Education · head to head
Memrise vs Photomath
Memrise
Education
Vocabulary and spaced repetition language app built around video clips of native speakers
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Photomath
Education
Camera based maths solver that shows step by step working, owned by Google since 2022
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Memrise the free tier caps daily reviews tightly enough that consistent vocabulary building in practice requires the Pro subscription.; Photomath full free step by step solutions make it straightforward for a student to submit copied working without doing the reasoning themselves, which is a real concern for teachers assigning homework.
- They diverge on capability: Memrise covers Spaced repetition flashcards, Photomath covers Camera scanning.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Memrise and Photomath actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Education).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Memrise
- Spaced repetition flashcards
- Learn with Locals videos
- Official courses
- Speaking practice
- Offline mode
- Grammar bot
Only in Photomath
- Camera scanning
- Step by step solutions
- Built-in calculator
- Word problem support
- Animated explanations
- Textbook alignment
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Memrise
- A learner who wants vocabulary tied to real spoken usage through native speaker video rather than only text flashcardsnot Photomath
- Someone using a grammar-focused course elsewhere and wanting Memrise purely for vocabulary retentionnot Photomath
- A traveller wanting practical phrase recognition for a specific trip rather than formal fluencynot Photomath
- A learner comparing subscription convenience against building free custom decks in Ankinot Photomath
Photomath
- A student checking their own worked answer against the app steps to find where a method went wrongnot Memrise
- A parent who cannot help with unfamiliar high school maths and needs a worked explanation rather than just an answernot Memrise
- A student working through word problems in a subject not covered by the free tier who needs the Plus subscriptionnot Memrise
- A school evaluating whether to recommend or restrict the app given the ease of copying a full worked solutionnot Memrise
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Memrise
- The free tier caps daily reviews tightly enough that consistent vocabulary building in practice requires the Pro subscription.
- Memrise phased out much of its earlier community-created course library in favour of official courses, so learners who relied on community decks for less common languages lost access to that content.
- It teaches vocabulary and set phrases well but offers comparatively thin grammar instruction, so it works best as a companion to a grammar-focused course rather than a standalone method.
- Language coverage for the flagship Learn with Locals video feature and speaking practice is uneven, concentrated in a handful of popular languages.
- Unlike Anki, the spaced repetition algorithm and content are closed and cannot be customised or exported, so a learner cannot take their review data to another tool.
Photomath
- Full free step by step solutions make it straightforward for a student to submit copied working without doing the reasoning themselves, which is a real concern for teachers assigning homework.
- Word problems, a common school assessment format, are gated behind the Plus subscription, so the free tier is weaker on exactly the problem type many students struggle with most.
- Camera recognition of messy handwriting or complex notation such as matrices or multi-line proofs is unreliable, and misreads produce confidently wrong steps.
- Since the 2022 Google acquisition, the product sits inside a company whose primary business is advertising and data, which is a relevant factor for schools with strict student data policies.
- It solves problems rather than teaching underlying concepts from scratch, so a student with no foundational understanding gets a worked answer but not necessarily comprehension.
Pricing, plan by plan
Memrise
Free- Memrise Pro$8.99/month
- Free tier allows basic vocabulary practice with daily limits and ads
- Pro unlocks Learn with Locals videos, full official courses and offline mode
- Annual Pro plans typically run $69.99 to $89.99, cheaper per month than monthly billing
Photomath
Free- Photomath Plus$9.99/month
- Step by step solutions for most problem types free and unlimited on the base app
- Plus unlocks word problems, animated explanations and deeper steps
- Plus available at roughly $59.99 billed annually as a cheaper alternative to monthly
Which should you pick?
Choose Memrise if
- You need spaced repetition flashcards.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web.
- You also want learn with locals videos.
Choose Photomath if
- You need camera scanning.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android.
- You also want step by step solutions.
Questions people ask
- Is Memrise or Photomath better?
- Neither clearly leads. Memrise starts at Free and Photomath at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Memrise or Photomath?
- Memrise starts at Free and Photomath at Free.
- Does Memrise or Photomath run on more platforms?
- Memrise runs on iOS, Android, Web. Photomath runs on iOS, Android.
- Can I use Memrise for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Memrise best used for?
- Memrise is most often used for a learner who wants vocabulary tied to real spoken usage through native speaker video rather than only text flashcards, someone using a grammar-focused course elsewhere and wanting memrise purely for vocabulary retention, a traveller wanting practical phrase recognition for a specific trip rather than formal fluency, a learner comparing subscription convenience against building free custom decks in anki. Of those, a learner who wants vocabulary tied to real spoken usage through native speaker video rather than only text flashcards and someone using a grammar-focused course elsewhere and wanting memrise purely for vocabulary retention are not what Photomath is typically brought in for.
- What can Memrise do that Photomath cannot?
- Memrise covers Spaced repetition flashcards, Learn with Locals videos, Official courses, Speaking practice. Photomath covers Camera scanning, Step by step solutions, Built-in calculator, Word problem support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Memrise: Is Memrise free?
A limited amount of vocabulary practice is free with daily caps and ads. Learn with Locals videos, full courses and offline mode require Memrise Pro.
Photomath: Is Photomath free?
Basic step by step solutions for most maths problem types are free and unlimited. Word problems, animated explanations and some textbook-specific solutions require Photomath Plus.
Memrise: What is Learn with Locals?
Short video clips of native speakers using vocabulary and phrases in real settings, intended to show how language is actually spoken rather than textbook delivery.
Photomath: Who owns Photomath now?
Google acquired Photomath in 2022. It operates as a standalone app but is owned by Google.
Memrise: Can I still use community-created courses?
Memrise moved away from most of its earlier community course library toward its own official courses, so availability of community content is now limited.
Photomath: Does it just give the answer or show working?
It shows step by step working for the method used, not only the final answer, on both free and Plus tiers, with Plus adding more detail.
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