Comparison

MarginNote 3 vs Prodrafts

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

Head to head
About

MarginNote 3

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
Read full description

MarginNote 3, all brand new e-reader to better study and digest your books Integrating powerful tools for book annotation, mindmapping, flashcards and more, to build up your reading notes as never before. ============================================ Welcome to MarginNote. This is a highly powerful reading and study software and is applicable to Mac, iPad, and iPhone. By integrating the PDF/EPUB reader and multiple powerful study tools, MarginNote will enable learners to reorganize and connect knowledge from different aspects, then memorize and grasp it accordingly. Whatever your profession, such as student, educator, researcher, lawyer, or life-long learner, you may annotate and take notes through MarginNote, organize notes via Mindmap and Outline, connect knowledge horizontally via Hashtag and raise memory effect via the Flashcards. You will discover what MarginNote does is not to simply integrate these tools. Instead, it combines them deeply and skillfully, which makes it easier for users to toggle between different tools. What's New in MarginNote 3 * New and Clean UI Completely redesigned. * Improved performance and Running more smoothly * Support both Document Reading mode & Study Reading mode. * Excerpts & Note-taking * Enhanced Handwriting & apple-pencil support. * Support TextBox on PDF. * Support direct text-typing & sketching when editing note cards. * Support Auto OCR when excerpting on scanned PDFs. * Emphasis & Cloze * Support direct emphasis in powerful Emphasis mode both on PDF or Outline. * Support auto convert emphasis to Cloze in CardDeck. * Support creating Image-Occlusion flashcards. * Multi-Documents * Support both document tabs & split views to switch between documents. * MindMap * Auto grouping new excerpts by Document Table of Contents. * Support new brach display mode: Framework. * Swipe/Drag gestures to slide in/out Outline & Documents in Study mode. * Enhanced grouped cut/paste, drag to merge,.. etc. * Outline * Improved search and displaying keywords in results. * Improved styles. * CardDeck: * View Flashcards in MindMap mode and Document mode. * Enhanced Anki Export: Card styles, Image occlusions, Cloze * Enhanced Research web browser. * iCloud Sync * Fixed several design issue in previous versions. * More stable & improved performance. * Categories * Separate categories for Document, Study and Review. * Trash * Recover data from Trash and make data more safe. * Trial * 14-days free trial. MarginNote 2 features: Reading: - Support PDF and EPUB format; Annotating and NoteTaking: - Support text highlight and rectangular highlight; - Add notes directly at the page margin; the note editing area will not overlap with the book content at all; - Text, voice, picture, sketching and many other forms of comments in note; - Add hashtags to notes to facilitate the connection of notes; Outline and Mindmap: - Outline and Mindmap in one view; - Create Outline tree by swipe gestures; - Multi-selection editing such as group, merge, clone, etc; - Quick searching and filtering according to colors, hashtags, books. Flashcard: - Highlights and notes can be automatically turned into flashcards for review; - Spaced repetition adopting the Anki-based algorithm; - Switch to the linking book page at any time; iPad Pro & Apple pencil: - Split View of multiple tasks; - High-precision drawing by Apple pencil; - Fine tuned for Apple pencil; - Keyboard shortcuts; Import, Export and Sync: - Import webpages and notes from Evernote; - Export flashcards to Anki; - Export Outline to OmniOutliner; - Export Mindmap to iThoughts or MindManager; - Export to Evernote; - Export all the margin notes, MindManager, Outline and Pages to a printable PDF; - Sync books & notes with iCloud; Terms of Use: https://www.marginnote.com/press/marginnote-3-term-of-use Privacy Policy: https://www.iubenda.com/privacy-policy/92678020

About

Prodrafts

This app offers an infinite canvas for note-taking and mind mapping, supporting various file formats and multimedia attachments. Experience natural handwriting and organize all your thoughts and documents in one place for efficient learning and work.

Highlights
  • Infinite expandable canvas
  • Realistic pen strokes
  • Supports all file formats
  • Multimedia attachments
  • Mind mapping tools
  • PDF annotation
  • Customizable paper backgrounds
Features
Read full description

Prodrafts is a globally popular infinite note-taking app that supports almost all file formats and attachments. It is the perfect tool for achieving paperless learning on your iPad. Download now to enjoy an unrestricted natural handwriting experience! • Realistic Pen Strokes: With Apple’s most advanced native PencilKit technology, you can experience a realistic writing effect on your digital device, just like writing on real paper. • Natural and Smooth: Whether taking notes or drawing sketches, you can enjoy a fluid and smooth writing experience, perfectly presenting every stroke. An Ultra-Large Canvas That Expands Infinitely • Boundary-Free Creation: Infinite Notes provides an infinitely expandable canvas space, allowing your thoughts to roam freely without being limited by page size. • Global View: Organize all your content on a single infinite canvas, making it easy to view and manage, enhancing creative efficiency. Comprehensive Support for Various File Formats • Multi-Format Compatibility: Supports importing and viewing almost all file formats, including PDF, Word, Excel, etc., meeting your different work and study needs. • One-Stop Management: Handle various types of files on one platform, simplifying your workflow. Rich Support for Various Attachment Types • Multimedia Embedding: Whether it’s text, images, videos, recordings, tables, or sticky notes, you can add them as attachments to your notes, making the content richer and more vivid. • Flexible Editing: Attachments support free drag-and-drop and adjustments, helping you easily organize and display information. Mind Maps and Handwritten Brainstorms • Brainstorming: Through mind map and handwritten mind map functions, intuitively present and organize your ideas, inspiring more creativity. • Clear Logic: Helps you establish a clear thinking structure, enhancing learning and work efficiency. Add Annotations to PDF Files • In-Depth Annotations: Directly mark, annotate, and highlight on PDFs, making it easier for you to understand and analyze document content. • Synchronized Notes: Combine notes with PDF content to create personalized learning and work materials. Assist Efficient Learning • Multitasking: Supports split-screen functionality, allowing you to view notes and materials simultaneously, improving learning and work efficiency. • Highlight Key Points: Through annotation and organization, help you quickly grasp key content, achieving twice the result with half the effort. Customize Paper Backgrounds • Personalized Choices: Provides a variety of paper backgrounds, and you can also customize them to create a unique note style. • Adapt to Various Needs: Whether it’s drawing, taking notes, or music creation, you can find suitable paper backgrounds。 The subscription will automatically renew unless canceled, and will be charged through your Apple iTunes account. The price may vary depending on your location. Prodrafts is a product registered and developed by EMMO Corp. For technical support, please contact us at prodrafts@163.com Privacy Policy: http://www.prodrafts.cn/privacyPolicy Terms of Service: http://www.prodrafts.cn/termsOfService

Screenshots

MarginNote 34 screens
Prodrafts4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Prodrafts at every 4 days against MarginNote 3's every 6 weeks. MarginNote 3's advantage is iOS requirement (11.2 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. MarginNote 3 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Prodrafts sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for MarginNote 3 against 4.8 for Prodrafts. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5K and 3.8K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of MarginNote 3's written reviews are positive against 70% of Prodrafts's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MarginNote 3 ships an update every 6 weeks, Prodrafts every 4 days. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
MarginNote 3 versus Prodrafts: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMarginNote 3Prodrafts
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (5K ratings)4.8 (3.8K ratings) — better
Positive reviews74.6% of reviews — better69.7% of reviews
Number of ratings5K — better3.8K
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS11.2 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size392 MB248 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperBeijing Yunsi Software Technology Co., LtdEMMO Corp.

Customer experience

MarginNote 3

All ratings5,043 ratings
Positive93.2%
Neutral2.6%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews983 reviews
Positive74.6%
Neutral11.5%
Negative13.9%

Prodrafts

All ratings3,777 ratings
Positive95.4%
Neutral2.0%
Negative2.6%
Written reviews1,029 reviews
Positive69.7%
Neutral10.3%
Negative20.0%

User reviews

MarginNote 3

From 5K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

Prodrafts

From 3.8K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Syncing works great
  • 👍 Infinite canvas
  • 👍 Customizable paper backgrounds
  • 👍 Supports Apple Pencil
  • 👍 Versatile note-taking features

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Sync issues between devices
  • 🐛 Occasional data loss
  • 🐛 Buggy performance with large files
  • 🔧 Limited English support and documentation
  • 🔧 Lack of collaboration features

Bugs and requests

MarginNote 3

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • 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

5 requests
  • 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

Prodrafts

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Notes disappearing without warning
  • Inability to create new drafts
  • Eraser tool not working as expected
  • Compatibility issues with newer Apple Drawing Format
  • Inconsistent translations in the UI

Requested features

7 requests
  • Bulk export of notes as PDFs
  • Ability to link notes to source content
  • Flashcard or spaced repetition feature
  • Improved organization with folders and tags
  • Dark mode option
Show 2 more
  • Better mouse/keyboard support on desktop
  • Handwriting recognition and conversion to text

In-app purchases

5 purchases

MarginNote 3

Subscriptions2
  • OCR Pro (Monthly)3 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • OCR Pro (Annually)3 Days trial$9.491 Year
One-time3
  • 14 days Free TrialFree
  • Unlock Full$12.99
  • Upgrade to Full$12.99
2 purchases

Prodrafts

Subscriptions1
  • Prodrafts Pro3 Days trial$6.991 Year
One-time1
  • Unlock All$9.99

Questions

Is MarginNote 3 free?
MarginNote 3 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Prodrafts free?
Prodrafts is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, MarginNote 3 or Prodrafts?
Prodrafts is rated higher. MarginNote 3 averages 4.7 out of 5 from 5K ratings, while Prodrafts averages 4.8 from 3.8K ratings.
Do MarginNote 3 or Prodrafts have ads?
Neither MarginNote 3 nor Prodrafts shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MarginNote 3 or Prodrafts?
MarginNote 3 ships an update every 6 weeks, and Prodrafts every 4 days. Most recently, MarginNote 3 was updated on September 24, 2026 and Prodrafts on September 24, 2026.

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