Comparison

Focus Tree vs MathWrite Notes

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

Head to head
About

Focus Tree

This app helps students stay focused during study sessions by blocking distractions and offering study timers. It also includes flashcards with spaced repetition for effective learning and allows users to study with friends by growing shared virtual gardens.

Highlights
  • Focus sessions with distraction blocking
  • Study timers and Pomodoro sessions
  • Flashcard creation and spaced repetition
  • Shared virtual gardens for group study
  • Progress tracking and accountability with friends
Features
Read full description

#1 Focus App for Students (2M+ users) Can’t stop checking your phone when you should be studying? Focus Tree helps you stay focused, study smarter, and get better grades together. FOCUS ANYWHERE, ANYTIME Start a focus session and block distractions automatically. Use study timers or Pomodoro sessions to stay consistent and productive. STUDY SMARTER WITH FLASHCARDS Create and review flashcards that actually stick. Use spaced repetition to remember more and ace your exams. STAY MOTIVATED WITH FRIENDS Join shared gardens with classmates or friends. Each time you focus, you add new blocks to your garden and design it your way. Work together, track each other’s streaks, and stay accountable. SEE REAL RESULTS Students who focus daily with Focus Tree report higher grades, stronger habits, and less stress. Focus Tree: study better, together. Privacy Policy: https://focustree.app/privacy Terms of Service: https://focustree.app/terms

About

MathWrite Notes

Features
Read full description

MathWrite converts handwritten science notes into LaTeX. Write with Apple Pencil the way you already do. When a page is finished, MathWrite reads it and produces LaTeX you can compile, copy, or send straight to Overleaf. FREE TO START MathWrite is free to download and use. A free account keeps one notebook, writes by hand without limits, and includes 5 LaTeX conversions and 20 PDF compilations to try the conversion on your own notes. Those are one-time and do not renew. PREMIUM UNLOCKS THE REST • As many notebooks as you like • Unlimited LaTeX conversion and PDF compilation • Document scanning, photo import and PDF import • Converting a whole imported notebook in one go The yearly plan begins with a 7-day free trial. WRITTEN FOR MATHS • Pressure-sensitive ink with Apple Pencil, built on PencilKit • Apple Pencil-only mode for proper palm rejection • Blank, ruled, grid and dotted pages, in colours chosen for long reading sessions LATEX THAT ACTUALLY COMPILES • Finish a page and it converts, so the LaTeX grows with the notebook • Theorems, proofs, aligned equations, matrices and macros survive the conversion • Pages are joined into one document. A proof that starts on one page and ends on the next comes out as a single environment, not two broken halves • Macros you define once are collected into the preamble, not repeated • Three document styles: Default, Tagged and Boxed • Compile to PDF inside the app and read it beside your handwriting • Open in Overleaf in one tap, into your own account BRING YOUR OLD NOTEBOOKS • Import a PDF and write on top of it • Imported pages convert too, so your old notes become LaTeX as well • Scan paper notes with the camera and convert those Scanning and importing are premium features. BUILT FOR HOW STUDYING ACTUALLY GOES • Works offline: write with no connection, and the pages convert when you are back • Read-only mode for revising without stray marks • Export any notebook as a PDF • Favourites for finding a lecture again in week eleven Available in English and Spanish. Designed for iPad first, and works on iPhone. CONVERSION AND COMPILATION Conversion and compilation need to be online. Writing, reading and exporting are unlimited and work offline. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS • MathWriteNotes Yearly Subscription — 39.99 USD per year, starting with a 7-day free trial • MathWriteNotes Monthly Subscription — 9.99 USD per month Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. A subscription renews automatically unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your Apple Account is charged for renewal within 24 hours of the end of that period. You can manage your subscription and turn off auto-renewal in your Apple Account settings after purchase. If you take the free trial, any unused portion is forfeited when you buy a subscription. Terms of Use: https://math-write-notes-backend.vercel.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://math-write-notes-backend.vercel.app/privacy

Screenshots

Focus Tree4 screens
MathWrite Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: MathWrite Notes at none against Focus Tree's shown. Focus Tree's advantage is iOS requirement (16.1 vs 18.6). On price, in-app purchases 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. Focus Tree sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and MathWrite Notes sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Focus Tree versus MathWrite Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus TreeMathWrite Notes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (5.7K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews68.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings5.7K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks—
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.1 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size265 MB35 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperFocus LabsAndres Osorio Leyenda

Bugs and requests

Focus Tree

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App gets stuck on loading screen
  • Notifications not working as expected
  • Account recovery issues when changing devices
  • Screen time feature not functioning properly

Requested features

4 requests
  • Allow pausing of study sessions
  • Provide more tiles/rewards for longer study sessions
  • Add option to choose different tile designs
  • Improve compatibility with larger devices like iPads

MathWrite Notes

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

14 purchases

Focus Tree

Subscriptions8
  • Focus Tree Premium$9.991 Month
  • Premium Annual7 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Premium Annual7 Days trial$29.991 Year
Show 5 more
  • Premium Annual7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Premium Annual7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Focus Tree Premium7 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • Premium Annual7 Days trial$89.991 Year
  • Premium Annual7 Days trial$99.991 Year
One-time6
  • Coin Pack$0.99
  • Coin Pack$4.99
  • Coin Pack ($9.99)$9.99
Show 3 more
  • Coin Pack ($19.99)$19.99
  • Coin Pack ($49.99)$49.99
  • Coin Pack ($99.99)$99.99
2 purchases

MathWrite Notes

Subscriptions2
  • MathWriteNotes Monthly Subscription$9.991 Month
  • MathWriteNotes Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Focus Tree free?
Focus Tree is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MathWrite Notes free?
MathWrite Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Focus Tree or MathWrite Notes have ads?
Focus Tree shows ads; MathWrite Notes does not.

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