Comparison

MarginNote 5 vs Focus Game

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

MarginNote 5

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
Read 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

About

Focus Game

Features
Read full description

「頑張るのを、ひとりでやらない。」 Focus Gameは、友達や知らない人と一緒に「自習室」にこもって集中するアプリです。 ■ 自習室で集中する 合言葉を共有するだけで、同じ部屋に入れます。友達がいなくても「グループを探す」で知らない人と4人部屋に入れます。誰が集中していて、誰が離席したかがリアルタイムで見えるので、ひとりで我慢するより続けやすくなります。 ■ 集中した時間がモンスターを育てる 選んだアプリをブロックして集中すると、その時間がモンスターへのダメージになります。倒すとコインと経験値が手に入り、育てたモンスターはレベルが上がるごとに姿を変えます(25体・全75段階の進化)。 ■ 「ものがたり」で、先延ばしや誘惑と戦う 育てたモンスターでパーティを組み、先延ばしや誘惑という心の壁(ボス)に挑むストーリーモードも搭載。集中している間、自動でパーティが戦ってくれます。 ■ ブロックは自分で解除できる、でも見られる 我慢を意志の力だけに頼りません。途中で解除しても罰則はありませんが、部屋のみんなに「解除した」ことが表示されます。見られている状態が、続ける力になります。 ■ 完全無料 課金要素は一切ありません。応援したい方向けの任意の投げ銭機能のみ用意しています。 こんな人におすすめ: ・ひとりだと集中が続かない ・スマホをすぐ触ってしまう ・友達と一緒に頑張りたい ・ゲーム感覚で勉強や作業を続けたい

Screenshots

MarginNote 54 screens
Focus Game4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Focus Game at none against MarginNote 5's 13. On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MarginNote 5 ships an update every 3 weeks, Focus Game every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
MarginNote 5 versus Focus Game: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMarginNote 5Focus Game
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (736 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews58.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings736 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size371 MB14 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperBeijing Yunsi Software Technology Co., Ltdkaito inoue

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

Focus Game

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

12 purchases

MarginNote 5

Subscriptions5
  • Subscription to MAX (Monthly)7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Subscription to MAX (3 months)7 Days trial$4.993 Months
  • Subscription to MAX (6 months)7 Days trial$7.996 Months
Show 2 more
  • Subscription to MAX (Annually)1 Month trial$12.991 Year
  • MarginNote Max Annual1 Month trial$16.991 Year
One-time7
  • 14 days Free Trial2 variantsFree
  • Upgrade to PRO from MN3(iOS)$4.99
  • Unlock PRO Forever (New)$12.99
Show 4 more
  • Upgrade to MAX from MN3(macOS)$19.99
  • Unlock MAX based on PRO$39.99
  • Unlock MAX based on PRO (New)$40.00
  • Unlock MAX Forever (New)$51.99
None

Focus Game

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MarginNote 5 free?
MarginNote 5 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Focus Game free?
Focus Game is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do MarginNote 5 or Focus Game have ads?
Neither MarginNote 5 nor Focus Game shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MarginNote 5 or Focus Game?
MarginNote 5 ships an update every 3 weeks, and Focus Game every 2 weeks. Most recently, MarginNote 5 was updated on October 30, 2026 and Focus Game on October 9, 2026.

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