💰 PRICING
MarginNote 5 updates the existing MN4 app. The update is free, and your purchases do not change. MarginNote is sold through two channels: the App Store (iPhone + iPad + Mac, billed via Apple ID) and DMG (Mac direct download, billed via Paddle activation codes). Below: the three main App Store plans first, then the DMG channel and cross-channel paths.
Prices, upgrade differences and trial eligibility are determined by your region and the in-app purchase or checkout page. Not every account qualifies for a free trial. DMG and App Store licenses are managed separately.
USD · Lifetime license
Only suitable for users who only use standard features on iPhone/iPad. Pick Max if you need Mac or advanced AI.
USD · 1-month free trial
Auto-renews at $16.99/year (or your regional equivalent) after the trial ends. Cancel anytime in iPhone Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions.
USD · Lifetime license
No subscription, one-time payment, lifetime license to all Max features. AI credits cover the first 3 years.
Max Annual and Max Lifetime provide the applicable Max features while their licenses are valid. They differ in payment method, license duration and the duration of included AI credits. Pro provides standard study features on iPhone and iPad.
| Feature | Pro Lifetime | Max Annual Subscription | Max Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platforms | |||
| iPhone | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| iPad | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | × | ✓ | ✓ |
| Core reading and study | |||
| Basic reading, highlighting, annotation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Title Link (automatic backlinks) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Extended Note | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Templates ("Standard" four modes, Template Gallery) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cards as the Axis (three-view sync) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mind map | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI and OCR | |||
| Advanced OCR | × | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI OCR card templates Pro from MarginNote 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI translation | × | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI summary / Q&A / card generation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI book breakdown · non-Agent methods | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MarginNote Agent breakdown Uses MarginNote AI credits | × | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI model selection | Most models | Models available to Max | Models available to Max |
| AI credits | 500 (starter) | 500 starter + 500/mo (while subscribed) | 500 starter + 500/mo (first 3 years) |
| Advanced workflows | |||
| Database channel | × | ✓ | ✓ |
| Max advanced workflows and toolbar | × | ✓ | ✓ |
MarginNote Agent requires Max (Premium in the Mac standalone edition) and uses MarginNote AI credits. Other breakdown methods have their own model and usage requirements. Model availability depends on region and the services currently offered in the app. The three-year limit applies only to the monthly credits included with Max lifetime, not to the Max license.
AI is a consumable. It doesn't fully fit the "one-time lifetime" logic — here's how MarginNote handles it.
Max Annual Subscription: 500 AI credits cap per month while subscribed (sits alongside the Pro 500 starter, which never expires). Stops when subscription ends.
Max Lifetime: 500 AI credits cap per month for 3 years after purchase (sits alongside the Pro 500 starter, which never expires). After 3 years the monthly drip stops, but all Max features remain available forever — only AI calls require add-on packs.
Standalone consumable in-app purchases. Max users can top up after exceeding the monthly included allowance; Max Lifetime users after year 3 use the same add-on packs.
| Size | Credits | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 500 credits | 500 credits | $1.39 |
| 3,000 credits | 3,000 credits | $7.49 |
| 20,000 credits | 20,000 credits | $44.99 |
If you'd rather use an official-site activation code (Paddle billing) than App Store IAP — MarginNote also ships as a DMG download for Mac. This path is here for existing MN3 Mac lifetime owners and for users who don't want Apple ID-based billing.
Mac DMG · Paddle activation code · Standard study features; licensing and credits are separate from the App Store edition
Add-on to Standard · Functionally equivalent to App Store Max on Mac (no iOS coverage)
The installer is a free download with a 14-day trial; continued use needs an activation code purchased from the official store / lizhi.shop / sspai.
Still on the old version? Download MarginNote 3 · Mac DMG
App Store goes through Apple's standard subscription flow; DMG goes through Paddle. The two are separate.
Trial length depends on purchase path:
① App Store · Max Annual Subscription (direct or Pro→Max upgrade): 1-month free trial with full Max benefits (including monthly AI credits). ⚠ Auto-renews at end — cancel manually before the trial expires.
② App Store · Pro Lifetime (iOS / iPadOS): 14-day free trial. No auto-charge — the trial just expires, no surprise subscription.
③ DMG · Standard / Premium: 14-day free trial (Paddle channel, billed independently). No auto-charge — the trial just expires.
Simple rule: 1-month (Max Annual) auto-renews and needs cancellation; 14-day (Pro / DMG) does not auto-renew, you can try it without worry.
Only App Store Max Annual auto-renews ($16.99/year or your regional equivalent). Cancel anytime in iPhone "Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions" or your account page in the Mac App Store.
All lifetime plans (App Store Max Lifetime, Pro Lifetime; DMG Standard, Premium) are one-time payments with no renewal.
App Store purchases are handled by Apple: visit reportaproblem.apple.com to submit a request — approval is at Apple's discretion.
DMG purchases: orders from marginnote.com are handled by Paddle (follows Paddle's standard refund rules; email service@marginnote.com for help); orders from lizhi.shop, sspai or other resellers are handled by that reseller for both payment and refund. MarginNote does not run a separate refund channel.
App Store uses Apple's universal purchase (same Apple ID, all supported devices); DMG is a Mac-only activation code.
App Store · Max (Sub / Lifetime)
Same Apple ID grants access on all Apple devices. MarginNote's all-platform plan.
App Store · Pro Lifetime
Pro doesn't run on Mac. For Mac PDF reading, pick Max or DMG.
DMG · Standard / Premium
DMG is a Mac-only activation code; doesn't cover iOS. If you also need iOS, stack with App Store Pro (see "iOS extension" note in the DMG section).
Student / faculty discounts follow a standard application flow; school bulk purchases and research institution orders go through email one-on-one.
There's a standard education-discount application guide. Follow the steps in the guide.
📘 Education discount guideBulk purchases and research-institution orders go through email one-on-one. Tell us team size, use case, and whether you need invoice / contract support — we'll reply in 1–2 business days.
📧 service@marginnote.comYour upgrade path depends on which channel your MN3 was purchased through — Mac and iPhone/iPad use different in-app upgrade entries:
iPhone / iPad MN3 owners
Download MarginNote 5 on iOS / iPadOS; the in-app store offers a discounted MN3 → MN4 Pro upgrade (note: this entry only goes to Pro). To reach Max, take a second step — Pro → Max upgrade, which comes in two flavors: annual subscription (with a 1-month free trial) or one-time lifetime purchase. Actual prices follow what the App Store shows at the time.
Mac MN3 (App Store version) owners
Download MarginNote 5 on Mac; the in-app store offers a discounted MN3 → MN4 upgrade entry (Mac users can go straight to Max). Actual prices follow what the App Store shows at the time.
Mac MN3 DMG lifetime owners
Use the same MN3 activation code to free-upgrade-activate DMG Standard — license is shared, no need to re-purchase. To get Premium-level features (≈ App Store Max on Mac), separately buy the $10 upgrade pack. To add iOS coverage, buy Pro on the App Store and use the menu "Share Max feature pack to iOS devices".
MN3 itself remains usable, no impact. If your Mac activation code is in the older Devmate format (id...uks), convert it to Paddle format at marginnote.com first before entering it in MarginNote.
No. MarginNote 5 updates the existing MN4 app. The update is free. Your study sets, notes and purchases do not change.
The Scenario Interface is the default interface in MarginNote 5. To use the old layout, select the template name at the top of the screen, then "Switch to Traditional Interface". See Templates.
Most new users should just go with the App Store — one-time Max Lifetime ($51.99) covers all platforms cleanly. Three cases where DMG is worth considering:
(1) You're already an MN3 Mac lifetime owner — use the same MN3 activation code to free-upgrade-activate DMG Standard (license is shared, no re-purchase). To get Premium-level features (≈ App Store Max on Mac), separately buy the $10 upgrade pack.
(2) You only use Mac, don't need iOS coverage, and don't want billing tied to an Apple ID.
(3) You need to go through lizhi.shop, sspai, or other resellers (education verification, gift cards, B2B invoicing — payment paths outside Apple's ecosystem).
Not directly. App Store uses Apple ID + IAP; DMG uses Paddle activation codes — two separate systems. Buying App Store Max won't generate a DMG activation code, and vice versa.
Eligible DMG Premium and App Store Pro users can follow the in-app instructions to share advanced features. Feature sharing does not convert a license; the two licenses remain separately managed. Check your version, sharing eligibility, available features and AI-credit terms before buying another license.
Simple rule of thumb: if you want a continuous monthly AI allowance and don't mind paying once a year → pick Max Annual Subscription; if you want to pay once, avoid being locked into a subscription, and accept that the monthly AI allowance drops to zero after 3 years → pick Max Lifetime.
If you read PDFs on Mac, either Max tier works; if you only read on iPad and don't need Max's advanced AI/OCR, the $12.99 Pro Lifetime is also a reasonable choice. If you only use Mac, the DMG channel is also an option.
All Max features (Mac access, advanced OCR, AI Book Breakdown, Database channel, etc.) remain available forever, not bound by the 3-year limit. After 3 years, only the 500 monthly AI credits included allowance drops to zero. To keep using AI, buy from "Extra AI add-on packs" on this page: 500 credits $1.39, 3,000 credits $7.49, 20,000 credits $44.99.
Pro is a license for standard features on iOS / iPadOS, not including the macOS client. If you need to read PDFs and take notes on Mac, pick Max (subscription or lifetime, either works). This is a hard product boundary, not a feature being toggled off.
The App Store provides a Pro → Max upgrade entry for existing Pro owners. There are two options:
The upgrade entry shows up on iOS / iPadOS / Mac App Store as long as the current Apple ID has previously purchased Pro. Actual price differential is what the App Store shows at the time.
iPhone / iPad: "Settings → Your Apple ID → Subscriptions", find MarginNote → Cancel Subscription.
Mac: App Store → avatar → Account Information → Subscriptions.
After cancellation you can still use the current subscription period until expiry, after which it won't renew. Recommended to do this in the last day or two of the trial to avoid forgetting.
Refunds for all App Store purchases are handled by Apple. Visit reportaproblem.apple.com, sign in with your Apple ID, find the relevant order and submit a refund request. Whether it's approved and at what proportion is decided by Apple. The MarginNote team has no internal refund channel.
Upgrade paths and prices vary by platform — see the "Already on MarginNote 3?" section above. Briefly:
iPhone / iPad MN3 (App Store IAP): the in-app MN3 upgrade entry only takes you to Pro. To reach Max, take a second step — Pro → Max upgrade (annual subscription or one-time lifetime — your pick).
Mac MN3 (App Store version): the in-app store offers a discounted upgrade that goes straight to Max.
Mac MN3 DMG lifetime (marginnote.com / lizhi.shop / sspai activation code): use the same MN3 activation code to free-upgrade-activate DMG Standard (license is shared); separately buy the $10 upgrade pack to add Premium-level features; add iOS via App Store Pro plus the "Share Max feature pack to iOS devices" menu.
Actual in-app prices follow what the App Store shows at the time (varies with promotions and product updates). MN3 itself remains usable, no impact.
Built-in AI services use AI credits under the rules shown in the app. External assistants or custom services have their own account, permission and service-cost requirements. Available connection methods depend on the installed version and its settings and documentation.
There's a standard education discount application guide — follow the steps in the guide, no one-on-one email needed. See 📘 Education Discount Application Guide (in Chinese; English speakers can email and we'll point you to the equivalent).
Bulk purchases and education-research-institution orders go through email. Write to service@marginnote.com with team size, use case, and whether you need invoices / contracts, and we'll reply within 1–2 business days.
