Comparison

StringMaster Lite vs Derive

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

Head to head
About

StringMaster Lite

Learn guitar fretboards quickly with this educational tool. It offers sophisticated chord tools and can be upgraded to support more instruments and advanced features like MIDI playback and songwriting.

Highlights
  • Guitar fretboard learning
  • Chord tools
  • Supports multiple instruments (via IAP)
  • MIDI playback (via IAP)
  • Songwriting capability (via IAP)
Features
Read full description

StringMaster Lite is the free version of the popular StringMaster Pro application for iPad and Mac, dedicated to learning the fretboard. Now Includes StringMaster's sophisticated Chord tools. StringMaster Lite supports Guitar fretboard only, with in App purchase options to support the full range of StringMaster Pro instruments, Merton & Tuner, Fretlight Guitars, or be fully upgraded to StringMaster Pro to include MIDI playback with chord & scale display, Scales, Songwriting capability, note finding & more.

About

Derive

This app provides an infinite canvas for handwritten math and science notes. It uses AI to recognize your handwriting, offering a live tutor for step-by-step assistance directly within your notes. Organize your work into notebooks that sync across devices.

Highlights
  • Infinite canvas for note-taking
  • Handwritten math recognition
  • Live AI tutor for step-by-step help
  • Notebook and page organization
  • Cross-device syncing
  • Light, dark, and sepia themes
Read full description

Derive Notes is a canvas-first note-taking app built for math, science, and engineering students. Write equations by hand with Apple Pencil, and let Derive understand what you wrote, so your notes do more than sit on the page. HANDWRITING THAT'S ACTUALLY UNDERSTOOD Draw on an infinite canvas the way you would on paper. Derive recognizes your handwritten math as you work, turning messy strokes into clean, structured expressions you can check, reuse, and build on. A TUTOR RIGHT NEXT TO YOUR WORK Stuck on a step? Open the tutor panel and get step-by-step help tied directly to what's on your canvas. It works alongside your handwriting instead of pulling you into a separate app. BUILT FOR REAL STUDY SESSIONS - Infinite canvas with smooth, low-latency inking - Pen, eraser, and lasso tools for fast editing - Organize your work into notebooks and pages - Two-finger tap to undo, pinch to zoom - Your notebooks sync securely across your devices DESIGNED FOR FOCUS A clean, distraction-free workspace with light, dark, sepia, and high-contrast themes, so long study sessions stay comfortable. Derive Notes keeps your handwriting at the center and adds just enough intelligence to make studying faster by recognizing your math, helping you through hard steps, and keeping every page organized and in sync. Note: Derive uses trusted third-party AI providers to process handwriting and page text for recognition and tutoring. You're asked for consent in-app before these features are used. DESIGNED FOR IPAD AND APPLE PENCIL Handwriting, drawing, and the full authoring tools require an iPad with Apple Pencil. On iPhone, Derive is a companion for reading and reviewing your notebooks: browse your library, open any page, search across everything, and ask the tutor. Notes you write on iPad appear on iPhone automatically. SUBSCRIPTION Derive Pro unlocks writing and editing, handwriting recognition, and the AI tutor. Every new account starts with a 7-day free trial, and a trial or subscription is required to use Derive. If a subscription later lapses, the notebooks you already made stay readable, so your own work is never locked away. - Derive Pro Monthly: A$9.99 per month - Derive Pro Annual: A$101.99 per year - Both start with a 7-day free trial Prices are in Australian dollars and may vary by region. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. A subscription renews automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your account is charged for renewal within the 24 hours before that period ends. You can manage your subscription and turn off auto-renew in your Apple Account settings after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you buy a subscription. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Derive Terms of Service: https://derivenotes.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://derivenotes.com/privacy

Screenshots

Derive4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: StringMaster Lite at 79% against Derive's 37%. StringMaster Lite also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.3) and monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). Derive's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 6 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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. StringMaster Lite sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Derive sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

StringMaster Lite holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24 and 26 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of StringMaster Lite's written reviews are positive against 37% of Derive's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

StringMaster Lite ships an update every 6 months, Derive every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
StringMaster Lite versus Derive: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStringMaster LiteDerive
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (24 ratings) — better4.3 (26 ratings)
Positive reviews78.6% of reviews — better36.8% of reviews
Number of ratings2426 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size165 MB81 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGreat Apptitude Pty LtdDerive Notes Pty Ltd

Customer experience

StringMaster Lite

All ratings24 ratings
Positive95.8%
Neutral4.2%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive78.6%
Neutral7.1%
Negative14.3%

Derive

All ratings26 ratings
Positive76.9%
Neutral11.5%
Negative11.5%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive36.8%
Neutral31.6%
Negative31.6%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

StringMaster Lite

One-time4
  • Metronome and Tuner$3.99
  • Fretlight Guitar Support$3.99
  • Enable All Instruments$3.99
Show 1 more
  • StringMaster Pro Upgrade$14.99
7 purchases

Derive

Subscriptions7
  • Derive Pro (Monthly, student)7 Days trial$8.991 Month
  • Derive Pro (Monthly)7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Derive Pro (Monthly, invited)1 Month trial$9.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Derive Pro (Annual)7 Days trial$50.001 Year
  • Derive Pro (Yearly, student)7 Days trial$75.001 Year
  • Derive Pro (Annual)7 Days trial$83.901 Year
  • Derive Pro (Annual, invited)1 Month trial$83.901 Year

Questions

Is StringMaster Lite free?
StringMaster Lite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Derive free?
Derive is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, StringMaster Lite or Derive?
StringMaster Lite is rated higher. StringMaster Lite averages 4.9 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while Derive averages 4.3 from 26 ratings.
Do StringMaster Lite or Derive have ads?
Neither StringMaster Lite nor Derive shows ads.
Which is updated more often, StringMaster Lite or Derive?
StringMaster Lite ships an update every 6 months, and Derive every 3 days. Most recently, StringMaster Lite was updated on October 23, 2026 and Derive on October 31, 2026.

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