Comparison

iSpartan vs Handwriting Scan

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

Head to head
About

iSpartan

This app enables chemists to perform molecular modeling on mobile devices. It allows for the creation of molecules through 2D sketching, conversion to 3D structures, and calculation of properties. Access a database of 5,000 molecules for spectra and other atomic data.

Highlights
  • 2D sketching to 3D structure conversion
  • Conformational analysis
  • Access to 5,000 molecule database
  • NMR and IR spectra calculation
  • Molecular orbital visualization
  • Thermochemistry calculations
Features
Read full description

iSpartan is a versatile app for molecular modeling on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. The app allows any chemist fast and easy access to computational methods that have proven reliable for a large range of molecules. Molecules are created by two-dimensional sketching, analogous to drawing a structure on paper. The app converts the two-dimensional sketch into a three-dimensional structure. Low-energy conformations can then be calculated and their geometries be queried. A database of 5,000 molecules (a subset of the Spartan Spectra and Properties Database, SSPD) can furthermore be accessed to obtain NMR and IR spectra, molecular orbitals, electrostatic potential maps, and other atomic and molecular properties. The database can be searched for substructures. Conformational analysis: • Identify the most favorable conformer • Assess alternative energy conformers • Present the results in a clear energy diagram iSpartan uses the proven MMFF force field and performs conformational searching in real time. Properties available for any molecule: • R / S chirality • Molecular weight • Total surface area and polar surface area • Molecular volume • Log P • Vicinal coupling constants • Distances, angles, and torsion angles Spectra and other properties calculated using quantum mechanics are available for the 5,000 molecules in the database that is included with iSpartan. For common organic molecules, quantum chemistry calculations can be carried out if the Spartan Parallel Suite program is installed (separate product; available for Windows or Macintosh). Spartan Parallel Suite also provides access to the full SSPD (> 250,000 molecules) via the iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch. NMR spectroscopy: • Assign peaks in proton and carbon spectra • Confirm or reject structure predictions • Suggest which structure is most consistent with the data • Explore and suggest alternative structures iSpartan combines the results of density functional calculations (EDF2/6-31G* model) with an empirical correction to obtain highly accurate spectra. Unlike purely empirical schemes, iSpartan always fully accounts for both 3D structure (stereochemistry) and conformation. Thermochemistry: • Identify the best tautomer or isomer • Assess product distributions at equilibrium • Classify reactions as endothermic or exothermic iSpartan obtains the total energy from DFT calculations. The heat of formation of most organic molecules can also be estimated using the highly accurate T1 thermochemical recipe. Infrared spectroscopy: • Assign absorption bands to functional groups • Confirm or reject structure predictions • Animate molecular vibrations associated with the absorption bands The shown spectrum is based on DFT calculations and includes a scaling factor for the frequencies. Temperature effects are accounted for by broadening of the absorption bands. The result is an accurate and realistic spectrum similar to experimental data. Molecular orbitals and electrostatic potential maps: • Analyze frontier orbitals in order to predict reactivity • Use electrostatic potential maps to assess selectivity, reactivity, and acid strength and to distinguish between polar (hydrophilic) and nonpolar (hydrophobic) regions Other calculated properties: • Partial charges of atoms • Dipole moments Greater productivity in chemical research through molecular modeling...this is iSpartan.

About

Handwriting Scan

Digitize handwritten notes and paper memos, converting them into searchable text. Organize, review, and share your captured information easily. Extract to-do lists and sync them with your reminders.

Highlights
  • OCR for handwritten notes
  • Searchable text notes
  • Markdown export
  • iCloud support
  • Task extraction and management
  • Sync with Apple Reminders
Features
Read full description

WriteScan helps you capture handwritten notes and paper memos, turn them into searchable text, and keep them organized. It keeps the freedom of writing on paper while making your notes easier to find, review, and share later. Main Features - Capture notebooks and journals with your camera and convert them to text with OCR - Save each page with both the original image and recognized text - Search past notes by keyword - Copy and share notes in Markdown format - iCloud support: data is stored on your device and in iCloud - Scan multiple pages in a single flow - Extract handwritten TODO lists and manage them as tasks - Organize detected tasks by parent groups - Sync tasks with Apple Reminders - Optionally save captured images to your photo library Perfect for - Digitally managing notebooks and journals - Quickly capturing shopping lists and ideas - Reviewing meeting notes or study notes later - Turning paper TODO lists into a task list - Archiving past notebooks for future reference Privacy & Security Your data is stored on your device and in iCloud. Text recognition uses an external AI service, but submitted data is never used for training. Terms of Use & Privacy Policy Terms of Use: https://writescan.app/en/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://writescan.app/en/privacy/

Screenshots

iSpartan4 screens
Handwriting Scan4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Handwriting Scan at Free against iSpartan's $19.99. Handwriting Scan also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.3) and review sentiment (100% vs 64%). iSpartan's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (12 vs 1). On 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

Handwriting Scan is free to download; iSpartan costs $19.99 up front. Handwriting Scan sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. iSpartan asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Handwriting Scan holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iSpartan has 12 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of iSpartan's written reviews are positive against 100% of Handwriting Scan's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iSpartan ships an update every 5 months, Handwriting Scan every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
iSpartan versus Handwriting Scan: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriSpartanHandwriting Scan
Price$19.99Free — better
Rating3.3 (12 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews64.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings12 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size186 MB71 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWavefunction, IncKodai Hiradate

Customer experience

iSpartan

All ratings12 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive64.3%
Neutral7.1%
Negative28.6%

Handwriting Scan

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

iSpartan

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Handwriting Scan

Subscriptions2
  • Pro plan(monthly)$3.991 Month
  • Pro plan (Annual)1 Year trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • 20-Scan Add-on Pack$0.49

Questions

Is iSpartan free?
iSpartan costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Handwriting Scan free?
Handwriting Scan is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, iSpartan or Handwriting Scan?
Handwriting Scan is rated higher. iSpartan averages 3.3 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Handwriting Scan averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do iSpartan or Handwriting Scan have ads?
Neither iSpartan nor Handwriting Scan shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iSpartan or Handwriting Scan?
iSpartan ships an update every 5 months, and Handwriting Scan every 3 days. Most recently, iSpartan was updated on October 23, 2026 and Handwriting Scan on October 25, 2026.

Other comparisons