Photomath (by Google) is a math scanner with more than 100 million downloads, according to the provider: photograph a problem and the app recognizes handwritten and printed math tasks and shows the solution with the working, step by step. According to the provider, it covers math from elementary school through college. Gennady is a homework app built specifically for primary school children aged 6 to 11: it scans the whole worksheet, whether math or language tasks, and explains each task in child-friendly language.
The decisive difference is the flow. For the math problem you photograph, Photomath shows the solution with the working straight away. Gennady explains the method step by step and checks your child’s answer. If the answer is wrong, there are hints first; Gennady shows the correct solution for comparison only on the third try. The last hint of an explanation leads right up to the result; your child takes the last step on their own.
Feature comparison
| Criterion | Photomath | Gennady |
|---|---|---|
| Target group / age | According to the provider, elementary through college; App Store 4+ | Primary school kids, ages 6 to 11 |
| Scans real homework | Yes, but math problems only | Yes, the whole worksheet, including reading, writing and science tasks |
| Explains step by step | Yes, solution steps for the math problem | Yes, child-friendly and age-adapted |
| Hands out finished solutions | Yes, the solution with the working | Only on the third try, hints before that |
| Checks the child’s answer | The child can compare with the solution shown | Yes, checks the child’s own answer |
| Read-aloud | Animated tutorials with voice-over (Plus) | Yes, with word-by-word highlighting |
| Languages | 32 languages (App Store) | App in 32 languages, explanations in 21 of them |
| Pricing | Core features free, Photomath Plus paid | 7-day free trial, then a subscription via the App Store |
| Child safety | App Store 4+; we found no dedicated parent features | No ads; a math question for parents before setup, signing out, deleting the account and redeeming a voucher |
When Photomath is the better fit
If it is only about math and someone wants to follow a calculation, Photomath can fit: the app recognizes printed and handwritten math problems and shows the solution with the working, according to the provider from elementary school through college. Anyone who wants to double-check their own working gets a solution to compare against.
Photomath can also be useful as a tool for parents: if you no longer remember how a calculation works, the app gives you the steps, which you can then explain to your child. For language tasks, reading or other subjects, however, Photomath does not help at all; it is a pure math app.
When Gennady is the better fit
For primary school children, an explanation in simple language can help more than a model solution on its own. Try out whether your child reaches the result themselves when the method comes in small steps. That is exactly where Gennady comes in: scan the task, get a child-friendly step-by-step explanation, then the child answers on their own, via voice, text or photo, and Gennady checks the answer. If the answer is wrong, there are hints first; Gennady shows the correct solution for comparison only on the third try.
On top of that come features for younger children: read-aloud with word-by-word highlighting for early readers, voice input instead of typing and stars for correct answers. Honest limit: Gennady is focused on primary school. It is not built for math from middle school onwards, such as algebra.
Verdict: age and learning goal decide
The choice mainly depends on your child’s age and what they need right now. Photomath shows the solution with the working for math problems, according to the provider from elementary school through college. Gennady is built for kids aged 6 to 11: the app reads the task aloud, explains the method step by step and checks your child’s answer. If the answer is wrong, there are hints first; Gennady shows the correct solution for comparison only on the third try. Try out which one helps your child get further on their own.
You can find more context in our big learning app comparison and on the page about worksheet scanning.
Frequently asked questions
Is Photomath suitable for primary school children?
According to the provider, Photomath covers math from elementary school through college, and its App Store age rating is 4+. The app shows the solution with the working for the photographed problem and only helps with math. Try out whether your child follows the working or just copies the result.
Does Gennady never show solutions?
It does. Gennady explains the method step by step and checks your child’s answer. If the answer is wrong, there are hints first; Gennady shows the correct solution for comparison only on the third try. The last hint of an explanation leads right up to the result; your child takes the last step on their own. Before that, your child is meant to try the answer themselves.
Does Gennady help with math too?
Yes, math is one of the core subjects. Unlike Photomath, however, Gennady also helps with language tasks, reading and other primary school subjects, because it scans the whole worksheet.
Try Gennady free for 7 days
Get the method explained first: scan a worksheet, get a child-friendly explanation, have the answer checked. For kids aged 6 to 11.
