Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup vs SEMA3
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
SEMA3
Design and conduct smartphone-based survey research with this comprehensive software suite. It offers tools for creating and deploying ecological momentary assessments directly on mobile devices.
- Design survey research
- Conduct smartphone surveys
- Ecological momentary assessment
- Mobile survey deployment
- Research software suite
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SEMA (Smartphone Ecological Momentary Assessment) is a suite of software for designing and conducting smartphone-based survey research For more information, please visit https://sema3.com/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup at 4.8 against SEMA3's 3.4. Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup also leads on update cadence (every 11 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (2K vs 7). SEMA3's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ads 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. SEMA3 asks for nothing beyond the download.
Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup has 2K ratings behind it against 7, 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 40% of SEMA3's.
Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup ships an update every 11 days, SEMA3 every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup | SEMA3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (2K ratings) — better | 3.4 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 64.4% of reviews — better | 40.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2K — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 11 days — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 97 MB | 38 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Drawboard Pty Ltd | Richard Sinnott |
Customer experience
Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup
SEMA3
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
SEMA3
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
SEMA3
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup free?
Is SEMA3 free?
Which has better reviews, Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup or SEMA3?
Do Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup or SEMA3 have ads?
Which is updated more often, Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup or SEMA3?
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