Photomath
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersSan Mateo, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Photomath does
Photomath is a mobile-first educational technology company that uses AI and computer vision to read and solve mathematical problems from camera input, providing step-by-step explanations to help students learn mathematics conceptually rather than arrive at answers alone. The core product is a smartphone application that recognizes handwritten and printed math problems in real time, including word problems, and breaks solutions down across multiple methods covering arithmetic through calculus. The proprietary technology stack combines camera-based image recognition, natural language processing for word problems, and a curated library of expert-verified solution paths developed with former math teachers.
The company operates a freemium business model: the basic Photomath app is free with step-by-step explanations, while Photomath Plus is a premium subscription priced at $9.99 per month or $69.99 per year, adding Animated Tutorials, custom visual aids, and deeper conceptual explanations. Distribution is exclusively digital through Google Play and the iOS App Store, targeting a horizontal segment of K-12 and college students, parents supporting homework, and teachers using the app as a classroom scaffolding tool. Customer acquisition is primarily product-led through app store discovery, supplemented by content marketing via the 'Build Your Math Mind' educational blog.
Photomath was founded in 2014 by Damir Sabol, a parent-engineer seeking to help his own children with math homework. The company raised approximately $29 million across multiple rounds from investors including Menlo Ventures, Goodwater Capital, GSV Ventures, Learn Capital, and Cherubic Ventures before being acquired by Google in 2023. Post-acquisition, Photomath operates as part of Google's portfolio while maintaining separate legal entities (Photomath LLC in California and Photomath d.o.o. in Croatia) and continuing to serve millions of monthly active learners worldwide.
Photomath firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Photomath
- Legal name
- Photomath LLC
- Website
- https://photomath.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Photomath industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Educational Technology / Math Learning Software
- NAICS
- Photographic Services (54192)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Image Classification & Tagging (HDAAAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Medical Imaging AI (HDAAAEAH)
Keywords
Where Photomath is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Mateo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Photomath business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Photomath Plus Subscription: Premium subscription offering including custom visual aids, extra 'how' and 'why' tips, Animated Tutorials, teacher-approved definitions, and deep dives into solution reasoning. Available as monthly ($9.99) or annual ($69.99) subscription through Google Play Store or iOS App Store. The freemium tier provides basic step-by-step explanations for free.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free basic version with essential step-by-step explanations |
| Subscription | Monthly | Premium monthly subscription with full feature access |
| Subscription | Annual | Premium annual subscription with best value pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Photomath product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Photomath is a mobile application that uses AI-powered camera recognition to scan handwritten and printed math problems and deliver step-by-step explanations from elementary arithmetic through calculus. The free core app provides camera-based scanning, a smart calculator, and basic step-by-step solutions; the premium Photomath Plus subscription adds custom visual aids, animated tutorials, extra how/why tips, and teacher-approved definitions.
Product overview
Photomath is a single-product mobile application focused exclusively on math education, consisting of a free core app and a premium Plus subscription. The core Photomath app provides camera-based math problem scanning and step-by-step explanations, while Photomath Plus adds premium features like animated tutorials and enhanced conceptual content. The product covers mathematics from elementary through college level, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and calculus.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Photomath Mobile App (Core) Free mobile application that uses camera-based AI recognition to scan handwritten and printed math problems and deliver step-by-step explanations from elementary arithmetic through calculus, including algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and word problems. Includes a smart calculator for manual problem input. Designed for students, parents, and teachers.
- Photomath Plus Subscription Premium subscription tier of the Photomath app, billed monthly at $9.99 or annually at $69.99 via Google Play or the iOS App Store. Adds custom visual aids, animated tutorials that visualize the solving process, extra how and why tips, teacher-approved definitions, and deeper conceptual explanations beyond the free core step-by-step solutions.
Quantifiable outcome
- Millions of learners helped monthly to understand their math
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Photomath
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Photomath technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature5 records
Photomath partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Photomath competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Microsoft Math Solver: Microsoft's free AI math problem-solver offering comparable camera-based problem recognition and step-by-step solutions. Direct functional overlap from a major tech incumbent with substantially more resources.
- Chegg: Larger education platform that owns Mathway. Provides comparable student homework help across multiple subjects with broader scope than Photomath's math-only focus, including direct overlap on the math use case.
- Course Hero: Larger education platform providing homework help, study resources, and tutor access across multiple subjects. Overlaps with Photomath on the student homework-help use case and subscription-based access model with broader subject coverage.
Emerging players
- Gauthmath: AI math homework helper offering photo-based problem solving with step-by-step explanations and live tutor access. Directly comparable product offering focused on the math homework use case with a similar mobile-first experience.
- Socratic by Google: Google-owned homework help app using AI to explain concepts across subjects including math. Particularly relevant given both are now under Google and serve overlapping student use cases, making it a sibling product as much as a competitor.
Direct peers
- Symbolab: AI-powered math solver offering step-by-step solutions across algebra, calculus, trigonometry, and more. Closely comparable on freemium subscription model, subject coverage, and target audience of K-12 and college students.
- Quizlet: Study platform offering flashcards, practice tests, and homework help features including math. Overlaps on student use case and freemium subscription model with a comparable audience of learners.
- Wolfram Alpha: Computational knowledge engine that solves math problems with step-by-step solutions and offers a Pro subscription. Overlaps with Photomath on advanced math (calculus, statistics, algebra) and the subscription-based access model.
- Brainly: Homework help platform with social Q&A covering math and other subjects. Comparable target market (K-12 and college students) and freemium subscription model, with broader subject coverage than Photomath.
- Mathway: Direct competitor offering step-by-step math problem solving across algebra, calculus, statistics, and more. Highly comparable on product (math homework help), pricing model (subscription), and target user (students). Acquired by Chegg in 2021, providing both product and go-to-market comparability.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Photomath social profiles
Digital presencePhotomath financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Photomath leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Photomath funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Photomath M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Photomath
What does Photomath do?
Photomath is a mobile application that uses AI-powered camera recognition to scan handwritten and printed math problems and deliver step-by-step explanations from elementary arithmetic through calculus. The free core app provides camera-based scanning, a smart calculator, and basic step-by-step solutions; the premium Photomath Plus subscription adds custom visual aids, animated tutorials, extra how/why tips, and teacher-approved definitions.
Is Photomath a public or private company?
Photomath is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Photomath founded?
Photomath was founded in 2014. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Photomath based?
Photomath is headquartered in San Mateo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Photomath make money?
One revenue line is on record: photomath Plus Subscription.
Who are Photomath's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Microsoft Math Solver, Chegg and Course Hero. Emerging players are Gauthmath and Socratic by Google. Direct peers are Symbolab, Quizlet, Wolfram Alpha, Brainly and Mathway.
Does Photomath have an API?
No public API is recorded for Photomath.
What industry is Photomath in?
Photomath's product category is Educational Technology / Math Learning Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAAAEAA, Image Classification & Tagging, with a secondary code of HDAAAEAH, Medical Imaging AI. Its NAICS code is 54192 and its SIC code is 7330.