Comparison

Formula Canvas vs Paperwrist

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

Head to head
About

Formula Canvas

Features
Read full description

Formula Canvas is a native math workspace for writing formulas, building study notes, and preparing clean LaTeX without fighting plain text syntax. Create expressions visually with a structured math keyboard. Add fractions, radicals, superscripts, subscripts, sums, products, integrals, scalable brackets, matrices, equation systems, accents, Greek letters, arrows, relations, set symbols, and common functions. Tap to place the cursor, move through formula structures with direction controls, and undo or redo edits as you work. The live LaTeX preview keeps your source visible while you edit. Copy LaTeX instantly, or unlock advanced export and sharing with Formula Canvas Pro. Formula Canvas also includes a document workspace for longer notes. Combine text blocks, formula blocks, and handwriting blocks in the same document, then keep everything organized in a local document list. Use the drawing canvas for quick geometry sketches, annotations, diagrams, and handwritten ideas. Apple Pencil is supported through PencilKit, and built-in shape stamps help you insert lines, arrows, rectangles, and ellipses quickly. Built fully native with Swift and Core Graphics, Formula Canvas is designed for responsive formula editing on iPhone and iPad. Key features: - Visual WYSIWYG math formula editing - Structured keyboard for symbols, functions, calculus, matrices, and formulas - Fractions, roots, scripts, limits, integrals, matrices, delimiters, and accents - Tap-based cursor placement and structural navigation controls - Live LaTeX preview with copy support - Multi-block documents with text, formulas, and handwriting - PencilKit drawing with Apple Pencil support - Shape stamps for lines, arrows, rectangles, and ellipses - Local document storage on your device - Optional one-time Pro upgrade, no subscription Formula Canvas Pro unlocks unlimited formula documents, advanced LaTeX export and sharing, and handwriting and drawing tools.

About

Paperwrist

Features
Read full description

Paperwrist lets you read any of your notes or PDF straight from your watch. Pick notes from any note taker, PDF files, or even web pages. Paperwrist makes it available on your watch. You can read notes, checklists, recipes, or that article you saved, right from your wrist. Even when your iPhone is in another room. WHAT YOU CAN READ • Plain text notes (Apple notes, Google Keep) • Markdown files rendered with headings, lists, tables and links (Obsidian) • Cloud-based notes (Notion) • PDF — pages are rendered on your iPhone and sent as sharp images you can zoom with the Digital Crown • Web extracts from your phone browser MADE FOR SPEEDY USE • Easy sync changes for Notion and Obsidian notes • Watch face complications to open your first document instantly • Personalise text size and high-contrast mode • Light and dark, following your system • A minimal, glanceable watch interface • Keep the screen on while you read PRIVATE BY DESIGN • No cloud. No account. No sign-up. • Files sync directly from iPhone and nothing leaves your two devices

Screenshots

Formula Canvas4 screens
Paperwrist4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Formula Canvas at 16.0 against Paperwrist's 18.0. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Formula Canvas sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Paperwrist sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference Ā· 4 level
Formula Canvas versus Paperwrist: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFormula CanvasPaperwrist
PriceFreeFree
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperęåØ£ 吓Mario Longhi

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Formula Canvas

One-time1
  • Formula Canvas Pro$4.99
1 purchases

Paperwrist

One-time1
  • Paperwrist Pro$2.99

Questions

Is Formula Canvas free?
Formula Canvas is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Paperwrist free?
Paperwrist is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Formula Canvas or Paperwrist have ads?
Neither Formula Canvas nor Paperwrist shows ads.

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