Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup vs SkyCiv
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
SkyCiv
This app offers a suite of structural engineering tools for analysis and design. It includes calculators for beams, trusses, frames, loads, and base plates, along with a comprehensive section database and a 3D renderer. Perform calculations, check designs against various codes, and generate reports on the go.
- Beam calculator with analysis and design checks
- 3D frame modeling and analysis
- Extensive section database
- Wind and snow load generator
- Base plate and retaining wall design tools
- Unit converter
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The SkyCiv Mobile app is an all-in-one structural engineering toolbox. Access a collection of engineering tools for structural and civil engineers including a beam calculator, truss and frame tool, section database, wind/snow load generator, base plate, retaining wall design tools and a structural unit converter. Run quick and easy analysis and design calculations and stay connected to your SkyCiv files and models by viewing them with the powerful SkyCiv 3D Renderer. The beam calculator is a fast and easy-to-use 2D analysis tool where you can quickly calculate the reactions, bending moment diagrams, shear force diagrams, deflection and stresses on your beam. Run calculations on a variety of shapes and materials such as wood, concrete or steel beams. The calculator is connected to SkyCiv’s powerful, commercial finite element method (FEA) software to provide quick and accurate results. The calculator is also connected to our Section Database so you can easily search and import a variety of shapes and materials such as wood, concrete, or steel beams. Build 3D models with SkyCiv Mobile Frame from scratch or load, edit and view pre-existing models you’ve been working on in Structural 3D and make changes in real time. Mobile Frame supports the same features as S3D including the ability to add, Nodes, Members, Loads, Supports and Plates. Users can also perform structural analysis on the go and receive both a simplified as well as a detailed report summary regarding their results. SkyCiv Beam is now even more powerful and allows you to also run integrated design checks and optimize your beam model using AISC, AS, EN, BS and other design codes and even export a PDF analysis report to send to colleagues or clients. Use our section database tool to quickly check the exact properties of an i beam and search our database of more than 10,000 shapes including the AISC, AISI, NDS, Australian, British, Canadian and European libraries. SkyCiv’s wind and snow load calculator allows you to get wind speed by location based on ASCE 7-10, EN 1991, NBCC 2015 and AS 1170. The calculator is designed to help engineers determine their wind design speeds, snow pressures and topographic factors for specific site locations. With an interactive Google Map to find your exact location and clear graphics and results, you can now get your design loads in seconds! The base plate design tool is complete with powerful 3D rendering. Model the anchors, welds, stiffeners as well as the actual base plate and concrete supports of your base plate design with your fingertips. With quick design calculations, the software will give you a clear pass or fail for a range of design standards including American, European and Australian Standards. With comprehensive and clear step-by-step reporting, you'll also understand exactly what the software is doing. Check out our new retaining wall calculator which includes calculations for overturning, sliding and bearing utilization ratios as part of your retaining wall design. Adjust all the components of the retaining system including the retaining wall stem, the concrete retaining wall footing and the soil layers on both sides of the wall before completing your stability checks. The SkyCiv app includes a model viewer, allowing engineers to review, share and even run structural analysis on their models right from their mobile device! Finally, the app also includes an engineering unit converter. This helps engineers convert common units for length, mass, force, loads, density, pressure and more. SkyCiv is designed to be a convenient structural design software for all engineers. Set your preferred section library, unit system and auto-launch calculator to quickly access the tools you need whether you are a student running quick beam design checks or a professional engineer performing structural analysis. Download the SkyCiv App and try it out for free today!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SkyCiv at none against Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup's 8. SkyCiv also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 64%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 4 months). On price, rating 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. SkyCiv asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup against 4.7 for SkyCiv. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup has 2K ratings behind it against 37, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 64% of Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup's written reviews are positive against 79% of SkyCiv's.
Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup ships an update weekly, SkyCiv every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup | SkyCiv |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (2K ratings) — better | 4.7 (37 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 64.2% of reviews | 78.9% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 2K — better | 37 |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 98 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Drawboard Pty Ltd | SkyCiv Pty Ltd |
Customer experience
Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup
SkyCiv
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
SkyCiv
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
SkyCiv
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup free?
Is SkyCiv free?
Which has better reviews, Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup or SkyCiv?
Do Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup or SkyCiv have ads?
Which is updated more often, Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup or SkyCiv?
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