MarginNote 5 vs WriteTex
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
Read full descriptionHide full description
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
WriteTex
Instantly convert handwritten math equations into LaTeX, Markdown, or TikZ code. This app uses advanced AI to recognize complex formulas, matrices, and diagrams, integrating seamlessly with desktop editors like VS Code and Obsidian.
- Handwritten math to LaTeX conversion
- AI-powered OCR for complex formulas
- Markdown and TikZ code output
- Desktop sync for VS Code, Obsidian, Word
- BYOK (Bring Your Own Key) for data control
- High privacy options
Read full descriptionHide full description
Stop struggling with complex LaTeX syntax. Convert your handwritten math equations into clean code instantly with WriteTex. Whether you are a researcher, student, or engineer, WriteTex bridges the gap between your physical notes and digital documents. Simply draw a formula and watch it transform into LaTeX, Markdown, or TikZ code ready for your favorite editor. POWERFUL MATH OCR Powered by advanced AI, WriteTex recognizes even the most complex mathematical structures, including matrices, integrals, Greek letters, and chemical diagrams. SEAMLESS WORKFLOW INTEGRATION WriteTex isn't just a converter; it’s a productivity powerhouse. Desktop Sync: Use our companion app to automatically paste converted equations directly into VS Code, Obsidian, Overleaf, or Microsoft Word. VS Code and Obsidian extension: Write on iPad, results appear in your editor on PC or Mac. Intergrate seamlessly with you current workflow with more precise OCR results. BUILT FOR POWER USERS BYOK (Bring Your Own Key): Connect your own API keys for full control over your data and costs. High Privacy: Your data belongs to you. We offer flexible configuration for privacy-conscious users. PERFECT FOR: Students: Speed up STEM homework and digitize lecture notes. Researchers: Quickly insert formulas into LaTeX manuscripts. Developers: Streamline math documentation in VS Code and Obsidian. Download WriteTex today and turn your handwriting into professional digital math in seconds.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: MarginNote 5 at 4.5 against WriteTex's 3.0. MarginNote 5 also leads on ratings volume (739 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 WriteTex sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
MarginNote 5 holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MarginNote 5 has 739 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
MarginNote 5 ships an update every 3 weeks, WriteTex every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MarginNote 5 | WriteTex |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (739 ratings) — better | 3.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 58.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 739 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 10 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 372 MB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Beijing Yunsi Software Technology Co., Ltd | 星宇 黄 |
Customer experience
MarginNote 5
WriteTex
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
WriteTex
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
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Upgrade to MAX from MN3(macOS)$19.99
- Unlock MAX based on PRO (New)$40.00
- Unlock MAX Forever (New)$51.99
WriteTex
- Monthly AI Subscription$3.991 Month
- Yearly AI Subscription$39.991 Year
- Custom API$1.99









