# MarginNote 4 vs PinWords

The clearest difference is rating: MarginNote 4 at 4.5 against PinWords's 4.0. MarginNote 4 also leads on ratings volume (716 vs 8) and review sentiment (59% vs 50%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MarginNote 4 sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and PinWords sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MarginNote 4 holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MarginNote 4 has 716 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of MarginNote 4's written reviews are positive against 50% of PinWords's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MarginNote 4 | PinWords |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (716 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marginnote-4-ai-notesmindmap/id1531657269/reviews)** | [4.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pinwords/id6741038024/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **716** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **58.8% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 330 MB | 82 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Beijing Yunsi Software Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/723205556) | [Detailsoft Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1102736767) |

## 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


### PinWords

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pinwords/id6741038024)

This app helps you master vocabulary with a minimalist design focused on spelling and efficient memorization. It offers extensive built-in word lists, personalized learning plans, and detailed statistics to track your progress. Enjoy offline access and cross-device synchronization for seamless learning.

**Highlights:** Extensive built-in word libraries, Vocabulary filtering by level and standard, Unique spelling keyboard and memory modes, Personalized weekly and daily learning plans, Detailed statistics and progress tracking, Offline access and iCloud synchronization

**Features:** Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 全功能解锁（活动） | $5.99 | per year |
| 终身完整版 | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MarginNote 4 free?

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

### Is PinWords free?

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

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

MarginNote 4 is rated higher. MarginNote 4 averages 4.5 out of 5 from 716 ratings, while PinWords averages 4.0 from 8 ratings.

### Do MarginNote 4 or PinWords have ads?

Neither MarginNote 4 nor PinWords shows ads.

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

MarginNote 4 ships an update every 3 weeks, and PinWords every 3 weeks. Most recently, MarginNote 4 was updated on September 22, 2026 and PinWords on September 10, 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.*