ChatGPT leads for versatility and cost efficiency, suitable for students seeking homework help and concept explanation. Wolfram Alpha excels at advanced problem solving and computational accuracy. Khan Academy offers free structured learning paths, ideal for self-paced comprehensive maths education across all levels.
RANKENTRYSCORETRENDFROM
1ChatGPTTrained on billions of texts and can explain mathematical reasoning in plain English across all levels95.0NEWFree (with limitations), £16/month for ChatGPT Plus 2Wolfram AlphaUses proprietary algorithms and mathematical knowledge bases to provide mathematically rigorous solutions92.7NEWFree (Pro from £4.75/month) 3Khan AcademyFounded in 2008, has served over 180 million learners with coherent curriculum progression90.3NEWFree 4Microsoft Math SolverIntegrates with Microsoft Office and recognises handwritten maths problems via mobile app88.0NEWFree 5PhotomathOver 220 million downloads and uses advanced computer vision to read handwritten equations85.7NEWFree (Premium from £9.99/month) 6MathwayPowers over 1 million problem solutions daily across secondary and higher maths levels83.3NEWFree (Premium from £9.99/month) 7SymbolabEmploys symbolic computation engines similar to Mathematica for mathematically rigorous solutions81.0NEWFree (Premium from £9.99/month) 9DesmosUsed by educators globally and includes thousands of student-created interactive activities76.3NEWFree 10Socratic (by Google)Acquired by Google in 2018 and integrates educational videos from Khan Academy and YouTube74.0NEWFree The ranking, in detail
01
Flexible, conversational note generation and study assistant
OpenAI's ChatGPT provides interactive maths tutoring through natural conversation, offering step-by-step solutions, explanations, and the ability to ask follow-up questions. It works across algebra, geometry, calculus, and statistics.
From Free (with limitations), £16/month for ChatGPT PlusBest for Students wanting flexible, quick note generation without proprietary tool lock-in
95.0
02
Computational engine for mathematical problem solving and verification
Wolfram Alpha is a computational knowledge engine that solves maths problems, shows working, generates visualisations, and provides detailed step-by-step solutions. It covers algebra, calculus, differential equations, and advanced mathematics.
From Free (Pro from £4.75/month)Best for Students and professionals verifying solutions and understanding advanced maths
92.7
03
Free comprehensive maths curriculum with video lessons and practice
Khan Academy offers structured video lessons, interactive exercises, and progress tracking across primary maths through calculus. Completely free, with optional Khan Academy Plus for advanced features.
From FreeBest for Students seeking comprehensive learning from basics to advanced topics at their own pace
90.3
04
Free AI maths solver with step-by-step solutions and handwriting recognition
Microsoft Math Solver uses AI to solve mathematical problems from photos or typed input, providing detailed working steps. Covers arithmetic through calculus with visualisations and graphing.
From FreeBest for Students wanting quick solutions with visible working steps and equation graphing
88.0
05
Mobile app for instant solutions via camera and interactive step-by-step guidance
Photomath uses computer vision to recognise maths problems from photos, then provides detailed step-by-step solutions. Covers basic maths through calculus with animations and explanations.
From Free (Premium from £9.99/month)Best for Students on mobile who need instant problem recognition and detailed working
85.7
06
AI calculator with step-by-step solutions for diverse maths subjects
Mathway is a comprehensive maths problem solver covering algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, statistics, and chemistry. Provides instant answers with optional detailed working steps.
From Free (Premium from £9.99/month)Best for Students seeking quick verification and working for homework across multiple maths subjects
83.3
07
Advanced maths solver with symbolic computation and detailed explanations
Symbolab is a symbolic maths solver specialising in algebra, calculus, and advanced mathematics. Provides detailed steps, graphs, and uses symbolic computation to solve equations precisely.
From Free (Premium from £9.99/month)Best for Advanced students studying calculus, differential equations, and university-level maths
81.0
08
Google's visual recognition tool for identifying and solving maths problems
Google Lens integrates maths problem recognition into Google's image recognition platform. Point the camera at a maths problem to get instant solutions with explanations and related content.
From FreeBest for Users wanting seamless integration within the Google ecosystem for quick problem solving
78.7
09
Graphing calculator and maths visualisation tool for exploration and learning
Desmos is a free graphing calculator allowing students to visualise functions, explore transformations, and build mathematical intuition. Excellent for geometry, algebra, and precalculus visualisation.
From FreeBest for Visual learners studying functions, graphs, and geometric transformations
76.3
10
AI tutoring app using visual recognition for homework help across subjects
Google's Socratic app uses AI and visual recognition to identify problems and provide explanations, videos, and related resources. Covers maths, science, history, and other subjects integrated with educational content.
From FreeBest for Students wanting visual problem recognition linked to educational videos and explanations
74.0
Frequently asked questions
Which AI maths tutoring tool is best for complete beginners?
Khan Academy is ideal for beginners because it offers structured curriculum progression from basics, free comprehensive video lessons explaining foundational concepts, and practice exercises with skill mastery checks. Start with Khan Academy to build solid fundamentals, then use ChatGPT or Wolfram Alpha for supplementary help on specific problems.
Can these tools replace a human maths teacher?
These tools are excellent for homework help, practice, and concept reinforcement, but cannot fully replace human teachers. They lack personalised assessment of learning gaps, emotional support, long-term progress monitoring, and the ability to diagnose why a student struggles with specific concepts. Use them as supplements to classroom learning.
Which tool is best for advanced calculus and university-level maths?
Wolfram Alpha and Symbolab are the strongest for advanced mathematics. Wolfram Alpha excels at computational accuracy and visualisation of complex functions, whilst Symbolab specialises in symbolic computation for differential equations and abstract algebra. Both provide the rigorous mathematical working that university-level study requires.