# MarginNote 5 vs Prodrafts

The clearest difference is update cadence: Prodrafts at daily against MarginNote 5's every 3 weeks. Prodrafts also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (70% vs 58%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MarginNote 5 sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Prodrafts sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Prodrafts holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Prodrafts has 3.9K ratings behind it against 736, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of MarginNote 5's written reviews are positive against 70% of Prodrafts's.

MarginNote 5 ships an update every 3 weeks, Prodrafts daily. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | MarginNote 5 | Prodrafts |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (736 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marginnote-5-ai-notesmindmap/id1531657269/reviews) | **[4.8 (3.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/prodrafts-infinite-notes/id1545810067/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 736 | **3.9K** |
| Positive reviews | 58.5% of reviews | **69.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 371 MB | 220 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Beijing Yunsi Software Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/723205556) | [EMMO Corp.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1507868195) |

## What reviewers say

### MarginNote 5

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

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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subscription to MAX (Monthly) | $1.99 | per month |
| Subscription to MAX (3 months) | $4.99 | per 3 months |
| Subscription to MAX (6 months) | $7.99 | per 6 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 | $39.99 | 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


### Prodrafts

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/prodrafts-infinite-notes/id1545810067)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Prodrafts Pro Annual | $9.99 | per year |
| Prodrafts Pro Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MarginNote 5 free?

MarginNote 5 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 5 or Prodrafts?

Prodrafts is rated higher. MarginNote 5 averages 4.5 out of 5 from 736 ratings, while Prodrafts averages 4.8 from 3.9K ratings.

### Do MarginNote 5 or Prodrafts have ads?

Neither MarginNote 5 nor Prodrafts shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MarginNote 5 or Prodrafts?

MarginNote 5 ships an update every 3 weeks, and Prodrafts daily. Most recently, MarginNote 5 was updated on October 30, 2026 and Prodrafts on October 30, 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.*