Comparison

Tap Early vs MatNotes

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

Head to head
About

Tap Early

Features
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Tap Early is your AI-powered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training companion — built by someone who actually trains. Free — everything you need to start - Log sessions (drilling, sparring, open mat, competition) - Build a personal game plan with positions and techniques - Chat with an AI coach that knows your belt, your focus, and your history - Track weekly focus, streaks, and competition prep - Beginner roadmap, technique library, and glossary Tap Early Pro — for serious growth - Unlimited AI coaching conversations - Competition prep with countdown, checklists, and post-comp review - Weight management toward your next tournament - Unlimited techniques and positions in your game plan - Coach's Report — shareable PDF of your training and progress - Video analysis (beta) — upload a roll clip for coach-style feedback About video analysis (beta) Video analysis is an early Pro feature. Results can vary and the AI may miss details or misread positions. Treat feedback as a starting point for reflection — your coach on the mat always comes first. Built for BJJ, not generic fitness Tap Early is designed end-to-end for jiu-jitsu: gi and no-gi, belt-aware coaching, competition workflows, and a game plan that feeds into every conversation. Privacy No ads. No tracking. Your data syncs securely via Supabase in the EU. Delete your account and data anytime. Download Tap Early and train smarter.

About

MatNotes

This app helps martial arts students retain techniques by providing a structured review schedule for short instructional videos. It allows students to ask coaches questions directly from videos and track their progress. Coaches can film techniques once and have them resurface for students on spaced repetition schedules.

Highlights
  • Spaced repetition for technique review
  • Video playback with slow-motion and looping
  • Timestamped questions for coaches
  • Private training notes and progress tracking
  • Searchable technique library for coaches
  • Academy branding
Features
Read full description

MatNotes is how a jiu-jitsu academy makes the details from class actually stick. Coaches film a technique right after teaching it. Sixty to ninety seconds, phone propped on the mat. Students get it that night, then again on a spaced schedule (day 1, 3, 7, and 21), the same rhythm your memory needs to hold onto something new. Instead of "I saw that grip once and forgot it," the move keeps coming back until it is theirs. FOR STUDENTS - A simple checklist of what to review, not an endless feed - Watch tonight, then again each time the app brings it back - Slow any video to half speed and loop the exact section you are stuck on - Tap a moment in a video to ask your coach a question, with the timestamp attached - Keep private training notes and track the techniques you have drilled FOR COACHES - Film once, and the app resurfaces it for every student on the right days - See your students' questions, with the exact video moment, before class starts, so you know what to clean up - Spot where the room got lost on a technique and reteach it - Everything you have filmed, captioned and searchable by position, in one place - Your academy's name and colors throughout MatNotes is used by a whole academy under one plan. Coaches set up and manage their gym on the MatNotes website. Students join with a link from their coach and use the app for free. Questions? Visit thematnotes.com

Screenshots

Tap Early4 screens
MatNotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MatNotes at none against Tap Early's 2. On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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. Tap Early sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. MatNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Tap Early versus MatNotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTap EarlyMatNotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size62 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMelvin BruhnJacob Weaver

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Tap Early

Subscriptions2
  • Tap Early Pro7 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Tap Early Pro Annual7 Days trial$49.991 Year
None

MatNotes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Tap Early free?
Tap Early is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MatNotes free?
MatNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Tap Early or MatNotes have ads?
Neither Tap Early nor MatNotes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tap Early or MatNotes?
Tap Early ships an update weekly, and MatNotes weekly. Most recently, Tap Early was updated on October 25, 2026 and MatNotes on October 7, 2026.

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