MarginNote 5 vs EchoRead
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MarginNote 5
This app enhances reading and studying 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 with a comprehensive study workflow.
- Task-based reading templates
- AI-powered content breakdown
- Integrated flashcard creation
- Spaced repetition review
- Mind map organization
- PDF and EPUB import
- Sync across devices
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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
EchoRead
This app transforms reading highlights into visual mind maps and uses AI with the Feynman learning method to deepen understanding. It helps organize notes from various sources, connect ideas, and create personalized learning experiences like reading podcasts and summaries.
- Convert highlights to mind maps
- AI-powered Q&A and note linking
- Automatic idea connections
- Feynman learning modes
- Generate reading podcasts
- Create structured summaries
- Card notes with cross-linking
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Turn your book highlights into visual mind maps — powered by AI. EchoRead transforms how you read, think, and remember. Import highlights from Kindle, WeRead, and PDFs, then watch AI organize them into beautiful mind maps. With the Feynman learning method built in, you don’t just collect notes — you truly understand them. Rated 4.88 on the App Store --- HIGHLIGHTS TO MIND MAPS, INSTANTLY Import reading highlights from Kindle, WeRead (微信读书), and PDFs. EchoRead’s AI automatically structures them into clear, visual mind maps — no manual organizing needed. See the big picture of any book at a glance. LEARN DEEPER WITH THE FEYNMAN METHOD Go beyond passive highlighting with three AI-powered learning modes: - Concept Learning — Break down complex ideas into simple explanations - Reading Partner — Discuss books with an AI companion - Quiz Me — Test your understanding and strengthen recall DISCOVER HIDDEN CONNECTIONS EchoRead automatically finds related notes across all your books using deep learning. See how ideas from different authors connect — without lifting a finger. TURN YOUR NOTES INTO PODCASTS Transform your book highlights and reflections into engaging, conversational podcasts. Listen to your reading insights on the go — a feature no other reading app offers. CAPTURE EVERY INSIGHT - Sentence Analysis — Annotate any highlight with AI-powered Q&A - Card Notes — Record quick ideas with automatic cross-book linking - Personal Summaries — Write chapter-level and book-level reflections - Full Book Notes — Generate complete mind map or document summaries --- IMPORT FROM YOUR FAVORITE PLATFORMS - Amazon Kindle highlights - WeRead (微信读书) - PDF highlights & annotations - XMIND mind maps - Manual input --- BUILT FOR READERS WHO WANT TO REMEMBER Most reading apps help you collect highlights. EchoRead helps you understand them. From highlight to mind map to deep learning — EchoRead closes the loop between reading and true knowledge. Start for free. Download EchoRead and import your first book today. --- Subscription Information: - Payment: Your iTunes account will be charged after purchase confirmation. - Cancellation: Turn off auto-renewal at least 24 hours before the current period ends to avoid being charged. - Renewal: Your account will be charged within 24 hours before the period ends for renewal.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: EchoRead at 100% against MarginNote 5's 58%. EchoRead also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). MarginNote 5's advantage is ratings volume (740 vs 4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. MarginNote 5 sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 3 months and EchoRead sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
EchoRead holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MarginNote 5 has 740 ratings behind it against 4, 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 100% of EchoRead's.
MarginNote 5 ships an update every 3 weeks, EchoRead weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MarginNote 5 | EchoRead |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (740 ratings) | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 58.5% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 740 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 372 MB | 68 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Beijing Yunsi Software Technology Co., Ltd | Wei Lai Zhi Tu Tech Inc |
Customer experience
MarginNote 5
EchoRead
Bugs and 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
EchoRead
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
MarginNote 5
- Subscription to MAX (3 months)7 Days trial$4.993 Months
- Subscription to MAX (Annually)1 Month trial$12.991 Year
- MarginNote Max Annual1 Month trial$16.991 Year
- 14 days Free Trial2 variantsFree
- Upgrade to PRO from MN3(iOS)$4.99
- Unlock PRO Forever (New)$12.99
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- Upgrade to MAX from MN3(macOS)$19.99
- Unlock MAX based on PRO (New)$40.00
- Unlock MAX Forever (New)$51.99
EchoRead
- 1 Month Membership$4.991 Month
- 1 Month Pro Member$8.991 Month
- 3 Month Membership$12.993 Months
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- 3 Month Pro Membership$25.993 Months
- 1 Year Memebership$49.991 Year
- 1 year Pro Member$89.991 Year
- Quota package$2.99
- 100 Import Quota$8.99









