Comparison

EtchNote vs Derive

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

Head to head
About

EtchNote

Transform study materials into flashcards using AI, then schedule reviews at optimal times for better retention. Supports various file types and includes image occlusion for diagrams. Ideal for students and professionals aiming to study more efficiently.

Highlights
  • AI-generated flashcards from documents
  • Spaced repetition scheduling (FSRS)
  • Image occlusion for diagrams
  • Active recall training
  • Study material organization
  • Progress tracking
Features
Read full description

UPLOAD NOTES. GET FLASHCARDS INSTANTLY. Drop in a PDF, photo, or document, and EtchNote's AI generates flashcards from your material automatically. No more spending hours making cards by hand. Supports PDF, DOCX, PPTX, images, and plain text. REVIEWS SCHEDULED AT THE PERFECT TIME EtchNote uses a new spaced repetition algorithm that targets your 90% retention zone. Each review arrives right before you'd forget, so you study less while remembering more. Intervals grow automatically as your memory strengthens. IMAGE OCCLUSION FOR DIAGRAMS Take a picture of any labeled diagram (anatomy, circuits, maps, engineering schematics), and EtchNote hides the labels and quizzes you on each one. Perfect for visual learners in medicine, nursing, science, and engineering. ACTIVE RECALL, NOT PASSIVE RECOGNITION Re-reading feels productive but fails on test day. EtchNote trains active recall — the study method proven to build real, lasting understanding. Every session makes you stronger and more confident. ORGANIZE YOUR STUDY LIFE Create decks, organize them into folders, set exam deadlines, and track your progress. Your weekly calendar shows exactly what's due so nothing slips through the cracks. BUILT FOR STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS Whether you're in high school, med school, law school, or studying for professional certifications — EtchNote adapts to how you learn. EtchNote Pro unlocks unlimited AI flashcard generation, full spaced repetition scheduling, and image occlusion. Start with a free trial. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

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

EtchNote4 screens
Derive4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: EtchNote at 100% against Derive's 29%. EtchNote also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.1) and monetization model (freemium vs subscription). Derive's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly). On price, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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. EtchNote sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month and Derive sells 6 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

EtchNote holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 21 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of EtchNote's written reviews are positive against 29% of Derive's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

EtchNote ships an update weekly, Derive every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
EtchNote versus Derive: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEtchNoteDerive
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (6 ratings) — better4.1 (21 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better29.4% of reviews
Number of ratings621 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 3 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.415.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size77 MB75 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSeek Solutions LLC LLCDerive Notes Pty Ltd

Customer experience

EtchNote

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Derive

All ratings21 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral14.3%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive29.4%
Neutral35.3%
Negative35.3%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

EtchNote

Subscriptions2
  • Etch Monthly Subscription1 Month trial$12.991 Month
  • Etch Annual Subscription7 Days trial$97.991 Year
6 purchases

Derive

Subscriptions6
  • 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 3 more
  • 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 EtchNote free?
EtchNote 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, EtchNote or Derive?
EtchNote is rated higher. EtchNote averages 5.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Derive averages 4.1 from 21 ratings.
Do EtchNote or Derive have ads?
EtchNote shows ads; Derive does not.
Which is updated more often, EtchNote or Derive?
EtchNote ships an update weekly, and Derive every 3 days. Most recently, EtchNote was updated on October 9, 2026 and Derive on October 15, 2026.

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