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Should I use Desmos?

Beautiful, free math - desmos.com

Worth it. Students, teachers, and anyone needing fast, accurate graphing should use it — the core calculators are free and it is built into the digital SAT. Skip it if you need symbolic algebra (CAS), vendor support contracts, or step-by-step solvers; GeoGebra and WolframAlpha fit those better.

Confidence

High. Based on 20+ public sources; several user quotes are truncated in the source snippets.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support qualityNo support-quality evidence in sources
  • Security posture

Pricing

Free

Desmos calculators

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
Amplify Desmos MathPaid, via Amplify sales

Best for

  • Digital SAT math students
  • Math teachers and classrooms
  • Homeschool math
  • Quick graphing and visualization

Not for

  • Symbolic algebra and CAS-heavy work — GeoGebra is stronger
  • Teams needing vendor SLAs or paid support — no enterprise tier for the calculator
  • Step-by-step homework solvers — use WolframAlpha instead

Gotchas - check before you buy

high

Several 'desmos-graphing-*' npm packages are flagged malicious — install only official packages

medium

No standard published pricing; curriculum and school deals route through Amplify or partnerships

medium

School deployments require signed student-data privacy agreements before classroom use

low

Exam settings use restricted test/practice modes, not the full calculator

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Core calculators completely free on web, iOS, Android
  • Built into the digital SAT at no cost
  • Strong ratings: 4.4/5 App Store; 4+ on G2
  • Embedded in state testing, e.g. Virginia and South Carolina
  • Teachers find it simpler than handheld graphing calculators

Cons

  • No full CAS; GeoGebra handles more advanced math
  • Some SAT students say it trivializes problems
  • Business runs on partnerships and curriculum, not the calculator

Sources & method

Analyzed 10/02/2026 - 12 sources - No known breaches of Desmos itself; security databases flag malicious npm lookalike packages, not desmos.com.

official x4review x5security x1news x2
  • Malicious npm packages impersonate Desmos, Veracode and Strobes list several 'desmos-graphing-*' npm packages as malicious code. These appear to be lookalike packages, not a breach of. Verify package names before installing.

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • Free

    Starting price

  • 12

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. Core calculators are free, no paywalls
  • Ease of use: 5/5. Users repeatedly call it easy
  • Feature depth: 4/5. Excellent graphing; lighter CAS than GeoGebra
  • Support quality. No support-quality evidence in sources
  • Security posture: 4/5. No known breaches; publishes privacy/security pages
  • 4.4/5 App Store rating iOS App Store
  • 4+/5 G2 rating 25 reviews
  • Free Price Core calculators, web + mobile
  • 2011 Founded Google Ventures-backed (2012)

Pricing

Desmos calculators

Free

  • Graphing, scientific, geometry tools
  • Web, iOS and Android apps

Amplify Desmos Math

Paid, via Amplify sales

  • K-12 math curriculum
  • Classroom program sold by Amplify

Security

No known breaches of Desmos itself; security databases flag malicious npm lookalike packages, not desmos.com.

  • Malicious npm packages impersonate DesmosVeracode and Strobes list several 'desmos-graphing-*' npm packages as malicious code. These appear to be lookalike packages, not a breach of. Verify package names before installing.⁹

What users say

Users across G2, Reddit, and app stores praise Desmos for ease of use and test-day value, while a minority of SAT students complain it trivializes problems.

“I LOVE desmos, it's so eas…”
G2 discussion
“Honestly, I find Desmos s…”
Reddit, r/mathteachers
“Geogebra is definitely more…”
Reddit, r/mathmemes

Companies that use it

  • College Board (digital SAT)⁴
  • Virginia Department of Education⁵
  • South Carolina Department of Education (SC READY)⁶
  • Amplify (co-branded curriculum)12
  • Colchester Public Schools
Full analysis

Based on 20+ public sources; several user quotes are truncated in the source snippets.

Free, beloved graphing calculator built into the digital SAT. Great for graphing and classrooms; GeoGebra wins for CAS.

Methodology

Based on 20+ public sources; several user quotes are truncated in the source snippets.

Sources

  1. Desmos | Beautiful free mathdesmos.com
    official
  2. Desmos Reviews - G2g2.com
    review
  3. Desmos Graphing Calculator - App Storeapps.apple.com
    review
  4. Desmos: Eight Features to Boost Your SAT Math Scoreresolveprep.com
    review
  5. Desmos Online Calculator | Virginia DOEdoe.virginia.gov
    official
  6. Calculator Requirements for SC READY and EOCEPed.sc.gov
    official
  7. Desmos Grabs Funding From Google Venturestechcrunch.com
    news
  8. How Does Desmos Make Money?productmint.com
    news
  9. MAL-2026-15223 - desmos-graphingstrobes.co
    security
  10. Desmos or GeoGebra - r/mathmemesreddit.com
    review
  11. Pros/cons for graphing calculator vs. Desmos - r/Satreddit.com
    review
  12. Amplify Desmos Mathamplify.com
    official

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