# MindNode vs MarginNote 3

The clearest difference is ads: MarginNote 3 at none against MindNode's shown. MarginNote 3 also leads on review sentiment (75% vs 59%) and iOS requirement (11.2 vs 16.4). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MindNode sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and MarginNote 3 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MarginNote 3 holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.9K and 5K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of MindNode's written reviews are positive against 75% of MarginNote 3's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MindNode | MarginNote 3 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindnode-classic/id1218718027/reviews) | **[4.7 (5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marginnote-3/id1348317163/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.9K | **5K** |
| Positive reviews | 59.0% of reviews | **74.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 390 MB | 392 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **11.2** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [IdeasOnCanvas GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/312220105) | [Beijing Yunsi Software Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/723205556) |

## What reviewers say

### MindNode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindnode-classic/id1218718027)

Capture, organize, and visualize your thoughts and ideas. This app allows you to brainstorm, structure complex projects, and share your vision in various formats. Stay productive across all your devices with seamless iCloud integration.

**Highlights:** Capture thoughts as text, images, links, or tasks, Organize ideas with hierarchical outlines and mind maps, Style mind maps with themes and stickers, Export ideas to various formats, Cross-platform productivity with iCloud sync, Focus Mode and foldable branches for organization

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $24.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $24.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $24.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth and intuitive interface
- 🧠 Excellent for organizing thoughts and ideas
- 🌐 Seamless sync across devices
- 💻 Great for both personal and professional use
- 🎨 Beautiful and customizable themes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription model frustrates some users
- 🔒 Locked features behind paywall
- 🐛 Occasional sync and stability issues
- 🔀 Limited layout and connection options

**Reported bugs**

- Files disappearing or becoming corrupted
- App crashing after recent updates
- Inability to restore previous purchases

**Requested features**

- Add audio recording capability
- Improve handwriting and Apple Pencil support
- Allow more flexible node connections and layouts
- Provide a one-time purchase option


### MarginNote 3

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marginnote-3/id1348317163)

This app redefines studying by integrating e-reading with powerful annotation, mind mapping, and flashcard tools. Organize knowledge, connect ideas with hashtags, and enhance memory retention through spaced repetition. It offers a seamless workflow across multiple documents and devices.

**Highlights:** Integrated PDF/EPUB reader, Advanced annotation tools, Mind mapping and outline organization, Flashcard creation and Anki export, Multi-document support, Handwriting and Apple Pencil support, OCR for scanned PDFs

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| OCR Pro (Monthly) | $0.99 | per month |
| OCR Pro (Annually) | $9.49 | per year |
| 14 days Free Trial | Free | one-time |
| Unlock Full | $12.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Full | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful and efficient for studying and research
- 👍 Excellent mind mapping and note-taking features
- 💡 Unique and innovative functionality like video annotation
- 🚀 Handles large volumes of documents and notes well
- 👍 Useful for organizing and synthesizing information from multiple sources

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 👎 Steep learning curve and lack of comprehensive documentation
- 👎 Unreliable cloud syncing between devices
- 👎 Cluttered and unintuitive user interface in some areas
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches with certain features like handwriting and OCR

**Reported bugs**

- Syncing issues causing data loss across devices
- Crashes and freezes when working with large documents
- Inconsistent behavior with highlighting, erasing, and text formatting
- OCR not functioning reliably for non-Latin scripts
- Difficulty managing and organizing large document libraries

**Requested features**

- Improved export options and ability to share projects
- Better integration with other productivity apps like Anki
- More customization options for mind maps and annotations
- Smoother handwriting experience and better palm rejection
- Support for more file formats like PowerPoint


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MindNode free?

MindNode is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is MarginNote 3 free?

MarginNote 3 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, MindNode or MarginNote 3?

MarginNote 3 is rated higher. MindNode averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while MarginNote 3 averages 4.7 from 5K ratings.

### Do MindNode or MarginNote 3 have ads?

MindNode shows ads; MarginNote 3 does not.

### Which is updated more often, MindNode or MarginNote 3?

MindNode ships an update every 6 weeks, and MarginNote 3 every 6 weeks. Most recently, MindNode was updated on September 23, 2026 and MarginNote 3 on September 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*