PaintNotes vs MXTNote
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PaintNotes
This app offers a minimalist digital notebook with an infinite canvas for freeform writing and drawing. Easily import files and organize your thoughts without delay.
- Infinite canvas
- Freeform writing and drawing
- File import
- Minimalist interface
- Unlimited drafts
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The PaintNote are simple, freely written notebooks. The minimalist interface and simple features make it easier to use. Start to write without any waiting. Unlimited draft paper, free to move, zoom and position. You can import files in a variety of formats.
MXTNote
This app helps organize research and study materials by linking PDFs, notes, and web pages. It offers PDF reading, text and handwriting notes, and an arXiv explorer for academic papers. Create a knowledge graph to visualize connections between your research fragments.
- PDF reader with link navigation
- Text and handwriting note-taking
- Link notes and PDFs to create a knowledge graph
- ARXIV explorer for academic papers
- Web page import (HTML to PDF)
- OCR and image search for PDFs
- Sync across devices
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MXTNote is a free PDF reader and note taking app. When we study for a subject, we start by collecting reference, document idea fragments, then we expand our knowledge structure by creating links between these fragments, or add more content around them. MXTNote provide ways to simplify some of these steps Here are some examples: - A PDF references another PDF, you can select the two location and link them. - After embedding a selection from PDF to notebook, a two way link is automatically created between PDF and notebook. - Link can be created between notes to form a graph, to capture a knowledge/task dependency At block level, MXTNote consists of the following: - PDF reader - Text note taking - Handwriting note taking - Graph view - ARXIV explorer - Calendar Here are the detail features: (those marked with (*) requires MXTNote account, free signup) Reading: - PDF reader with thumbnail index, link navigation - Import web page (HTML will be converted to PDF) - support DJVU/MOBI (*)(file will be converted to PDF) - Text search (using text in PDF, or OCR) - Image search (useful for searching math symbols) - Translate selected text into English Notes: - Simple text note - Write on PDF or select box from PDF - Support links between notes, attach tags to notes. - Search notes by original PDF, tags, or text - Built-in split screen to copy note to notebook - Multiple page notebook with text or handwriting. - Support pressure sensitive input (Apple pencil). - Print notebook to PDF file or printer - Use Latex input for math formula or use the Math formula editor ARXIV: - Search ARXIV and download paper - Monitor ARXIV for new papers matching predefined query Sync: - Sync across all your device (*) - Available as web app Other: - In-app tutorial available for major functions please visit our website for details: https://note.mxtsoft.com/doc
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: MXTNote at 5.0 against PaintNotes's 3.8. MXTNote also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). PaintNotes's advantage is ratings volume (29 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. PaintNotes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. MXTNote asks for nothing beyond the download.
MXTNote holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PaintNotes has 29 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
PaintNotes ships an update fortnightly, MXTNote every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PaintNotes | MXTNote |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (29 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 29 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 43 MB | 131 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 心悦 吕 | Tao Ma |
Customer experience
PaintNotes
MXTNote
In-app purchases
PaintNotes
- Unlocking features$3.99
MXTNote
No in-app purchases
