shouldiuse.io

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VERDICT

Should I use Mathway?

Automated math problem solver for algebra through calculus - mathway.com

Depends. Worth using free if you just need to check homework answers quickly. Do not pay for Premium or rely on it if you need worked steps, verified accuracy, or honest student work.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 30+ public sources including reviews, Reddit threads, breach reports, and Chegg acquisition news; many review snippets were truncated.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support quality
  • Security posture

Pricing

$0

Free

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
PremiumPaid subscription (price not listed in sources)

Best for

  • Students checking homework answers
  • Parents helping kids with math
  • Quick algebra and calculus answers

Not for

  • Anyone wanting free step-by-step explanations
  • Advanced users needing verified accuracy
  • Students who must show honest work
  • Privacy-conscious users storing account data

Gotchas - check before you buy

high

The January 2020 breach leaked user emails and usernames; assume those credentials are public.

medium

Answers are free; steps are paid — heavy upgrade pressure right when you need explanations.

medium

Schools treat solver answers as cheating; discipline risk for students caught using it.

low

Cancellation has enough friction that DoNotPay published a step-by-step cancel guide.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Free answers across many math levels
  • Camera scan input for problems
  • Strong app rating: 4.7/5 in comparison testing
  • Backed by Chegg since 2020 acquisition

Cons

  • Step-by-step solutions locked behind paid subscription
  • Users report wrong answers on some problems
  • Some users found it unhelpful for learning
  • 2020 breach exposed 25 million user records
  • Thin Trustpilot base: only 77 reviews

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/30/2026 - 9 sources - Known breach history: 25 million user records leaked in 2020; no newer incidents found in sources.

official x2review x4security x2news x1
  • 25 million user records breached, January 2020 breach; database offered for sale by ShinyHunters, confirmed by multiple security firms and the Delaware Attorney General's breach notice.

Key stats

  • Value for money: 3/5

    Rating

  • $0

    Starting price

  • 9

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 3/5. Answers free; steps paywalled
  • Ease of use: 4/5. Camera scan input; high app rating
  • Feature depth: 4/5. Covers algebra through calculus
  • Support quality: 2/5. Cancellation friction documented
  • Security posture: 2/5. 25M-user breach in 2020
  • 4.7/5 App rating Apex Vision head-to-head review
  • Yes Free tier Answers free; steps paid
  • Jun 2020 Acquired Bought by Chegg
  • 77 Trustpilot reviews Small review base

Pricing

Free

$0

  • Instant answers
  • No step-by-step solutions

Premium

Paid subscription (price not listed in sources)

  • Step-by-step explanations
  • Upgrade removes free-tier limits

Security

Known breach history: 25 million user records leaked in 2020; no newer incidents found in sources.

  • 25 million user records breachedJanuary 2020 breach; database offered for sale by ShinyHunters, confirmed by multiple security firms and the Delaware Attorney General's breach notice.⁴

Alternatives

Compare Mathway with each alternative.

  • Symbolab

    Shows worked steps more reliably; users switched from Mathway.

  • Photomath

    Camera-first solver; free version competes well head-to-head.

    Mathway vs Photomath

  • Wolfram Alpha

    Stronger accuracy for advanced math.

Full analysis

Based on 30+ public sources including reviews, Reddit threads, breach reports, and Chegg acquisition news; many review snippets were truncated.

Fine free answer-checker for students; steps cost extra, accuracy varies, and 25M accounts were breached in 2020.

Methodology

Based on 30+ public sources including reviews, Reddit threads, breach reports, and Chegg acquisition news; many review snippets were truncated.

Sources

  1. Mathway | Algebra Problem Solvermathway.com
    official
  2. Mathway Premium Terms of Usemathway.com
    official
  3. Chegg Acquires Mathwayinvestor.chegg.com
    news
  4. 25 million Mathway user records for salesecurityaffairs.com
    security
  5. Mathway Data Breach — Have I Been Pwnedhaveibeenpwned.com
    security
  6. Photomath vs Mathway (2026): We Tested Bothapexvision.ai
    review
  7. Mathway vs Symbolab vs Wolfram Alphareddit.com
    review
  8. Trustpilot reviews of mathway.comtrustpilot.com
    review
  9. Mathway Pricing and Packagesalternatives.co
    review

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