# MarginNote 4 vs GUGA

The clearest difference is update cadence: GUGA at every 4 days against MarginNote 4's every 3 weeks. GUGA also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (70% vs 59%). MarginNote 4's advantage is ratings volume (716 vs 163). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MarginNote 4 sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and GUGA sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

GUGA holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 716 and 163 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of MarginNote 4's written reviews are positive against 70% of GUGA's.

MarginNote 4 ships an update every 3 weeks, GUGA every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and July 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MarginNote 4 | GUGA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (716 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marginnote-4-ai-notesmindmap/id1531657269/reviews) | **[4.7 (163 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guga-hyperboard/id1619055819/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **716** | 163 |
| Positive reviews | 58.8% of reviews | **70.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 330 MB | 705 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Beijing Yunsi Software Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/723205556) | [GutenbergGalaxy Technology Co.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1592037946) |

## What reviewers say

### MarginNote 4

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marginnote-4-ai-notesmindmap/id1531657269)

This app integrates reading, note-taking, mind mapping, and flashcards into a unified study environment. It supports active learning with features like study sets, book compilation, and dual-article views. Enhance your understanding with visual learning tools and AI-powered content extraction for long-term memory retention.

**Highlights:** Integrated reading, note-taking, mind mapping, and flashcards, Quick Extend Note and Handwriting Layers for annotation, Study Set for organizing PDFs, EPUBs, videos, and audio, Mind Map and Concept Diagram for visual learning, AI Content Detection for formula and chart extraction, FSRS spaced-repetition algorithm for reviews, iCloud sync across Apple devices

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro 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


### GUGA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guga-hyperboard/id1619055819)

This app combines notebook, whiteboard, and card functionalities for diverse learning needs. It allows for importing various formats, multi-layer handwriting, and creating interconnected learning materials. Share your progress and access cross-device data with ease.

**Highlights:** Import various notebook formats, Multi-layer handwriting support, Create and link cards, Multi-level whiteboard functionality, Cross-device data sharing, Community sharing platform

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Limited-time Discount C | $4.99 | one-time |
| Limited-time Discount B | $6.99 | one-time |
| Unlock GUGA PRO | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💡 Handwriting search capability
- 🌟 Good for note-taking and studying
- 🎨 Beautiful app design
- ✍️ Natural pen strokes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Pencil direction not rotating
- 🐛 Terms and Privacy Policy not accessible
- 🐛 Cannot log in
- 🐛 iCloud sync glitchy
- 🐛 Notes erased when switching devices

**Reported bugs**

- Pencil direction does not rotate with pencil movement
- Cannot check Terms and Privacy Policy on first app open
- Cannot log in
- iCloud sync is glitchy
- Notes get erased when switching devices

**Requested features**

- Allow Apple Pencil to transition to previous tool
- Adapt to Apple Pencil Pro squeeze gesture
- Return to previous PDF card viewing mode
- Allow Mac OS version with iCloud syncing
- Add auto backup to other cloud drives (Google Drive, OneDrive)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MarginNote 4 free?

MarginNote 4 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is GUGA free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MarginNote 4 or GUGA?

GUGA is rated higher. MarginNote 4 averages 4.5 out of 5 from 716 ratings, while GUGA averages 4.7 from 163 ratings.

### Do MarginNote 4 or GUGA have ads?

Neither MarginNote 4 nor GUGA shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MarginNote 4 or GUGA?

MarginNote 4 ships an update every 3 weeks, and GUGA every 4 days. Most recently, MarginNote 4 was updated on September 22, 2026 and GUGA on July 3, 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.*