Comparison

Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup vs PDF Maker & Reader

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

Head to head
About

Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup

Enhance your PDF workflow with powerful annotation and markup tools. This app offers a dynamic and intuitive experience for editing, drawing, and adding text to your documents. Access your work across multiple devices and collaborate in real-time.

Highlights
  • Dynamic PDF annotation tools
  • Cross-platform access and cloud sync
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Insert text, images, lines, and shapes
  • Convert images to PDF
  • Redact sensitive information (Pro)
  • Measurement tools (Pro)
Features
Read full description

Powerful PDF tools at your fingertips. The latest PDF technology and software for a better experience. With an intuitive UI designed for delight – there’s a better way to PDF! Do your best work with Drawboard. - Dynamic PDF tools that feel good to use - Multi-platform access and storage. Where you are, your work is. - Paperless. A way of working for a sustainable future TOOLS FOR EVERY JOB Fast, responsive, and accurate markup tools. Draw with best-in-class ink for flawless Apple Pencil hand-feel and finally replace pen and paper. CROSS-PLATFORM ACCESS ON ANY DEVICE Upload your annotated PDFs to the cloud and mark up with others in real time with instant sync. Go Pro in-app for additional storage capacity and advanced features. WORK YOUR WAY Customize your workspace by docking your favorite tools and build a toolbar that works for you! MORE - Text review markup - freehand highlighter, text highlighter, underline, strikeout, squiggly on PDF. - Insert lines and shapes - cloud tool, rectangle, ellipse, line, arrow, polygon and polyline on PDF. - Add text with a range of fonts and text styling options - Insert images and camera photos onto PDFs. - Convert JPG and PNG image files to PDF. - Write, annotate, ink and draw on PDFs. - Customize and edit annotation colors, stroke widths, and opacities. - Create new blank PDF documents of different size, color, orientation and page count. - Insert, rotate and delete PDF pages. - Open, read, mark up and save large and complex PDF documents. GET MORE WITH PRO - Redact text and sections of your PDF documents - Measure elements on your page with length and area measurement tools and smart page calibration - Add callouts, hyperlinks and audio notes to your documents - On-page ruler - measure objects on your page with the ease of using a tape measure

About

PDF Maker & Reader

Create and read PDF documents on your iPhone and iPad. Easily add text, photos, maps, and diagrams to new or existing PDFs. Share your creations via iCloud Drive, email, and other compatible applications.

Highlights
  • Create new PDF documents
  • Read PDF documents from various sources
  • Add text manually or via keyboard
  • Insert photos, maps, and diagrams
  • Export PDFs to other applications
  • Compatible with App Extensions and Apple Pencil
Features
Read full description

PDF Maker & Reader is a simple and powerful tool for reading and creating PDF. It can be displayed PDF documents on iPhone and iPad and you can input either manually or from the keyboard and add photos, maps, lines and diagrams. And you can make a new PDF document. PDF documents that you made can be output to many applications. [Major Functions] - You can read PDF documents from iTunes, iCloud Drive and many applications.(compatible with App Extensions) - You can make a new PDF document. - You can make a PDF document in the following way.  1. You can input either manually or from the keyboard (compatible with Apple Pencil).  2. You can paste up to photos.  3. You can paste maps.  4. By pasting figures and lines, you can display PDF documents graphically. - You can upload PDF documents to iTunes, iCloud Drive, applications compatible with PDF, and you can attach PDF to emails. You can use PDF Maker & Reader for free for 10 days. If you want to use it for more than 11 days, you need to follow the procedure for In-App Purchases(the one time purchase). Or you can extend the free usage period by 3 days by watching a video ad. [Contact us] https://www.studioks.net/en/contact-us/ [Studio K's - Business Applications Maker] https://www.studioks.net/en/

Screenshots

Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup4 screens
PDF Maker & Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup at 64% against PDF Maker & Reader's 20%. Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.2) and ads (none vs shown). PDF Maker & Reader's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and PDF Maker & Reader sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup has 2K ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup's written reviews are positive against 20% of PDF Maker & Reader's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup ships an update weekly, PDF Maker & Reader every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup versus PDF Maker & Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDrawboard PDF Annotate, MarkupPDF Maker & Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2K ratings) — better4.2 (25 ratings)
Positive reviews64.2% of reviews — better20.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2K — better25
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size98 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDrawboard Pty LtdNAOAKI SEKIGUCHI

Customer experience

Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup

All ratings1,984 ratings
Positive96.3%
Neutral1.7%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews296 reviews
Positive64.2%
Neutral12.2%
Negative23.6%

PDF Maker & Reader

All ratings25 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative16.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive20.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative60.0%

Bugs and requests

Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Annotations not syncing properly between devices
  • Unexpected loss of work and unsaved changes
  • Scrolling and page navigation issues
  • Compatibility problems with certain PDF files
  • Text input box disappearing after scrolling

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add page flattening and form filling options
  • Improve eraser tool and precision
  • Implement a dark mode
  • Provide better organization and folder support
  • Add more customization options for tools and UI

PDF Maker & Reader

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup

Subscriptions6
  • Pro Lite7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Pro Plus7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Pro Unlimited7 Days trial$18.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Pro Lite7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Pro Plus7 Days trial$83.901 Year
  • Pro Unlimited7 Days trial$159.991 Year
One-time2
  • Pro Plus$10.00
  • Pro Unlimited$20.00
2 purchases

PDF Maker & Reader

One-time2
  • PDF Maker & Reader Pro$1.99
  • License$3.99

Questions

Is Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup free?
Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PDF Maker & Reader free?
PDF Maker & Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup or PDF Maker & Reader?
Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup is rated higher. Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2K ratings, while PDF Maker & Reader averages 4.2 from 25 ratings.
Do Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup or PDF Maker & Reader have ads?
PDF Maker & Reader shows ads; Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup does not.
Which is updated more often, Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup or PDF Maker & Reader?
Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup ships an update weekly, and PDF Maker & Reader every 2 months. Most recently, Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup was updated on October 23, 2026 and PDF Maker & Reader on October 23, 2026.

Other comparisons