# CamScanner HD vs MarginNote 5

The clearest difference is rating: MarginNote 5 at 4.5 against CamScanner HD's 3.0. MarginNote 5 also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (58% vs 29%). CamScanner HD's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CamScanner HD sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and MarginNote 5 sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 3 months. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MarginNote 5 holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MarginNote 5 has 742 ratings behind it against 68, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of CamScanner HD's written reviews are positive against 58% of MarginNote 5's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 13, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | CamScanner HD | MarginNote 5 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (68 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/camscanner-hd/id1357539654/reviews) | **[4.5 (742 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marginnote-5-ai-notesmindmap/id1531657269/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 68 | **742** |
| Positive reviews | 29.2% of reviews | **58.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 65 MB | 372 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Linguan Data](https://appshunter.io/developer/1315906999) | [Beijing Yunsi Software Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/723205556) |

## What reviewers say

### CamScanner HD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/camscanner-hd/id1357539654)

Digitize, store, and share documents from your mobile device. Optimize scan quality, extract text with OCR, and collaborate with others. Secure your important files with passwords and sync them across multiple platforms.

**Highlights:** Digitize documents with iPad camera, Optimize scan quality with smart cropping, Extract text from images using OCR, Share documents as PDF/JPEG, Print via AirPrint and fax internationally, Collaborate on documents with others, Secure documents with passcodes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CamScanner Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| CamScanner Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| One-page Fax | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ten-page Fax | $8.99 | one-time |


### MarginNote 5

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marginnote-5-ai-notesmindmap/id1531657269)

This app helps you deeply engage with reading materials by linking highlights to mind maps and flashcards for review. It offers task-based templates for various study needs, including question practice and vocabulary building, with AI assistance for tasks like creating outlines and extracting questions. Syncing and organization features ensure your study data is secure and accessible.

**Highlights:** Task-based reading templates, AI-powered question extraction, Mind map and flashcard integration, Offline dictionary for vocabulary, Secure sync with sync center, PDF and EPUB import, Handwriting and annotation tools

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subscription to MAX (3 months) | $4.99 | per 3 months |
| Subscription to MAX (Annually) | $12.99 | per year |
| MarginNote Max Annual | $16.99 | per year |
| 14 days Free Trial | Free | one-time |
| Upgrade to PRO from MN3(iOS) | $4.99 | one-time |
| Unlock PRO Forever (New) | $12.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to MAX from MN3(macOS) | $19.99 | one-time |
| Unlock MAX based on PRO (New) | $40.00 | one-time |
| Unlock MAX Forever (New) | $51.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful features
- 📚 Great for academic/research use
- 👍 Useful note-taking and organization
- 🖊️ Improved handwriting and annotation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
- 🕰️ Slow and laggy sync between devices
- 🤯 Steep learning curve, poor documentation
- 💰 Expensive upgrade from previous version

**Reported bugs**

- Disappearing annotations when using extend function
- Inability to restore accidentally deleted mind maps
- Inconsistent behavior with PDF file management

**Requested features**

- Improved iCloud/cloud sync reliability
- More intuitive and user-friendly interface
- Better support for external document libraries
- Ability to disable auto-excerpt selection


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CamScanner HD free?

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

### Is MarginNote 5 free?

MarginNote 5 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, CamScanner HD or MarginNote 5?

MarginNote 5 is rated higher. CamScanner HD averages 3.0 out of 5 from 68 ratings, while MarginNote 5 averages 4.5 from 742 ratings.

### Do CamScanner HD or MarginNote 5 have ads?

CamScanner HD shows ads; MarginNote 5 does not.

### Which is updated more often, CamScanner HD or MarginNote 5?

CamScanner HD ships an update every 3 weeks, and MarginNote 5 every 3 weeks. Most recently, CamScanner HD was updated on November 13, 2026 and MarginNote 5 on November 13, 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.*