MathType review

MathType is a digital equation editor for writing mathematical expressions, formulas and statistical equations. The homepage says it works with Office tools, learning management systems (LMS), XML editors and HTML integrations, so it is aimed at adding math to documents and digital learning or publishing workflows—not replacing a general writing or typesetting app.

The product is sold through different routes rather than one clearly priced, all-purpose subscription. Office Tools plans cover individual users, classrooms and organizations; separate plans are listed for LMS, HTML-editor and XML-editor integrations. That distinction matters before switching: the right fit and price depend on where equations need to appear. The listed Office Tools plans support Windows, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and WPS, but the published plan details do not list a current standalone macOS app. Check platform compatibility with WIRIS before moving an existing workflow.

MathType’s clearest strength is its range of integration options. The homepage lists Office tools, LMS platforms, XML editors and HTML integrations. The Office Tools plans specify support for Windows, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and WPS, with up to three devices per user. That gives schools and teams several ways to add equation writing to tools they already use.

According to the pricing information, educational individuals start at $4.43 per user per month, billed annually. The educational Class Plan is $5.54 per classroom per month, also shown as an annual-billing equivalent; each pack includes one teacher and up to 40 students and can scale to 20 teachers and 800 students. The Professional Office Tools plan is listed at $5.54 per user per month, billed annually. Educational plans require an educational email.

There is also a free MathType for LMS Basic plan, capped at 500 equations per year and basic customer support, with Blackboard, Canvas and Moodle integrations. Some Reddit commenters say TeX input and keyboard shortcuts can make equation entry faster, though that is user-reported advice rather than a guarantee about every setup.

Platform fit is the biggest caution in the published user reports. In one Reddit thread, Mac users said the older MathType app was not supported on newer macOS versions, and one commenter said WIRIS had described no Catalina or Big Sur version as planned for the foreseeable future. That thread also includes complaints that the Word add-in produced blurry equation images and did not work in PowerPoint for that user. These are reports, not confirmation of current compatibility, so verify your exact apps and operating system before switching.

The free LMS plan is limited to 500 equations a year, and its support is basic. Other prices are not fully published: the Office Tools organizational plan is custom-priced for more than 20 users, the HTML-editor plan is custom-priced, and the XML plan lists €249.99 per user per year with a minimum purchase that is not specified. The LMS Institutional plan starts at €636 per year, with pricing based on student count. Office Tools monthly billing prices are not published; listed rates are annual-billing equivalents. A 30-day trial is listed, but the published details do not specify its terms.

The lowest listed paid price is $4.43 per user per month for the Educational Individual Plan, billed annually. The Educational Class Plan is $5.54 per classroom per month, also billed annually; the Professional Plan is $5.54 per user per month. Those are annual-billing equivalents, not monthly options—the pricing page does not publish monthly prices.

The free LMS Basic Plan includes 500 equations per year and basic support. For larger LMS deployments, the Institutional Plan starts at €636 per year, with pricing based on student count. HTML Editor pricing is custom. XML Editor pricing is €249.99 per user per year, with a minimum purchase required. Organizations with more than 20 Office Tools users also need custom pricing.

A 30-day free trial is listed, but the published pricing details do not say which plans it covers. No add-ons are listed. Check the billing currency and annual commitment before comparing the euro-priced editor plans with the USD Office Tools plans.

MathType is an equation editor, not a general office suite, so first check where you need to write or display equations. The product information lists Office Tools, LMS platforms, XML editors and HTML integrations; named integrations include Blackboard, Canvas and Moodle for LMS, plus CKEditor, Froala, TinyMCE and several XML editors. Confirm that your specific app and plan are covered before moving a workflow.

The published material does not document import or export formats, bulk migration tools, or how existing equations behave in another editor. Treat those as questions to resolve with MathType before committing, especially if you have a large equation library. The brief flags Mac users relying on legacy versions as a poor fit, but gives no version details.

We can’t substantiate a pattern of users leaving based on Reddit: no Reddit posts or comments were provided. Nor do the sources establish a particular lock-in mechanism. Ask for an export example and test a representative set of equations in your destination platform; do not assume portability.