Mathway was founded in 2002 by Frank Balcavage and Jake Kuehner, friends since middle school, well before smartphone cameras or modern AI made instant math solving commonplace, and it grew into one of the most widely used math-solving apps well before Chegg acquired it for roughly one hundred million dollars in 2020.
That long history and Chegg's backing show in its reach: subscribers across roughly a hundred countries and localization into thirteen languages, spanning basic arithmetic through calculus and statistics, a broader range than several newer, more narrowly scoped math tools in this category cover.
A free tier covers basic problem solving, and paid plans start around $9 a month for full step-by-step explanations. For a student who wants a long-established math solver covering a broad range of levels, backed by Chegg's global education platform, Mathway's nearly quarter-century operating history is a specific credential newer competitors haven't had time to build.
