GuruMind vs CourseNote
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
GuruMind
This app links PDF annotations to mind maps, allowing you to create linked nodes and jump to original text. It supports detailed note-taking, hierarchical mind maps, and a browser-like navigation for complex knowledge systems. Efficiently review PDF highlights with a flashcard-like mode and generate Anki cards from your notes.
- PDF to mind map linking
- Node notes with bidirectional links
- Sub-mind maps with browser navigation
- PDF annotation notes
- PDF review mode
- Batch cloze deletion card generation
- Smart flashcard creation
- Cloud sync and multi-device collaboration
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**核心特性**: - **PDF-导图双向联动** - 拖拽 PDF 批注到思维导图自动创建带链接的节点,点击节点跳转到原文位置 - **节点笔记 + 双向链接** - 保持导图简洁的同时深入记录细节,用 [[wiki 链接]] 建立知识网络 - **子导图 + 浏览器式导航** - 像浏览网页一样管理复杂知识体系,彻底解决大型导图可读性问题 - **批注笔记** - 每个 PDF 批注可绑定独立 Markdown 笔记,让标注不只是划线,更是深度思考的载体 - **PDF 复习模式** - 像翻闪卡一样高效复习教材重点,自动遮盖批注内容强制主动回忆 - **批量挖空制卡** - 基于 Rust 图像识别,自动检测高亮区域批量生成 Anki 挖空卡片,节省 90% 制卡时间 - **智能闪卡生成** - 思维导图和 PDF 批注一键导出为 Anki 卡片,支持挖空样式、颜色筛选等多种选项 - **云同步 + 多设备协作** - 支持 S3、WebDAV 等多种同步后端,让知识库随时随地可用 - **真正的跨平台** - 基于 Flutter + Rust,所有平台功能完全一致,UI/UX 保持统一 - **本地优先 + 数据掌控** - 所有核心功能无需网络,数据存储在本地,完全掌控在你手中 隐私政策:https://gurumind.kevin2li.com/guide/privacy.html 使用条款:https://gurumind.kevin2li.com/terms.html
CourseNote
Transform lecture videos, audio, and PDFs into structured, searchable notes with timestamps. Generate self-test questions, ask AI questions about your content, and annotate notes with Apple Pencil. Sync across devices via iCloud.
- Convert lectures to structured notes
- Timestamped source material access
- AI-generated self-test questions
- AI-powered Q&A on notes
- Apple Pencil annotation
- iCloud sync (excluding videos)
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CourseNote is a study workspace for iPhone and iPad. Turn lecture videos, audio recordings, and PDFs into structured study notes with timestamps. You can also record audio directly in CourseNote. Tap a timestamp to jump back to that moment in the source video or recording. WHY COURSENOTE • Turn a long lecture into structured, searchable notes • Import a video or audio file, or record a lecture with your device microphone • Every section has a timestamp — tap it to jump back to the source material • Board writing, formulas, and tables are captured into the notes, not just a raw transcript • Generate self-test questions from your notes and grade them one by one • Ask questions about your notes, find related notes from a photo, and get AI explanations • Annotate directly on your notes with Apple Pencil • Optionally sync notes, folders, PDFs, audio, images, and handwriting across devices with iCloud; videos are excluded HOW IT WORKS 1. Add material: import videos, audio, or PDFs from Files, Photos, or other apps; you can also record audio in CourseNote 2. Process: speech is transcribed, board writing is recognized, and notes are organized by chapter 3. Study: read the notes alongside the source, tap timestamps to review, annotate, ask questions, and test yourself TWO WAYS TO PROCESS • Parsing subscription: enter and validate your own Alibaba Cloud Model Studio (Bailian/DashScope) API key. Model charges are paid by your own Bailian account and no CourseNote credits are deducted. • Pay-as-you-go credits: use the app-managed model service without the parsing subscription. Before each AI task starts, the app shows the estimated credit cost; if processing fails, credits are refunded in full. • One-time credit packs: 280, 900, or 1,600 credits; no recurring credit subscription • Video, audio, and PDF processing, plus photo search, AI explanations, note Q&A, self-test generation, and grading • New accounts include free trial credits PRIVACY • Sign in with Apple — no phone number needed • Content is sent for AI processing only when you start an AI feature and after you consent • iCloud Sync is off by default; when enabled, it uses your personal iCloud storage and does not sync videos • Delete your account and all data from within the app at any time • Data is processed on servers located in mainland China (see Privacy Policy) The app is available in English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. Requires iOS 18.0 or later. AI features require an internet connection. Privacy Policy: https://coursenote.cn/privacy#en Terms of Use: https://coursenote.cn/terms#en
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: GuruMind at every 3 days against CourseNote's every 6 days. GuruMind also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. GuruMind sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and CourseNote sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
GuruMind ships an update every 3 days, CourseNote every 6 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.
| Parameter | GuruMind | CourseNote |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days — better | Every 6 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 296 MB | 30 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 名杰 王 | 灿嘉 许 |
Customer experience
GuruMind
CourseNote
In-app purchases
GuruMind
- 月度会员1 Month trial$0.991 Month
- 年度会员$6.991 Year
- 终身会员$14.99
CourseNote
- 400 Credits$0.99
- 1500 Credits$2.99
- 2800 Credits$3.99









