# TLC academy vs Derive

The clearest difference is rating: Derive at 4.1 against TLC academy's 3.3. Derive also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 17 months) and review sentiment (29% vs 0%). TLC academy's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Derive sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. TLC academy asks for nothing beyond the download.

Derive holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 21 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of TLC academy's written reviews are positive against 29% of Derive's.

TLC academy ships an update every 17 months, Derive every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TLC academy | Derive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tlc-academy/id6468775892/reviews) | **[4.1 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/derive-handwritten-math-notes/id6763991536/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **21** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **29.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 27 MB | 75 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Styrax Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/865240963) | [Derive Notes Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895589672) |

## What reviewers say

### TLC academy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tlc-academy/id6468775892)

This app provides students with tools and resources for academic success and personal growth. It brings the learning experience directly to your fingertips, supporting educational journeys for all ages.

**Highlights:** Academic excellence tools, Personal growth resources, All-in-one educational destination, Learning experience on fingertips, Support for students of all ages

**In-app purchases:** none


### Derive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/derive-handwritten-math-notes/id6763991536)

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Derive Pro (Monthly, student) | $8.99 | per month |
| Derive Pro (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| Derive Pro (Monthly, invited) | $9.99 | per month |
| Derive Pro (Yearly, student) | $75.00 | per year |
| Derive Pro (Annual) | $83.90 | per year |
| Derive Pro (Annual, invited) | $83.90 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TLC academy free?

TLC academy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Derive free?

Derive is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, TLC academy or Derive?

Derive is rated higher. TLC academy averages 3.3 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Derive averages 4.1 from 21 ratings.

### Do TLC academy or Derive have ads?

Neither TLC academy nor Derive shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TLC academy or Derive?

TLC academy ships an update every 17 months, and Derive every 3 days. Most recently, TLC academy was updated on September 30, 2026 and Derive on October 15, 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.*