# ivySCI vs GUGA

The clearest difference is update cadence: GUGA at every 4 days against ivySCI's fortnightly. GUGA also leads on ratings volume (163 vs 9). ivySCI's advantage is review sentiment (80% vs 70%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ivySCI sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and GUGA sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for ivySCI against 4.7 for GUGA. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GUGA has 163 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of ivySCI's written reviews are positive against 70% of GUGA's.

ivySCI ships an update fortnightly, GUGA every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and July 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ivySCI | GUGA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ivysci/id1600901406/reviews) | **[4.7 (163 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guga-hyperboard/id1619055819/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **163** |
| Positive reviews | **80.0% of reviews** | 70.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 74 MB | 705 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.5 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nanjing IvyScience Information Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1600901408) | [GutenbergGalaxy Technology Co.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1592037946) |

## What reviewers say

### ivySCI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ivysci/id1600901406)

This app helps researchers manage and read scientific papers efficiently. It automatically extracts metadata, offers AI-assisted reading and proofreading, and allows for easy note-taking and citation integration with word processors.

**Highlights:** Automatic PDF metadata identification, AI-assisted reading and Q&A, Built-in translation and dictionary, Reference extraction and download, Image extraction and side-by-side viewing, Cloud-synced notes across devices, Word processor citation plugin

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ivySCI VIP Monthly Service | $2.99 | per month |
| Annual VIP Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Annual AI Pro Subscription | $39.99 | per year |


### 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 ivySCI free?

ivySCI 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, ivySCI or GUGA?

GUGA is rated higher. ivySCI averages 4.6 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while GUGA averages 4.7 from 163 ratings.

### Do ivySCI or GUGA have ads?

Neither ivySCI nor GUGA shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ivySCI or GUGA?

ivySCI ships an update fortnightly, and GUGA every 4 days. Most recently, ivySCI was updated on September 10, 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.*