Comparison

Mathpix Snip vs MarginNote 5

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

Head to head
About

Mathpix Snip

Transform handwritten notes and PDFs into editable, searchable documents. Convert images of equations into various formats like LaTeX. Sync your work across devices for seamless access.

Highlights
  • Handwriting to editable Markdown
  • Convert equations to LaTeX
  • Searchable PDF creation
  • Cross-device syncing
  • Export to DOCX, LaTeX, Overleaf
Features
Read full description

Mathpix - the PDF and notes app for STEM researchers and professionals, powered by next generation OCR - Convert your handwriting to editable and searchable Markdown documents that can be exported to DOCX, LaTeX, Overleaf, or PDF, with our document conversion technology - Create searchable PDFs seamlessly with your camera with configurable image filters, that can be read, searched, exported, or downloaded on any device, including the Snip web app at snip.mathpix.com - The ultimate personal PDF and Notes cloud for researchers: your documents sync seamlessly across devices, including the Snip web app at snip.mathpix.com - Draw equations directly on your device or take pictures of them, and convert to LaTeX, MathML, Asciimath, Markdown, and more Website: mathpix.com Web app: snip.mathpix.com Twitter: @MathpixApp

About

MarginNote 5

This app enhances reading and study with integrated note-taking and flashcard creation. It offers task-based templates for focused learning, AI assistance for content breakdown, and spaced repetition for effective review. Organize your research and master material efficiently.

Highlights
  • Task-based reading templates
  • AI-powered content breakdown and question extraction
  • Integrated flashcard creation and spaced repetition
  • Mind-map organization of notes
  • PDF and EPUB import
  • Handwriting and annotation tools
  • Sync across devices
Features
Read full description

MarginNote is a PDF tool for in-depth reading and study. Keep PDF highlights linked to mind-map cards, then add those cards to review. MarginNote 5 introduces task-based templates for reading, question practice, and vocabulary. MarginNote has evolved since 2013. The upgrade from MarginNote 4 is free. Your study sets, notes, and purchases remain intact. MARGINNOTE 5: ONE TASK, ONE SETUP • Templates — a template sets the bottom tools, menus, pens, and excerpt colors. The "Standard" template has four modes: Excerpt, Handwrite, Organize, and Recall. Each mode groups tools for that task. • Template Gallery — install official templates in one tap. Some templates include examples to help you get started: – Card Practice: write answers by hand on question cards, check your answers, and focus your next review on questions you haven't mastered yet. AI can split a whole workbook into cards. – Reading Vocabulary: collect words while reading English; an offline dictionary provides base forms, pronunciation, and definitions, and finished cards join review when automatic review is enabled. • Make it yours — the corresponding controls are highlighted as you edit. Find features and settings with Feature Search, and export or share your templates. • Traditional Interface — open the template menu and choose "Traditional Interface" (except on iPhone Duo). SYNC YOU CAN SEE The home screen shows where sync stands. The Sync Center lists notes and original documents separately and tells you when a document is still downloading. Manual sync reports results and offers a protective snapshot. Applying cloud changes also protects local study data. THE CARD AT THE CENTER • Organize excerpts by chapter; for books without a table of contents, AI can build one. • Title Links — notes on concepts you've studied resurface as you read new documents. • Extend — open writing space anywhere on a PDF: inline, in the margin, or folded away. AI AS AN ASSISTANT, NOT A SUBSTITUTE AI Breakdown · Question Extraction · AI TOC · AI OCR card templates · translation · chat. Save any answer as a card, or turn its outline into mind-map branches. Online AI sends task text or images to the service provider used for the request. REVIEW: THINK FIRST, THEN LOOK Use Recall mode to hide and reveal answers in the mind map. Add cards to a review deck for FSRS spaced repetition. Write directly on card snapshots while you review. On iOS/iPadOS/macOS 26+, when Apple Intelligence is enabled and its model is available on a supported device and in a supported region, on-device recall hints work offline without MarginNote credits. THE FULL WORKFLOW PDF, EPUB, Office-to-PDF import (online), video and audio · Zotero, cloud drives and external folders · side-by-side documents · handwriting layers and mind-map backgrounds · mind-map PDF export (structure or card flow) · read aloud · fast OCR WHO IT IS FOR Anyone who rereads material and needs to remember it: medical and law students, exam takers, researchers, language learners, serious readers. ACROSS YOUR DEVICES iPhone, iPad and Mac with one Apple Account; iCloud syncs study sets, notes and review progress. Native Apple Pencil handwriting on iPad. Also adapted for iPhone Duo. ABOUT PURCHASES Free to download. Some features require Pro (one-time unlock) or Max (subscription or one-time unlock). MarginNote Agent requires Max and uses MarginNote credits. Some online AI uses MarginNote credits; external AI is billed by its provider. A Max subscription includes 500 credits/month while active. Questions: service@marginnote.com Terms of Use: https://dist.marginnote.cn/MarginNote_Terms_and_Conditions.pdf Privacy Policy: https://dist.marginnote.cn/MarginNote_Privacy_Policy.pdf

Screenshots

Mathpix Snip4 screens
MarginNote 54 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Mathpix Snip at none against MarginNote 5's 13. Mathpix Snip also leads on review sentiment (76% vs 58%) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). MarginNote 5's advantage is ratings volume (739 vs 141). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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 5 sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Mathpix Snip asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Mathpix Snip against 4.5 for MarginNote 5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MarginNote 5 has 739 ratings behind it against 141, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of Mathpix Snip's written reviews are positive against 58% of MarginNote 5's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mathpix Snip ships an update every 5 weeks, MarginNote 5 every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Mathpix Snip versus MarginNote 5: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMathpix SnipMarginNote 5
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (141 ratings) — better4.5 (739 ratings)
Positive reviews76.0% of reviews — better58.5% of reviews
Number of ratings141739 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB372 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMathpixBeijing Yunsi Software Technology Co., Ltd

Customer experience

Mathpix Snip

All ratings141 ratings
Positive87.9%
Neutral1.4%
Negative10.6%
Written reviews125 reviews
Positive76.0%
Neutral4.8%
Negative19.2%

MarginNote 5

All ratings739 ratings
Positive86.5%
Neutral3.4%
Negative10.1%
Written reviews568 reviews
Positive58.5%
Neutral15.5%
Negative26.1%

Bugs and requests

Mathpix Snip

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

MarginNote 5

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

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

In-app purchases

None

Mathpix Snip

No in-app purchases

12 purchases

MarginNote 5

Subscriptions5
  • Subscription to MAX (Monthly)7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Subscription to MAX (3 months)7 Days trial$4.993 Months
  • Subscription to MAX (6 months)7 Days trial$7.996 Months
Show 2 more
  • Subscription to MAX (Annually)1 Month trial$12.991 Year
  • MarginNote Max Annual1 Month trial$16.991 Year
One-time7
  • 14 days Free Trial2 variantsFree
  • Upgrade to PRO from MN3(iOS)$4.99
  • Unlock PRO Forever (New)$12.99
Show 4 more
  • Upgrade to MAX from MN3(macOS)$19.99
  • Unlock MAX based on PRO$39.99
  • Unlock MAX based on PRO (New)$40.00
  • Unlock MAX Forever (New)$51.99

Questions

Is Mathpix Snip free?
Mathpix Snip is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MarginNote 5 free?
MarginNote 5 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Mathpix Snip or MarginNote 5?
Mathpix Snip is rated higher. Mathpix Snip averages 4.5 out of 5 from 141 ratings, while MarginNote 5 averages 4.5 from 739 ratings.
Do Mathpix Snip or MarginNote 5 have ads?
Neither Mathpix Snip nor MarginNote 5 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mathpix Snip or MarginNote 5?
Mathpix Snip ships an update every 5 weeks, and MarginNote 5 every 3 weeks. Most recently, Mathpix Snip was updated on November 2, 2026 and MarginNote 5 on November 3, 2026.

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