Best apps like Highlights: PDF Reader & Notes

10+ similar apps compared and reviewed

4.6 avg rating
10 free apps
Updated September 2026

Highlights is great, but it's not the only option. Explore 10+ similar apps for iPhone and iPad, each reviewed and rated by real users. Find free alternatives, premium upgrades, and hidden gems.

KobCard

KobCard by KOB MARKETING

Gift Card Information Platform
4.0(62 ratings)
Free
KobCard screenshot 1
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KobCard is a comprehensive gift card information platform that offers real-time exchange rates, price calculations, and the latest news on gift cards. It serves as a one-stop destination for individuals looking to buy, sell, or stay informed about the world of gift cards.

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Top Alternatives to Highlights

LiquidText#1

LiquidText by LiquidText, Inc.

Annotate & review documents
Editor's Choice
📊 Productivity
4.6😐(6.4K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
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This app provides a dynamic workspace for reviewing and organizing information from documents and webpages. It allows users to extract key facts, connect ideas across different sources, and annotate content for research, writing, or study.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Powerful annotation and organization features
  • 📚 Excellent for academic and research work
  • 💡 Innovative concept and workflow
  • 🤖 Responsive and helpful customer support
  • 🖼️ Smooth integration with Apple Pencil

Room to Improve

  • 💰 Expensive, especially for the subscription model
  • 🐛 Buggy and unstable at times
  • 🤯 Steep learning curve and unintuitive interface
  • 🔗 Lack of seamless cross-device sync and integration
  • 🔍 Navigation and file management issues
Allume — for focused thinking#2

Allume — for focused thinking by Milestone Made, LLC

Formerly Muse Canvas for Ideas
Strong Contender
📊 Productivity
4.6😊(332 ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
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This app provides a digital canvas for organizing thoughts and ideas. It allows users to create nested boards, link content, and combine various media types like text, images, and PDFs. Collaborate with others in real-time on shared workspaces.

What We Love

  • 👍 Organize ideas and information
  • 🚀 Unique and very cool features
  • 👍 Indispensable app - incredibly well designed
  • 👍 Great thinking and creative tool
  • 👍 Exceptional app
  • 👍 Multipurpose & flexible
  • 👍 Game changing app for business and life
  • 👍 Spatial notes and organization
  • 👍 Completes iPad workflow with direct outlet for creativity

Room to Improve

  • 💰 Too expensive subscription price
  • 🔒 Lack of privacy of user data
  • 🔒 Requires email to try
  • 🐛 Bugs are prevalent
  • 🔒 Outrageous pricing
  • 🔒 No substantial difference to OneNote, Evernote etc.
PDF Viewer by Nutrient#3

PDF Viewer by Nutrient by PSPDFKit GmbH

Fill Forms, Sign, Edit, Redact
Worth Considering
📊 Productivity
4.6😊(9.1K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
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Easily view, search, and annotate PDF documents on your iPhone and iPad. Import files from cloud services, fill out forms, add signatures, and organize your documents. Advanced features like redaction and combining documents are available with a Pro subscription.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Seamless integration with iCloud and Files app
  • 👍 Intuitive annotation tools with Apple Pencil
  • 🎨 Versatile highlighting and drawing options
  • 💾 Saves annotations to original PDF files
  • 🔍 Powerful search and navigation features
  • 🆓 Excellent free version with no ads

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and performance issues
  • 🤔 Confusing UI and steep learning curve
  • 🔀 Difficulty managing and organizing PDF files
  • 🔍 Inconsistent text selection and highlighting
  • 🔒 Privacy concerns around data collection

More apps like Highlights

4
Agenda: Notes meets Calendar
Agenda: Notes meets Calendar
Agenda: Notes meets Calendar
Project notes on a timeline
Free

This app integrates notes with your calendar, allowing you to associate notes with specific dates or events. It offers a rich text editor and supports attaching files and photos, with cross-device syncing and collaboration features. The core functionality is free, with optional premium features available via subscription.

Notes linked to calendar dates/eventsTimeline view of notesRich text editor with formatting
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MarginNote 3
MarginNote 3
MarginNote 3
E-reader Redefine your Study
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This app redefines studying by integrating e-reading with powerful annotation, mind mapping, and flashcard tools. Organize knowledge, connect ideas with hashtags, and enhance memory retention through spaced repetition. It offers a seamless workflow across multiple documents and devices.

Integrated PDF/EPUB readerAdvanced annotation toolsMind mapping and outline organization
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Notes Writer: PDF, Voice, AI
Notes Writer: PDF, Voice, AI
Notes Writer: PDF, Voice, AI
Notepad, Word, Pencil & Scan
Free

This app is a comprehensive note-taking and PDF editing solution for mobile devices. It allows users to write, format, and organize notes, annotate PDFs, fill forms, and scan documents. The app offers advanced editing tools, powerful search, and seamless sharing and export options.

Write and format notesAnnotate PDFs and fill formsOrganize with unlimited notebooks
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Craft: Notes, Documents, AI
Craft: Notes, Documents, AI
Craft: Notes, Documents, AI
Task, Schedule & Reminder
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This app helps you organize your thoughts, manage tasks, and boost productivity with an AI assistant. Create structured documents, plan your day, and connect with other tools for a seamless workflow across all your devices.

AI Assistant for research and writingStructured document creationNative task management system
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Flexcil Note & Good PDF Reader
Flexcil Note & Good PDF Reader
Flexcil Note & Good PDF Reader
Viewer, Editor, Notes, Planner
Free

This app is a comprehensive note-taking and PDF reader designed for Apple devices. It allows users to edit PDFs, annotate documents, create bullet journals, and record audio, all while offering intuitive gesture controls and seamless integration with cloud services.

Edit PDF pagesAnnotate documents with gesturesRecord and playback audio
📊 Productivity
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9
QuickNotes X: Notes, AI & PDF
QuickNotes X: Notes, AI & PDF
QuickNotes X: Notes, AI & PDF
Note-Taking, Made Easy.
Free

This app offers a fluid and precise note-taking experience with a custom vector ink engine, voice recording synced to writing, and ML-powered shape recognition. Organize notes with notebooks and folders, protect them with passwords and biometrics, and sync seamlessly across devices via iCloud. Mark up PDFs and presentations, and customize your notes with various tools and templates.

Vector ink engine for fluid writingVoice recording synced to notesML-powered shape recognition
📊 Productivity
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Drafts
Drafts
Drafts
Where text starts
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Quickly capture text and send it to other apps with this versatile writing tool. It functions as a notebook, editor, and automation tool, allowing for seamless integration with various services and AI LLMs. Organize, customize, and process your text efficiently across all your Apple devices.

Quick text captureSend text to other appsWriting automation tool
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freemium