# MarginNote 5 vs Logseq

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Logseq at none against MarginNote 5's 13. Logseq also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MarginNote 5 sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Logseq asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for MarginNote 5 against 4.4 for Logseq. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 736 and 264 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 58% and 59% positive.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MarginNote 5 | Logseq |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (736 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marginnote-5-ai-notesmindmap/id1531657269/reviews)** | [4.4 (264 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/logseq/id1601013908/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **736** | 264 |
| Positive reviews | 58.5% of reviews | **58.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 371 MB | 62 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Beijing Yunsi Software Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/723205556) | [Logseq Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1597272547) |

## 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


### Logseq

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/logseq/id1601013908)

This open-source outliner helps you write, organize, and share your thoughts using local Markdown and Org-mode files. Manage tasks, build a digital garden, and integrate with various services for enhanced productivity.

**Highlights:** Backlinks, Knowledge Graph, Page and block references, Tasks & Todos, SRS Cards, Zotero integration, Audio recorder

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful note-taking features
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 🔒 Local data storage
- 💡 Unique folderless structure
- 🚀 Efficient for daily note-taking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sync issues and data loss
- 🔍 Confusing mobile navigation
- 🔍 Lack of plugin support on mobile
- 🔍 Sluggish performance on older devices
- 🔍 Limited sync options (only iCloud)

**Reported bugs**

- Sync issues leading to data loss
- Inconsistent behavior when creating new blocks
- Cursor jumping issues when editing text
- Disappearing UI elements on mobile

**Requested features**

- Add support for other cloud storage options (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.)
- Improve mobile UI and UX for better usability
- Implement plugin support on mobile
- Optimize performance for older devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MarginNote 5 free?

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

### Is Logseq free?

Logseq is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, MarginNote 5 or Logseq?

MarginNote 5 is rated higher. MarginNote 5 averages 4.5 out of 5 from 736 ratings, while Logseq averages 4.4 from 264 ratings.

### Do MarginNote 5 or Logseq have ads?

Neither MarginNote 5 nor Logseq shows ads.

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

MarginNote 5 ships an update every 3 weeks, and Logseq every 3 weeks. Most recently, MarginNote 5 was updated on October 30, 2026 and Logseq on October 24, 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.*