# EtchNote vs Derive

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | EtchNote | Derive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/etchnote-flash-cards-maker/id6759913456/reviews)** | [4.1 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/derive-handwritten-math-notes/id6763991536/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **21** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 29.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Subscription |
| Size | 77 MB | 75 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Seek Solutions LLC LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1881602404) | [Derive Notes Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895589672) |

## What reviewers say

### EtchNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/etchnote-flash-cards-maker/id6759913456)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Etch Monthly Subscription | $12.99 | per month |
| Etch Annual Subscription | $97.99 | per year |


### 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 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*