I noticed that by 2025, solving problems from photos has become a truly functional feature. Neural networks now recognize handwritten text, formulas, and complex diagrams so well that they can provide a complete step-by-step solution in seconds. The smartphone has turned into a 24/7 study assistant.

I tried several popular services and noticed the following. Photomath is a classic. Point your camera at an equation, and in a moment, you see not only the answer but also all the steps of the solution. Works with printed and handwritten text. Cons: only math, and a full breakdown requires a paid subscription.

Wolfram|Alpha is on a completely different level. It’s not just a solver but a full-fledged computational engine. It can plot graphs, solve integrals, analyze differential equations. Covers math, physics, chemistry, and statistics. However, photo recognition is only available in the Pro version.

Mathway is similar to Photomath but with its own approach. The interface is clearer, and it works quickly. Also requires a subscription for full analysis. Good at recognizing printed text, but there are issues with handwriting.

Symbolab is for more serious problems. Students and high schoolers will like it. Shows each step, has calculators for physics and finance, supports graphs. User-friendly interface, allows manual input of formulas or uploading photos.

MathGPT is interesting because it covers not only math but also physics and chemistry. Free, no registration needed. Solving problems from photos works well here, although the interface is in English.

Gauth is a more versatile platform. Started with math and physics, now added biology, economics, languages. Upload a photo of a problem or describe it in text — get a detailed solution.

BotHub is an aggregator of different neural networks (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude). Convenient that you can switch between models in one place. Has a free plan with a decent limit, paid plans are cheap. Suitable for any discipline.

Nano Banana Pro from Google DeepMind is a whole different story. It can not only solve a problem but also reproduce the answer in the same handwriting, format the solution as an infographic. Works great with text in images in various languages.

Overall, the choice depends on the tasks. For school math, Photomath, Mathway, and Symbolab are top. For serious science (higher mathematics, physics, chemistry), Wolfram|Alpha is better. If you need photo solutions across different subjects, MathGPT or Gauth are good options. And if you want versatility and flexibility, you can simply use ChatGPT or Gemini — they handle almost any discipline thanks to their extensive knowledge.