Photomath turned pointing a phone camera at an equation into the fastest way to check algebra homework. We built StepX, a free solver that skips the camera entirely: adjust a linear or quadratic equation with a few taps and watch the worked steps update as you go, plus a daily practice mode that keeps score. It runs right here, no install, no signup.
Play StepX now
Switch between Solve lab, where you tweak an equation and read the steps live, and Daily practice, where you solve auto-generated problems against a running streak.
How to use it
Solve lab starts on a linear equation like 3x + 4 = 10. Tap the plus and minus buttons next to a, b, or c and the equation, the worked steps, and the final value of x all update immediately, no calculate button anywhere. Switch to Quadratic for a version with an x² term, complete with the discriminant and both roots. Daily practice generates a fresh equation every time, the same first problem for everyone on a given day, and asks you to solve for x on a number pad sized for thumbs. Answer correctly and your streak climbs; miss one and it resets, but your best streak is saved. Every coefficient, streak, and best score lives in your browser’s local storage on your device, nothing is uploaded anywhere.
How it compares to Photomath
StepX keeps the part of Photomath that actually teaches something: a clean, step-by-step breakdown of how an equation gets solved, updated the moment the inputs change. Solve lab covers linear equations and quadratics with the discriminant and quadratic formula spelled out, and practice mode turns that into a repeatable drill with a streak to chase, similar to flipping through extra problems in the back of a textbook.
What we left out is the entire reason Photomath exists as a phone app: the camera. StepX cannot scan a printed or handwritten problem, and it does not touch geometry, calculus, trigonometry, or word problems, the areas where Photomath’s broader engine and textbook library pull ahead. There is no account, no history synced across devices, and no animated video explanations.
Use StepX when you want to build algebra fluency by manipulating equations directly or want quick daily practice with instant feedback. Get Photomath when you need to scan an actual homework page or need coverage beyond linear and quadratic algebra. If you have already outgrown Photomath’s free tier, our Photomath alternatives roundup compares seven other solvers worth trying.
Get the full app
Photomath remains free to download on Android, with a Photomath Plus subscription unlocking animated tutorials and textbook-matched solutions for camera-scanned problems. It covers far more ground than StepX, including geometry, trigonometry, and calculus, and it works from a photo instead of typed coefficients.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Photomath in a browser without downloading anything?
Photomath itself is a phone app built around its camera scanner, so there is no official browser version. StepX is a separate, original solver we built for the browser: it needs no install and no account, and it runs the moment this page loads.
Is this the official Photomath app?
No. StepX is an original tool inspired by the idea of an instant step-by-step equation solver, and it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Photomath or Microblink in any way. For camera scanning and full curriculum coverage, get Photomath from the store link above.
Does StepX work offline?
Yes. Once the page has loaded, everything runs locally in your browser, including generating practice problems and grading your answers, so it keeps working without an internet connection.
Is StepX free?
Yes, completely, with no signup, no ads, and no limit on how many problems you solve. Your coefficients, streak, and best score are stored only in your browser’s local storage.
Does StepX scan photos of math problems like Photomath?
No. StepX only works with equations you enter using its on-screen steppers and number pad, so it never needs camera access or photo permissions. If you need to scan a printed or handwritten problem, that is exactly what Photomath’s camera does well.
