Symbolab
reviews and complaints

I bought the app when it has the one time fee, i used it on web, mobile and it went all good.

When they update to have cloud things, that was blocked because i need a new suscription (I think thats fair) but i sitll can used it.

But a couple months ago they just decided i was no longer elegible to have suscription, so they blocked me to only can use the stop to step on my android account that i bought the premium.

But i dont use android anymore.

They just messed up the account system so bad.

Well while you can see a lot of reviews saying don't buy it, I'd say but it but first check their desktop website the step by step solutions are the same, most of people that are "down voting" this app is people that is mad because the publisher is asking a price to see the step by step solutions which you can do in the desktop website for free. After all the app do works good, do its work, it presents all the data very well formatted and has a handy keyboard built-in which helps a lot when typing math, you know those weird symbols we use on math, it has them all ready for you and easy to use. Get the full version of this app you won't regret.

Have been a member since 2019. Was put in auto pay and used quite frequently. This company has raised their fees. My fees stayed the same (2019) was charged for many months but have not been able to use the locked step by step solutions any longer. I’m not sure why they kept charging me if I’m not able to access locked steps? Basically have been charging me monthly for nothing. Never notified me, never said hey the charge has increased and you can’t access. Find it hard to believe. Good luck all. Hope this helps.

Additionally… just received a response to this but not to my direct email in regards to the above which was sent before this review.

This app is the only reason I passed all my Math classes required for my degrees. When I found it, I could have cried I was so happy. I'm not good at math at all. I took online math classes while completing my degrees. Being an online class, they're self taught. And it just so happens I can teach myself how to do anything BUT math. So for a 25 question homework, it would take me 2-3 hours. And I'm not talking about "2x6" type of homework either. This stuff was hard! So I knew that there was a better way and behold, I found Symbolab. It literally saved my butt. It's so good, I told my other friends and they already downloaded it on their iPads. I highly recommend.

Great for solving math problems. My issue is with the company. I paid for a weekly subscription at the end of my calculus semester and I couldn’t cancel the subscription through their “manage subscription” section in the app.(they are going to say cancel it in your Apple subscriptions, but that isn’t the case if you signed up using a computer.) I voiced my concern through their app and mentioned I was going to cancel. I had a couple more days before my billing cycle was going to re-occur. They must have received my email and then renewed my subscription for another week... even though I paid 2 days ago for a weekly subscription. Just got scammed for $1.99. Hopefully they make it easier to cancel.

I don't normally write reviews, but this really has helped me. As an online student it's really helpful to be able to plug in a problem I'm working on and for the app to explain to me step-by-step how to do it. My only gripe is, often times, when using my phone I don't have Internet access.

This app requires Internet access. It appears to send the problem to their servers to be solved and then comes back with the correct answer. I guess what I'm saying is, why would I buy the app if it needs to connect to the Internet to use when I could just go to the website and use it for free?

The app is well put together though. No negative reviews at all for the app itself, I just wish there was an off-line mode even if it meant downloading gigabytes worth of data.

1. This calculator is ok. I'll give it that. It does solve the basic problems...but when I mean basic, I mean BASIC. There aren't any other solving engines that assist me. For example, for trig, it should be able to help identify periods, amplitudes, etc. of a trig function. That would help.

2. The price obviously. It's completely overpriced for the simplistic solving engine the app actually offers. If there were a wide selection of solving engines, it wouldn't be as bad.

Some suggestions:
•Trig:
-finding period, amplitude
-solve trig equations by squaring both sides, grouping, identities, etc.

I think you get the gist of what I'm saying. Please add more functions so the app itself has a more widespread beneficial use then just sub-par chapter 1 material.

I’ll start by saying this, I love Symbolab. It’s helped me learn and I wouldn’t pass my math classes without it. I purchased the web subscription as I’m taking math classes that require steps beyond the paywall. I don’t understand why I have to pay for both if I am already paying for one. I wouldn’t have this problem if I could use the symbolab website in my mobile browser but instead it requires the app.

The app is kind of buggy. It may just be this version but, since I need to buy yet another subscription, it is a dead end. The subscribe link leads to a loading bar and then times out leaving you back where you started. I am disappointed that the app is so subpar to the original site, as the original sight is an absolute masterpiece and wonderful for learning.

This app is great, it probably saved my calc grade. It’s a little confusing at first but once you get the hang out it it’s the best tool ever. I’m not complaining about needing to pay for the work to be shown (I get it, it takes money to build an app and keep it functional), my only complaint is cancelling the subscription. I clicked manage subscription in the settings on my account in the app, and the page it took me to was simple text, no button, and it didn’t take me to the App Store. I had to search through my email to find the receipt from the Apple store, click on that, and go from there. I wish there was a way to edit the subscription in the app, or at least make the link work. It’s a great app, don’t get me wrong, but with money on the line frustration happens fast.

i used this app all the time last semester (spring 2021) for differential equations and physics classes. i loved it—the functionality was simple and effective. come this fall semester, there is this horrible new update which makes it extremely clunky to use. you have to press and hold on the function keyboard to input something as simple as an x. it takes FOREVER to type an equation because of this. also pi is on another tab, and once you click on any operator in the other tab it brings you off of that page, so you’re constantly switching between the tabs. it also seems like it has less capabilities now. im getting a lot more “steps are not currently supported for this problem” error messages. i always preferred it over wolfram alpha, and even was willing to pay for the subscription. now i am considering deleting the app altogether.

I bought the iPad pro to use as a laptop replacement. Keep in mind this was a nearly $1k purchase. Symbolab works pretty well on my computer, but when I go on my iPad on safari all of the sudden they insist I get the app. Frustrating. Now, when I get the app, I'm frustrated again by seeing a terribly laid out and cumbersome keyboard that won't let me use my iPad keyboard. Again, frustrating. But it gets worse. To do what I was able to do for free on my computer, I now must pay $7 for an upgrade to remove the horrible and annoying ads that pop up with every new command, and to show steps for problems (again, free on the computer but not on the even more expensive ipad). Symbolab is disgusting and greedy for doing this, and I would not recommend this to anyone. Go with Wolfram Alpha, it is far more accurate and broad in scope, and so far I haven't been blackmailed into buying anything so far.

For people who complain about it not being able to use offline, that's true. But then it wouldn't cost only $7 if it does offer offline calculation.

And for ones complain about too much ads. I just have one theory behind it, developers make living on apps, one way or another. Nothing is free and ideal. If you don't want ads, just pay $7 for it. $7 doesn't worth your time to write a review to complain for it.

This app offers the same feature as it does on your computer browser. It's built in keyboard is the best I've ever used, simple looking and easy to use. I use it to solve multivariable integrals with no problems most of the time. It's also good for some trigs, and simple matrices. Or sometimes I need a quick reminder of certain properties, this is always a good app to use.

Limitation:
It won't take complex numbers. If you are a doing upper level physics, this is not going to help, at least not optics.

This app combined with a tutor by my side 100% of the time got me an A in college algebra. It solves things that are so long you just don’t want to take the time to solve, and for certain parts of the class I knew nothing of what was going on and I could just use Symbolab on it and it would give me an answer. About 1/10 times it will give you an answer that you weren’t looking for. It struggles with matrixes and cannot put a number in for k or x, in which case you have to know how to manually type the number your plugging in using parentheses.
For the love of peat please list off the points on the graph. Me and my tutor spent a good chunk of time just eye balling the graph trying to figure out the points. Also please add “Pert” functionality.

Overall this app is amazing and saved me hours and gives the correct answer way more often the me. Also consider charging .99 cents because time is money and this saves time.

Thanks Symbolab!

TL;DR: This app is fantastic as a calculus student.

I opted to pay for the “Pro” subscription and I think it is worth it for what it is. I am currently in an online calculus class and the app has helped a lot with finding where I’m misunderstanding concepts. The step-by-step walkthroughs help a ton!

Even if you don’t opt for the pro subscription; it’s still a great tool for checking your answers.

This app is very similar to Photomath, but I personally prefer Symbolab. Photomath uses some atypical symbols that made solutions harder to read for me and occasionally was unable to solve equations. So far, I’ve quite literally not had a single problem that I couldn’t solve with Symbolab. Symbolab also has a fully functional website that I actually use more than the app since I can easily have it pulled up beside my homework.

The graphing capabilities of Symbolab are great. I’ve essentially replaced my TI-84 with it. There’s a lot of functionality and it’s much more intuitive to use a touch screen over the arrow keys of a traditional calculator. It also beats Photomath in this department. The graph is much more interactive.

I found Symbolab online and for the most part, I really liked it. I downloaded the app and had hoped I could get rid of my mathway subscription since it can’t solve anything past calculus 1, but after reading the reviews, I decided to test it out first. I’m glad I didn’t buy it because it’s SO glitchy. Even after a supposed update, the camera still can’t recognize 95% of the problems. I typed in most by hand which is very tedious. Then I tried using my iPad so I could use the keyboard to type faster but it doesn’t support a keyboard function! Furthermore, half the time it didn’t produce a result (takes me to a blank screen) or it gives me the wrong answer. For this reason, I’m sticking to Mathway and supplementing with wolfram ADV for things Mathway cannot handle. In addition to not working and being complicated to use, the app uses video ads which is incredibly annoying! Video Ads are common on YouTube, but I’ve NEVER seen this in any other credible problem solving app. They might have banners at the top or bottom but never in video form let alone before giving an answer or before allowing you to type in an equation. Fix the app and I’ll get the subscription.

I switched to this app from Mathway which couldn't solve most integrals or series & cost $20/mo...can you believe that? Of course I would try something with a one-time reasonable cost! Tested a couple problems that Mathway failed & this app did really well... Lots of explanation & most important - the correct information!
I knocked off one star because the formatting is a bit off in regards to the written explanations. The new line cuts into the words instead of just moving the whole word down.. Also I noticed some misspelling. Not professional... And I really, really wanted to see one or two solutions before deciding if I wanted to pay, but all they do is give you the answer and ask for money. No way to evaluate if you will like the explanation style or if it's any good! But I was relieved to find they are quite good.
No math app is perfect, that's pretty hard when math goes past Calc 1... Things get tricky... But you need something that can at least help you with most of your issues & not constantly fail & continue to rip-off your bank account. (I.e. Mathway. Guess you can tell they really ticked me off!)
Symbolab is a good value & way more helpful... Try it!

I appreciate the face that Symbolab actually tries to improve their product and I would hope that they can go further with step by step translations of how to solve calculus, differential equations, and several other complex items.

One can always buy maple, mat lab and several other programs but the difference is have the software go step by step in order to comprehend the problems.

The Autodesk, the Adobe, Wolfram, are subscription based systems for students is BS!

The reason those two are so full of fecal matter is the fact that the student who really wants to comprehend what is going on may not be able to afford a tutor.

Wolfram is trying to rip off students by charging for the actual time it takes to solve the question or equation given. But these idiots then sit there and say it is taking to long to calculate the equation or question ***—> Look here Wolfram, not everyone is connected on the internet at the fiber optic levels and billing me or more accurately telling me I need to buy a second student subscription to perform the calculation is BS TOO!

Therefore it is the responsibility of companies like Symbolab to step up and move forward translating the most complex mathematical items.

I hope Symbolab steps it up and moves the translation process forward cause if they do I will continue to subscribe. If they do not step up the process I will simply use Symbolab until I find a program that can work in helping me understand how to solve the equations.

We are here to learn so it is up to the software boys to step up their game as not everyone can afford a tutor.

Your Move.

I have used this App on and off for the last 5, almost 6 years. It has proven time and time again to be an awesome resource and tool, and the user interface WAS perfect; very simple to use. I guess this past September (2021) the developers decided to change the App a bit more than the usual bug fixes, which could have been great! Maybe they would make imputing partial derivatives easier, or include some additional resources for particularly difficult problems…. No, they decided to change the awesome interface into some clunky pre smartphone calculator. The interface used to be fairly intuitive, and coming back to the app would only require a minute or so to gain one’s bearings, but now I can hardly figure out where anything is! Why would they do this to long time users—can we at least have the option of using the previous keyboard? Honestly I love this app, it’s gotten me out of some serious binds over the years when my homework got a little too beyond me, or I needed some quick review, but the love has faded. I really hope that I’m the only one who is experiencing this much trouble because I’d love to see Symbolab’s continued use and success, but I’m ready to drop it entirely. I don’t have the heart to give it any less than 4 stars because of all the help it has given me over the years, but I currently do not see it as a five star app. In 8 years of using smart devices, I have never once left a review on the AppStore, but this was the only way I could hope to express how I felt about the situation, and quite frankly the only App I found worth spending the time on. If developers are reading, thanks for taking the time.

-Doug

For the free version:
PROS: it works. The user interface is fine. For the questions it's willing to answer, it's answers them well. It doesn't crash your phone.
NITPICKS: The keyboard is... serviceable. It's a bit cramped, and two of the bottom rows have four different 3-page scrolling things (it's difficult to describe because of how weird it is). I can't give it too much grief for that, given how much more space a regular keyboard has over a smartphone. If you want big buttons on a calculator, get a TI-84 or something. Also, it can't do indeterminate forms? Maybe? If it can, I can't figure out how.
CONS:
In the FREE VERSION:
• Ads. Every time you solve an equation, you get an ad.
• You don't get to see the steps, unlike on the website. It's a small thing, but it's significant.
• It doesn't work offline. If this is a free version only issue, then that's fine. But something tells me it isn't. You aren't downloading a calculator, you're downloading a thing that grabs the answer from an online source. That, or its to make sure Symbolab gets that sweet ad revenue.
If only one or two of these cons were present, I wouldn't have even written a review. It's the combination of all three that really grinds my gears.
Additionally:
- In app, it says that the $7 paid version is a "one time purchase." However, I've seen multiple recent reviews claiming that it's "$7 per month." If true, then the app straight up lies to you.

EDIT: Developer, thank you for responding! That's more rare than it should be. Your response, plus the confirmation that the premium version is a one time purchase is good news, and adds a star.
However, you haven't clarified the issue of wether or not the app will work offline in the premium version. It's a minor issue, but I feel it's worth the clarification.

I wanted to check an answer on my homework so I plugged it in. It didn’t offer me the estimate answer and instead gave me a ton of stuff that was way more advanced than the stage I’m at. An imaginary number was involved. I’m in intro to algebra 2, I’m not even smart enough to understand the problem to begin with let alone understand these complicated answers

Personally, I love the actual mechanics of this app; i.e. the vast array of mathematical capabilities. However, I find it extremely infuriating that when switching devices, the fact that I purchased the pro version does not carry over. After purchasing pro on one phone, I should have pro when logging in with the same account on a different phone. Please fix this.

I’d give this zero stars if I could. I normally don’t leave reviews but this app just did me in. So I paid for the monthly subscription so I could use this app. Here’s my problem, I needed help with “LONG DIVISION” and all the app did was subtract a number and that was my solution. WHAT? That was a total waste of money and I wish I could get it back. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS APP!

Basically we were doing a review of 4th grade math in 8th grade (don’t ask me why—I have NO idea) and the review was dividing decimals by whole numbers. Didn’t want to waste my time on simple math so I just got this app. Basically everything is locked unless you get the “pro” and the steps aren’t very clear- and are hard to read. Don’t recommend if you’re doing review/overly easy math.

I have an IPhone 11 and the app does not register the problem for at least 30 seconds at minimum. Half of the problems I plug in doesn’t work when there is a definite answer to the equation. Please make the recognition faster so people don’t have to wait for it to load. Mathway immediately recognizes the equation within a couple seconds. Update the scanning to a picture so it loads faster.

I got this ap to help my daughter study for the ACT. They said that they show how the problem is solved which I thought would be great for problems I had trouble figuring out. They gave the problem and the answer, which I already had. So if you want the answer this will help, if you want to learn, don’t waste your money! I’m so mad I paid for a month subscription thinking this would be a great tool

BEWARE THE PRICE INCREASE! I had a subscription and absolutely loved this app and website. I recently renewed my annual subscription but haven’t been given access to see the steps. Apparently they increased the prices from last year and my subscription didn’t reflect that. I tried contacting the company and got zero response. Now I’ve paid $15 for nothing because I have no access. It’s become a ripoff.

I paid for a membership that I can’t even use. Every time I try to log in I just get a spinning gear that goes on forever. Not only have I literally tried ALL of the log-in options, I’ve also tried changing the wifi, activating a vpn, and contacting support (which after countless emails I have yet to hear ANYTHING back.) Honestly just a ridiculous experience all around. A dog with a calculator is more helpful.

I remember earlier this year even last year I was using the app and was awesome! But everything changed now ! I just uninstalled it from my phone. That’s so sad when I had full access before for free now I need to pay for having the steps how the problem solved!

I’m sorry for this review but this is the truth! Hopefully you guys will make it again like before than maybe I will install the app again.
Thank you in advance!

They charge you like 50 dollars for a bunch of high school like algebra 2 step by step exercises , nothing that is helpful at all. Do not waste your time, money and brain cells in such a pyramid scheme as Symbolab. Trust me, if you
Do it you will know what I’m talking about. If you want a really good math tool capable of solving even complex linear algebra exercises: DOWNLOAD WOLFRAM ALPHA (the $ 2.99 version on the App Store), and delete this trash from your App Store!

I’ve loved the desktop version of Symbolab, but the app kinda. . . Let’s just say it makes me mad. First off, inputting equation isn’t very intuitive, and say if I want to make an equation a fraction, I would have to delete the entire thing to accomplish this. Not to mention that the desktop version gives the steps for free. But on top of that, Symbolab doesn’t even let you use their website version on iPhone. They redirect you to an “install the app” page. Why do you hate us Symbolab?

Half of the time this dumb calculator will just rewrite the problem in different notation, instead of giving the answer. It’s very annoying having to solve most of the equation in order to be even able to get an answer out of the calculator.
The other half of the time, it just says steps are not supported and doesn’t even try solving the answer. I hate this calculator so much, stealing peoples money for something that doesn’t even work.
Devs literally don’t even care that their platform is unusable

I’m in my third year in college. I Am currently taking differential equations which is real algebra heavy while also completing complex derivatives. This app was amazing prior to the subscription as I used it throughout all my calculus classes. Now this app has me paying for something that I can get for free on my computer...by the same company... it’s ridiculous symbolab. Before it was just a one time payment and you’re set.. Now a subscription? Don’t waste your time this app isn’t that good... Cmon now.

It’s good but as a kid I can’t pay for the answers cuz if I do I’ll get I trouble and I don’t have my own card I just wish I could see the step by step for free or for there to be another alternative to see the step by step for free. Slader is a good app because you can buy in your math good in the search engine and it will have the Anton the book and the step by step FOR FREE! Can you be like slader more please but the bad thing about slader is that you can’t ask it individual math questions you have to look up your book and stuff.