# Derive: Handwritten Math Notes — AI recognition & a live tutor > AI-powered handwritten math note-taking with integrated live tutor. (iPhone/iPad app by Derive Notes Pty Ltd.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/derive-handwritten-math-notes/id6763991536 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Derive Notes Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895589672) - Category: Education, Productivity - Price: Free - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.0 · 42 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-08-10 - Data updated: 2026-08-26 - Monetization: subscription - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/derive-handwritten-math-notes/id6763991536/reviews.md ## What is Derive? Derive Notes is a canvas-first note-taking app built for math, science, and engineering students. Write equations by hand with Apple Pencil, and let Derive understand what you wrote, so your notes do more than sit on the page. HANDWRITING THAT'S ACTUALLY UNDERSTOOD Draw on an infinite canvas the way you would on paper. Derive recognizes your handwritten math as you work, turning messy strokes into clean, structured expressions you can check, reuse, and build on. A TUTOR RIGHT NEXT TO YOUR WORK Stuck on a step? Open the tutor panel and get step-by-step help tied directly to what's on your canvas. It works alongside your handwriting instead of pulling you into a separate app. BUILT FOR REAL STUDY SESSIONS - Infinite canvas with smooth, low-latency inking - Pen, eraser, and lasso tools for fast editing - Organize your work into notebooks and pages - Two-finger tap to undo, pinch to zoom - Your notebooks sync securely across your devices DESIGNED FOR FOCUS A clean, distraction-free workspace with light, dark, sepia, and high-contrast themes, so long study sessions stay comfortable. Derive Notes keeps your handwriting at the center and adds just enough intelligence to make studying faster by recognizing your math, helping you through hard steps, and keeping every page organized and in sync. Note: Derive uses trusted third-party AI providers to process handwriting and page text for recognition and tutoring. You're asked for consent in-app before these features are used. DESIGNED FOR IPAD AND APPLE PENCIL Handwriting, drawing, and the full authoring tools require an iPad with Apple Pencil. On iPhone, Derive is a companion for reading and reviewing your notebooks: browse your library, open any page, search across everything, and ask the tutor. Notes you write on iPad appear on iPhone automatically. SUBSCRIPTION Derive Pro unlocks writing and editing, handwriting recognition, and the AI tutor. Every new account starts with a 7-day free trial, and a trial or subscription is required to use Derive. If a subscription later lapses, the notebooks you already made stay readable, so your own work is never locked away. - Derive Pro Monthly: A$9.99 per month - Derive Pro Annual: A$101.99 per year - Both start with a 7-day free trial Prices are in Australian dollars and may vary by region. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. A subscription renews automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your account is charged for renewal within the 24 hours before that period ends. You can manage your subscription and turn off auto-renew in your Apple Account settings after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you buy a subscription. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Derive Terms of Service: https://derivenotes.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://derivenotes.com/privacy ## Key features - Infinite canvas for note-taking - Handwritten math recognition - Live AI tutor for step-by-step help - Notebook and page organization - Cross-device syncing - Light, dark, and sepia themes ## Recent user reviews (8 of 8) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/derive-handwritten-math-notes/id6763991536/reviews.md ### 2/5 — Potential *2026-08-20* Had really high hopes, so much so I paid as a founding member. Unfortunately it is quite buggy. Often misinterpreting equations and marking answers correct when they are actually wrong. ### 3/5 — Honest *2026-08-14* Very great idea and app. As an engineer student has helped me already after 1 day. However, on iPad it tends to be quite glitchy sometimes which is annoying. Especially with the ai tutor. If this was fixed somehow would be great ### 1/5 — Beta product released as a finished product *2026-08-13* Lacking multiple capabilities such as copying and pasting from page to page, also deleted my entire worksheet just because I closed the app, ai feature gave up after 30 minutes and just delivered infinite spinners. Needs a lot of work to be anywhere close to a competitor to the current options. Select feature reverts to the rectangle mode even when using lasso right before, unclear control scheme, ie fingers one second pen the next. Constantly mistakes Apple Pencil Pro input for ai feedback request. Ai features deliver an “error” when attempting to use. Notation checking seems to work and would be a useful feature once everything else works. Ui is clanky, settings are unintuitive. ### 3/5 — Good start *2026-08-13* A few bugs ### 5/5 — Sick Note App *2026-08-12* Most canvas apps are pretty basic and haven’t really changed for ages. Trying this one today was sick because it’s got all new features that I think will help me very much as I continue my studies in engineering such as the real time mistake detection, graphing and exam generation. I hope to see it continue adding stuff quickly! ### 5/5 — Changing my Studies! *2026-08-12* This app just came out but I can already see it changing the way i study. It feels like notebook apps and tutors on crack with the understanding and detection features that catch my mistakes straight away ### 5/5 — Math, Physics and Engineering *2026-08-12* As still being a passionate High School Student and being part of early testers I can say that this app does truly help. Automatic mistake detection saves heaps of time and money on actual tutors, and can explain concepts better than actual tutors can. There’s also heaps of customisation options like dark mode page sizing etc which can give you your own vibe to your experience. ### 3/5 — Great Features… Even higher Cost *2026-08-12* The features are great, just not worth the price since LLMs exist at no cost. You could even stack a note taking app, and the plus model of most AI apps and it would likely be cheaper than this. Though if money isn’t an issue it is very convenient. ## Frequently asked questions about Derive ### What is Derive's learning methodology? Derive's methodology centers on active learning through handwriting. It recognizes your math and provides a live tutor that integrates directly with your notes, offering step-by-step guidance as you work through problems. ### How does Derive track user progress? Derive focuses on organizing your work into notebooks and pages. While it doesn't offer formal progress tracking like a course, it allows you to review and build upon your handwritten notes and problem-solving steps. ### Does Derive offer certifications? Derive is a note-taking and study assistance tool, not an educational platform that provides certifications. Its primary function is to enhance the study process for math, science, and engineering subjects. ### What is the pricing for Derive Pro? Derive Pro offers monthly subscriptions at A$9.99 and annual subscriptions at A$101.99. Both options include a 7-day free trial. Prices are in Australian dollars and may vary by region. ### How can I cancel my Derive subscription? You can manage your subscription and turn off auto-renew in your Apple Account settings after purchase. Auto-renewal must be turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period to avoid being charged for the next period. ### What are the differences between Derive Pro tiers? Derive Pro unlocks writing, editing, handwriting recognition, and the AI tutor. There is a single Derive Pro subscription that provides access to all these premium features. ### Is Derive suitable for younger students? Derive has an age rating of 4+. Its core functionality is designed for students tackling math, science, and engineering, making it most beneficial for high school and university levels. ### How often is Derive updated? The latest version of Derive is 1.1.0, which was last updated on August 19, 2026. While specific update frequency isn't detailed, this indicates ongoing development and support. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.1.1 — 2026-08-24 You can now manage your subscription inside Derive. See the card on file, switch between monthly and annual, and undo a switch before it takes effect. Account and Billing are now separate settings sections, and you can change your email and your password there. Derive reopens on the page you were last working on. Improved: VoiceOver announces Derive's controls and status messages, sepia and high-contrast themes meet contrast standards, and switching tools no longer re-renders the workspace. Fixes: hold-to-ask no longer destroys the strokes underneath it, the tool you start a stroke with is the tool that draws it, scribbling over an image only deletes it when you actually touch it, pen style and equations survive a sync, and your work is no longer dropped while its page is still saving. Thanks for trying Derive. We'd love your feedback at matt@derivenotes.com. ### 1.1.0 — 2026-08-19 You now choose what Derive may do with your work, and you can change your mind any time in Settings. Handwriting is no longer recorded for session replay by default. The fountain pen draws on a new Leibniz profile. Ask finds the right page more often, and practice exams generate faster. Fixes: an older app version no longer fails to open your local notes, sign-in works on the new auth address, a text box no longer reports a false conflict, a function definition such as f(x) = e^{x-2} + 3 plots from the row, and What's New clears the iPhone status bar. Thanks for trying Derive. We'd love your feedback at matt@derivenotes.com. ### 1.0.5 — 2026-08-17 You now choose what Derive may do with your work, and you can change your mind any time in Settings. Handwriting is no longer recorded for session replay by default. The fountain pen draws on a new Leibniz profile. Ask finds the right page more often, and practice exams generate faster. Fixes: an older app version no longer fails to open your local notes, sign-in works on the new auth address, a text box no longer reports a false conflict, a function definition such as f(x) = e^{x-2} + 3 plots from the row, and What's New clears the iPhone status bar. Thanks for trying Derive. We'd love your feedback at matt@derivenotes.com. ### 1.0.4 — 2026-08-16 You now choose what Derive may do with your work, and you can change your mind any time in Settings. Handwriting is no longer recorded for session replay by default. The fountain pen draws on a new Leibniz profile. Ask finds the right page more often, and practice exams generate faster. Fixes: an older app version no longer fails to open your local notes, sign-in works on the new auth address, a text box no longer reports a false conflict, a function definition such as f(x) = e^{x-2} + 3 plots from the row, and What's New clears the iPhone status bar. Thanks for trying Derive. We'd love your feedback at matt@derivenotes.com. ### 1.0.3 — 2026-08-13 Move a page into another book's section straight from the page menu. A new payments dashboard shows your plan and usage. The pen strip now shows the drag pickup and picks a pen up on a hold. Fixes: a pending image keeps its picture while the server catches up, pen style stays with the stroke after a sync, you can write over the red wrong line again, and tutor maths typesets correctly. Thanks for trying Derive. We'd love your feedback at matt@derivenotes.com. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-26.*