Derive vs Gradient
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Derive
This app provides a digital canvas for math, science, and engineering students to take handwritten notes. It uses AI to recognize your equations, offering a live tutor for step-by-step assistance directly within your notes. Organize and sync your work across devices for efficient study sessions.
- Infinite digital canvas
- Handwritten math recognition
- Live AI tutor for step-by-step help
- Notebook and page organization
- Secure cross-device syncing
- Distraction-free study interface
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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
Gradient
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School gives you marks. Gradient tells you what they mean. Track your results. Log your study. See your trends. Know what to focus on next. Stop looking at results one at a time: Gradient turns your assessment history into visual insights that help you spot patterns, changes in performance and areas that deserve attention. See whether you're improving, holding steady or heading in the wrong direction. Understand how your latest result compares with your previous results and your class. Build a study habit that sticks: Studying is easier when you have something to work towards. Set study goals for yourself and track your progress over time. See how much you've studied, keep your momentum going with study streaks and build consistency one session at a time. Track your study by subject and see where your time is actually going. Your study history gives you a clearer picture of your habits — not just what you planned to do, but what you actually did. See every subject at a glance: Which subject is going best? Where are you improving fastest? Which one needs more attention? Gradient makes it easy to see where you are now and how you got there. Widgets that keep you on track: Gradient widgets put useful information right where you can see it, from your latest results and academic progress to your study activity and goals. Check in at a glance, stay aware of your progress and keep your studies within reach throughout the day. Built around you: Choose the subjects you take, the grading system you use and the statistics you want to track. Your progress, wherever you are: Keep your academic data with you across supported Apple devices with syncing. Don't just collect your grades. Understand them.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Derive at 15.0 against Gradient's 17.0. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Derive sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month and Gradient sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
| Parameter | Derive | Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (29 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 35.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 29 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 82 MB | 18 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Derive Notes Pty Ltd | CATHERINE M WOODHOUSE |
In-app purchases
Derive
- 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
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- Derive Pro (Annual)7 Days trial$50.001 Year
- 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
Gradient
- Gradient Premium$9.99









