# Derive vs University Notes

The clearest difference is review sentiment: University Notes at 69% against Derive's 31%. University Notes also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.1) and in-app purchases (none vs 6). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Derive sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. University Notes asks for nothing beyond the download.

University Notes holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 18 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of Derive's written reviews are positive against 69% of University Notes's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Derive | University Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/derive-handwritten-math-notes/id6763991536/reviews) | **[4.6 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/university-notes-study-notes/id6777402601/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 17 | **18** |
| Positive reviews | 31.3% of reviews | **69.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days | Every 3 days |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 74 MB | 169 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Derive Notes Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895589672) | [Foodmenu.world Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1438351063) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### University Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/university-notes-study-notes/id6777402601)

This app allows students to create handwritten and typed study notes with advanced features for memorization and review. It includes tools for highlighting, masking, and layering content to aid in learning and exam preparation.

**Highlights:** Handwritten and typed notes, Memorization tools (masking, highlighting), Layered questions and answers, PDF annotation, Note organization with folders, Drawing and diagram tools

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Derive free?

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

### Is University Notes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Derive or University Notes?

University Notes is rated higher. Derive averages 4.1 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while University Notes averages 4.6 from 18 ratings.

### Do Derive or University Notes have ads?

Neither Derive nor University Notes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Derive or University Notes?

Derive ships an update every 3 days, and University Notes every 3 days. Most recently, Derive was updated on October 11, 2026 and University Notes on October 12, 2026.

---

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