Derive vs Zohal
The Zohal alternative that checks every line as you write.
Keep your whole course in one notebook. Derive finds the step where your working breaks, tells you why, and shows you the next move. On iPad, Mac, Windows and the web.
- Write straight onto any PDF
- 7-day trial, cancel in the app
- 30-day refund
The short answer
Choose Derive if you…
- Want one notebook for your whole course, with every line of working checked
- Want a personal tutor that catches your mistakes in real time, right on the line you wrote
- Study maths, physics, engineering or computer science, not only calculus and mechanics
- Want 3D graphs, runnable code and practice exams inside your notebook
On Android? There is no app yet, but Derive runs in your browser at web.derivenotes.com.
Derive and Zohal, feature by feature.
Checked against Zohal’s published information on 9 October 2026. Sources are listed at the foot of the page.
With a catch, named underneathDerive pricing
7 days free with a card, then billed unless you cancel. Cancel in the app any time. 30-day refund.
Where Derive pulls ahead.
01
It checks every line, in your own notebook
- Checks every line against the one above
- Flags the exact step as you write
- Tutor card: why, and what to try next
- Live in any notebook, on iPad, Mac, Windows and web
02
Graphs and code, right in the notebook
- Lasso an equation, graph it in 2D or 3D
- Drop in a code cell and run it
- Working, graph and code on one page
03
Practice exams from your own notes
- Turns your pages into a practice test
- Marks your handwritten answers
- Built from your course, not a question bank
Where Zohal is better
Worth knowing before you choose.
- Free plan, no card to start
- Arabic as well as English, hints and library too
- Curated textbook problems with checked answers
- Hints one level at a time, full solution on request
- Animates the problem you circle
Bring every PDF with you.
- 1
Gather your PDFs
- Lecture notes, textbooks, past papers
- Save anything else as a PDF
- 2
Drop them into Derive
- Drag the PDFs into Derive
- Every page searchable, ready to write on
- 3
Write straight onto them
- Work the questions on the page
- New working checked as you write
Nothing is removed from Zohal, so you can keep both while you decide.
Questions
Switching from Zohal, answered.
Can I bring the PDFs I study from in Zohal into Derive?
Yes. Drop any PDF into Derive and write straight onto it: lecture notes, textbooks, past papers. Every imported page is searchable, and your working on it is checked as you write.
How is Derive different from Zohal’s step feedback?
Zohal works one problem at a time: you mark a question from its library or your PDF, write an attempt in a scratchpad tied to it, and get a review that points to the first line that slips. Derive checks live, in any notebook: every line of your working is checked against the one above as you write, the step where it breaks is flagged, and a tutor card explains why and what to try next. It does that on iPad, Mac, Windows and the web.
Does Derive work on Windows and Android?
Derive has apps for iPad, Mac and Windows, and runs in the browser at web.derivenotes.com. There is no Android app yet, so on an Android tablet or Chromebook use the browser version: same notebooks, same checking, synced with your other devices.
Is Derive good for subjects other than calculus?
Yes. Derive is a full handwritten notebook built for maths, physics, engineering and computer science, with the checking, graphs, code and practice exams in one place. If you mainly want a curated problem library in Arabic, Zohal is the better fit.
Can I turn the AI off?
Yes. Recognition and the tutor run only with your consent, and you can switch them off at any time in settings. With them off, your content is not sent to our AI providers.
How do I try it?
Start a 7-day trial. You add a card, but nothing is charged for 7 days, we email you before it ends, and cancelling is self-serve in the app. If you pay and it is not for you, email us within 30 days for a full refund.
Try it on your next problem set.
Bring your Zohal notebooks with you, write the way you already do, and see what Derive catches.
Start your 7-day trial7 days free with a card, then billed unless you cancel. Cancel in the app any time. 30-day refund.
Comparison checked on 9 October 2026 against Zohal’s published information. Products change; if something here is out of date, email matt@derivenotes.com and we will correct it. Zohal, and the other product names on this page, are trademarks of their respective owners. Derive Notes Pty Ltd is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by them; the names are used only to identify the products being compared.
Sources: Zohal: home page and FAQ · Zohal: handwritten math feedback · Zohal: study from PDFs · Zohal pricing · Zohal: terms of service · Zohal on LinkedIn: write an attempt, then ask Zohal to check it · App Store search for Zohal (no listing found)