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.
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.
- 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)
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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
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup ships an update weekly, PDF Maker & Reader every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.
| Parameter | Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup | PDF Maker & Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (2K ratings) — better | 4.2 (25 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 64.2% of reviews — better | 20.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2K — better | 25 |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 98 MB | 27 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Drawboard Pty Ltd | NAOAKI SEKIGUCHI |
Customer experience
Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup
PDF Maker & Reader
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
Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup
- Pro Lite7 Days trial$5.991 Month
- Pro Plus7 Days trial$9.991 Month
- Pro Unlimited7 Days trial$18.991 Month
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- Pro Lite7 Days trial$49.991 Year
- Pro Plus7 Days trial$83.901 Year
- Pro Unlimited7 Days trial$159.991 Year
- Pro Plus$10.00
- Pro Unlimited$20.00
PDF Maker & Reader
- PDF Maker & Reader Pro$1.99
- License$3.99
Questions
Is Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup free?
Is PDF Maker & Reader free?
Which has better reviews, Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup or PDF Maker & Reader?
Do Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup or PDF Maker & Reader have ads?
Which is updated more often, Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup or PDF Maker & Reader?
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