# MarginNote 3 vs EchoRead

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | MarginNote 3 | EchoRead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marginnote-3/id1348317163/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/echoread-ai-reading-notes/id6740475635/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **5K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 74.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 392 MB | 68 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.2** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Beijing Yunsi Software Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/723205556) | [Wei Lai Zhi Tu Tech Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1688154558) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### EchoRead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/echoread-ai-reading-notes/id6740475635)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Membership | $4.99 | per month |
| 1 Month Pro Member | $8.99 | per month |
| 3 Month Membership | $12.99 | per 3 months |
| 3 Month Pro Membership | $25.99 | per 3 months |
| 1 Year Memebership | $49.99 | per year |
| 1 year Pro Member | $89.99 | per year |
| Quota package | $2.99 | one-time |
| 100 Import Quota | $8.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MarginNote 3 free?

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

### Is EchoRead free?

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

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

EchoRead is rated higher. MarginNote 3 averages 4.7 out of 5 from 5K ratings, while EchoRead averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do MarginNote 3 or EchoRead have ads?

Neither MarginNote 3 nor EchoRead shows ads.

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

MarginNote 3 ships an update every 6 weeks, and EchoRead weekly. Most recently, MarginNote 3 was updated on September 26, 2026 and EchoRead on July 6, 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.*