# Subrain vs Margina

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Subrain at none against Margina's 3. Subrain also leads on device support (3 vs 1). Margina's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 8 days). On price, review sentiment, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Margina sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Subrain asks for nothing beyond the download.

Subrain ships an update every 8 days, Margina daily. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Subrain | Margina |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/margina-read-and-highlight/id6773490263/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | **Daily** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 41 MB | 68 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jichan Hwang](https://appshunter.io/developer/1735193590) | [Echo Persona LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1883380925) |

## What reviewers say

### Subrain

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subrain/id6502538432)

This minimalist note-taking app helps you remember important keywords and life directions. It offers a simple interface for jotting down tasks and life-defining thoughts, acting as an extension of your memory.

**Highlights:** Simple note writing, Organized pages for notes, Minimalist interface, Acts as an extra brain, Helps remember keywords, Tracks life directions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Margina

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/margina-read-and-highlight/id6773490263)

A private reader for your documents that allows you to highlight, annotate, and organize your reading materials. It offers a distraction-free experience with customizable reading settings and powerful search capabilities. Your library is stored locally for maximum privacy.

**Highlights:** Supports PDF, EPUB, Word, Markdown, and plain text, Highlight and annotate passages, Organize library into folders, Fast search across documents and annotations, Customizable reading experience, Private by design, local storage

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Margina Pro Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Margina Pro Annual | $14.99 | per year |
| Margina Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Subrain free?

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

### Is Margina free?

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

### Do Subrain or Margina have ads?

Neither Subrain nor Margina shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Subrain or Margina?

Subrain ships an update every 8 days, and Margina daily. Most recently, Subrain was updated on October 30, 2026 and Margina on October 28, 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.*