Comparison

StudyPug vs Derive

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

StudyPug

This app offers over 5,000 video lessons created by certified teachers to help K-12 and college students master math and English. It includes features like photo problem search, practice exercises with feedback, and progress tracking, along with test prep for various standardized exams.

Highlights
  • 5,000+ video lessons by certified teachers
  • Photo search for math problems
  • Step-by-step explanations
  • Practice problems with instant feedback
  • Progress tracking and mastery scores
  • Test prep for SAT, GED, ASVAB, AP, ACT, ACCUPLACER
Features
Read full description

Math & English Help That Actually Works We teach four subjects: Math, English, Science and Social Studies. 5,000+ step-by-step video lessons run from Kindergarten through college, and test-prep courses for the SAT, GED, ASVAB, AP, ACT and ACCUPLACER are in the catalog. HOW A SESSION RUNS • Pick 7th Grade Math and the topics arrive in the order the course teaches them • Each lesson teaches the method, then works through an example • Practice adjusts to your child's level, with the full solution after every question • They can retake a quiz until the score says the topic is solid • Continue Learning opens the next topic, never one already finished • Study Points and a daily streak keep the habit going • When they are stuck mid-question, Photo Search finds the lesson that covers it WHAT YOU GET AS THE PARENT • Each child gets their own profile and their own progress • A study plan on each course they open, in the order your state's standards set out • Topic scores that are current the moment you open the app • Homeschool families set the pace; nothing is marked late WHAT IS COVERED On video: Math from Kindergarten to college. English and Social Studies to Grade 7. Science to Grade 7, plus senior Physics and Chemistry (including Organic Chemistry). Questions and quizzes: all four subjects, Kindergarten to Grade 12 Test prep in the catalog: SAT Math, GED Mathematics, ASVAB Math Knowledge, AP Calculus AB/BC, AP Statistics, ACT Math, ACCUPLACER 2.1+ MILLION U.S. STUDENTS USE STUDYPUG • 50,000+ practice problems with worked solutions • Courses aligned to your state standards, so the next topic follows the one their class just finished WHAT IT COSTS Plans start at $14.99 a month. Cancel any time. StudyPug is a subscription service. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage subscriptions in your account settings. Privacy Policy: https://www.studypug.com/privacy Terms of Service: https://www.studypug.com/terms

About

Derive

This app provides an infinite canvas for handwritten math and science notes. It uses AI to recognize your handwriting, offering a live tutor for step-by-step assistance directly within your notes. Organize your work into notebooks that sync across devices.

Highlights
  • 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
Read full description

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

Screenshots

StudyPug4 screens
Derive4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Derive at none against StudyPug's shown. Derive also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 8 days). StudyPug's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (2.1K vs 26). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. StudyPug sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Derive sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

StudyPug holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: StudyPug has 2.1K ratings behind it against 26, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of StudyPug's written reviews are positive against 37% of Derive's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

StudyPug ships an update every 8 days, Derive every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
StudyPug versus Derive: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStudyPugDerive
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (2.1K ratings) — better4.3 (26 ratings)
Positive reviews59.4% of reviews — better36.8% of reviews
Number of ratings2.1K — better26
Update frequencyEvery 8 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size57 MB81 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStudyPug Inc.Derive Notes Pty Ltd

Customer experience

StudyPug

All ratings2,083 ratings
Positive93.2%
Neutral1.8%
Negative5.0%
Written reviews256 reviews
Positive59.4%
Neutral5.9%
Negative34.8%

Derive

All ratings26 ratings
Positive76.9%
Neutral11.5%
Negative11.5%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive36.8%
Neutral31.6%
Negative31.6%

Bugs and requests

StudyPug

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Login issues
  • Inability to cancel subscription
  • Compatibility problems with older devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • More free content and lessons
  • Interactive exercises and games
  • Expanded course coverage
  • Improved user interface
  • Ability to download videos for offline use

Derive

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

12 purchases

StudyPug

Subscriptions12
  • StudyPug (1-week)3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • StudyPug (1-week)7 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • StudyPug (1-month)3 Days trial2 variants$14.991 Month
Show 9 more
  • StudyPug (1-month)1 Month trial$14.991 Month
  • StudyPug (1-month)2 variants$14.991 Month
  • StudyPug (6-months)3 Days trial$39.996 Months
  • StudyPug (1-year)3 Days trial$58.991 Year
  • StudyPug (6-months)$58.996 Months
  • StudyPug (6-months)$79.006 Months
  • StudyPug (6-months)3 Days trial$79.006 Months
  • StudyPug (1-year)$88.991 Year
  • StudyPug (1-year)$119.001 Year
7 purchases

Derive

Subscriptions7
  • Derive Pro (Monthly, student)7 Days trial$8.991 Month
  • Derive Pro (Monthly)7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Derive Pro (Monthly, invited)1 Month trial$9.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Derive Pro (Annual)7 Days trial$50.001 Year
  • Derive Pro (Yearly, student)7 Days trial$75.001 Year
  • Derive Pro (Annual)7 Days trial$83.901 Year
  • Derive Pro (Annual, invited)1 Month trial$83.901 Year

Questions

Is StudyPug free?
StudyPug is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Derive free?
Derive is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, StudyPug or Derive?
StudyPug is rated higher. StudyPug averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while Derive averages 4.3 from 26 ratings.
Do StudyPug or Derive have ads?
StudyPug shows ads; Derive does not.
Which is updated more often, StudyPug or Derive?
StudyPug ships an update every 8 days, and Derive every 3 days. Most recently, StudyPug was updated on November 2, 2026 and Derive on October 31, 2026.

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