than the browser tools, and Windows users are pointed to WSL.
Best for Open-source algebra and number theory
LinuxmacOSFree and open sourceOpen source
- 6
MATLAB
Also runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Commercial environment for engineers and scientists, on Windows, macOS and Linux. It is paid and offers only a free trial, so learners on a budget should compare it with GNU Octave.
Best for Engineering and science computing on a paid license
WindowsmacOSLinuxPaid
- 7
GNU Octave
Is open source; also runs on Linux, macOS, Windows. Free software for numerical computing that runs many MATLAB scripts with little change, on Linux, macOS and Windows. It has fewer toolboxes than MATLAB and suits numerical work more than graphing.
Best for Free MATLAB-style numerical computing
LinuxmacOSWindowsFree and open sourceOpen source
- 8
Scilab
Is open source; also runs on Windows, Linux, macOS. Open-source numerical computing environment under the GPL, free to download on Windows, Linux and macOS. Its own language differs from MATLAB, so GNU Octave is the closer fit for MATLAB script users.
Best for Free open-source numerical computing
WindowsLinuxmacOSFree and open sourceOpen source
- 9
Photomath
A camera solver with step-by-step explanations for math from elementary school to college, with a free basic tier. It works more as a solver than a tutor, and it runs on phones only.
Best for Checking homework step by step on a phone
iOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
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Open-source alternatives to Mathway
Mathway alternatives for Linux
Mathway alternatives for Windows
About Mathway alternatives
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