MarginNote 3 vs EchoRead
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
EchoRead
This app transforms reading highlights into visual mind maps and uses AI with the Feynman learning method to deepen understanding. It helps organize notes from various sources, connect ideas, and create personalized learning experiences like reading podcasts and summaries.
- Convert highlights to mind maps
- AI-powered Q&A and note linking
- Automatic idea connections
- Feynman learning modes
- Generate reading podcasts
- Create structured summaries
- Card notes with cross-linking
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Turn your book highlights into visual mind maps — powered by AI. EchoRead transforms how you read, think, and remember. Import highlights from Kindle, WeRead, and PDFs, then watch AI organize them into beautiful mind maps. With the Feynman learning method built in, you don’t just collect notes — you truly understand them. Rated 4.88 on the App Store --- HIGHLIGHTS TO MIND MAPS, INSTANTLY Import reading highlights from Kindle, WeRead (微信读书), and PDFs. EchoRead’s AI automatically structures them into clear, visual mind maps — no manual organizing needed. See the big picture of any book at a glance. LEARN DEEPER WITH THE FEYNMAN METHOD Go beyond passive highlighting with three AI-powered learning modes: - Concept Learning — Break down complex ideas into simple explanations - Reading Partner — Discuss books with an AI companion - Quiz Me — Test your understanding and strengthen recall DISCOVER HIDDEN CONNECTIONS EchoRead automatically finds related notes across all your books using deep learning. See how ideas from different authors connect — without lifting a finger. TURN YOUR NOTES INTO PODCASTS Transform your book highlights and reflections into engaging, conversational podcasts. Listen to your reading insights on the go — a feature no other reading app offers. CAPTURE EVERY INSIGHT - Sentence Analysis — Annotate any highlight with AI-powered Q&A - Card Notes — Record quick ideas with automatic cross-book linking - Personal Summaries — Write chapter-level and book-level reflections - Full Book Notes — Generate complete mind map or document summaries --- IMPORT FROM YOUR FAVORITE PLATFORMS - Amazon Kindle highlights - WeRead (微信读书) - PDF highlights & annotations - XMIND mind maps - Manual input --- BUILT FOR READERS WHO WANT TO REMEMBER Most reading apps help you collect highlights. EchoRead helps you understand them. From highlight to mind map to deep learning — EchoRead closes the loop between reading and true knowledge. Start for free. Download EchoRead and import your first book today. --- Subscription Information: - Payment: Your iTunes account will be charged after purchase confirmation. - Cancellation: Turn off auto-renewal at least 24 hours before the current period ends to avoid being charged. - Renewal: Your account will be charged within 24 hours before the period ends for renewal.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: EchoRead at 100% against MarginNote 3's 75%. EchoRead also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). MarginNote 3's advantage is ratings volume (5K vs 4) and iOS requirement (11.2 vs 15.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. MarginNote 3 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and EchoRead sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
EchoRead holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MarginNote 3 has 5K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of MarginNote 3's written reviews are positive against 100% of EchoRead's.
MarginNote 3 ships an update every 6 weeks, EchoRead weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and July 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MarginNote 3 | EchoRead |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (5K ratings) | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 74.6% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 5K — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 11.2 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 392 MB | 68 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Beijing Yunsi Software Technology Co., Ltd | Wei Lai Zhi Tu Tech Inc |
Customer experience
MarginNote 3
EchoRead
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
EchoRead
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
MarginNote 3
- OCR Pro (Monthly)3 Days trial$0.991 Month
- OCR Pro (Annually)3 Days trial$9.491 Year
- 14 days Free TrialFree
- Unlock Full$12.99
- Upgrade to Full$12.99
EchoRead
- 1 Month Membership$4.991 Month
- 1 Month Pro Member$8.991 Month
- 3 Month Membership$12.993 Months
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- 3 Month Pro Membership$25.993 Months
- 1 Year Memebership$49.991 Year
- 1 year Pro Member$89.991 Year
- Quota package$2.99
- 100 Import Quota$8.99









