Comparison

ivySCI vs PoleX

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

Head to head
About

ivySCI

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
Read full description

ivySCI is dedicated to providing thoughtful and intelligent literature reading and management tools for researchers, helping them save valuable time and focus more effectively on their research, rather than getting bogged down in time-consuming literature management, especially the tedious task of formatting references for graduate theses. As your helpful assistant, ivySCI offers a comprehensive range of services from the outset, including: 1. After you import PDF documents, we automatically identify the metadata of each paper, including titles, authors, abstracts, DOIs, journals, and important journal impact factors (CiteScore). 2. For each document, we provide built-in translation and dictionary lookup to overcome language barriers. 3. We offer AI-assisted reading for each document, providing quick answers to your questions. In the Mac version, we also provide AI proofreading and translation functions. 4. We analyze each document so that you can access references directly when needed, without flipping to the end of the paper. After viewing the references, you can decide whether to download them. You can customize the download engine to provide more channels to help you find the required literature faster. 5. We extract images from papers and provide side-by-side text and image viewing when necessary. You can zoom in or out on images to focus on specific details. 6. We analyze the PDF structure and present it in an outline format. Thumbnails are also available for viewing. 7. You can create notes on any device, and these notes are shared via the cloud for easy access anytime, anywhere. 8. Your literature and notes are associated with your account, so you can use them on any device (including iPhone, iPad, and Mac) after logging in. 9. When writing in Word or WPS, you can cite literature and notes at any time using the ivyCite plugin provided by ivySCI. This ensures that your thought process remains uninterrupted. ivySCI offers various client options tailored to research needs, including Mac and PC, iPad, and iPhone. Each device serves a different purpose, with desktop versions offering comprehensive management capabilities, iPad versions focused on reading and basic operations, and iPhone versions providing basic information access. Depending on the intelligence analysis capabilities and the limitations of different PDF formats, some features may not be available, but we continuously optimize the engine.

About

PoleX

This app uses AI to predict optimal study times and helps organize knowledge points. Create and share custom flashcard sets or use pre-made ones for efficient learning.

Highlights
  • AI-predicted optimal study times
  • Custom flashcard creation
  • Flashcard sharing
  • Knowledge point categorization
  • Pre-made flashcard decks
Features
Read full description

AI算法预测最佳复习时间点;自由创建和分享卡片组;分类组织知识点;不断丰富的预制卡片组。

Screenshots

ivySCI4 screens
PoleX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PoleX at none against ivySCI's 3. PoleX also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). ivySCI's advantage is ratings volume (9 vs 2). On price, 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. ivySCI sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. PoleX asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PoleX holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ivySCI ships an update fortnightly, PoleX weekly. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
ivySCI versus PoleX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterivySCIPoleX
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (9 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings9 — better2
Update frequencyFortnightlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.513.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size66 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNanjing IvyScience Information Technology Co., Ltd.Hunan Yaoxiang Information Technology Co., Ltd.

Customer experience

ivySCI

All ratings9 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral11.1%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative0.0%

PoleX

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

ivySCI

Subscriptions3
  • ivySCI VIP Monthly Service$2.991 Month
  • Annual VIP Subscription$29.991 Year
  • Annual AI Pro Subscription$39.991 Year
None

PoleX

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ivySCI free?
ivySCI is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PoleX free?
PoleX is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ivySCI or PoleX?
PoleX is rated higher. ivySCI averages 4.6 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while PoleX averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do ivySCI or PoleX have ads?
Neither ivySCI nor PoleX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ivySCI or PoleX?
ivySCI ships an update fortnightly, and PoleX weekly. Most recently, ivySCI was updated on October 14, 2026 and PoleX on October 14, 2026.

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