Comparison

Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup vs FieldApp Notebook

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

FieldApp Notebook

Features
Read full description

FieldApp is a simple, flexible tool for recording fieldwork observations in any environment. Its perfect for any type of scientific survey, environmental monitoring, or just keeping organized records outdoors, FieldApp helps you design custom sampling sheets, capture data on the go, and export it instantly for analysis. Create your own data collection sheets in seconds • Build your own sampling sheets with date/time, automatic location grab, text, number, checkboxes, and photo inputs that match your fieldwork needs • FieldApp automatically organises your data into field campaigns and sample sets, for viewing, download or editing • Adapt your sheets on to go to match your project, for any kind of fieldwork to lab work, or expedition notes. Capture observations anywhere • FieldApp can log data offline in remote environments—no account or internet connection is needed • Add notes, measurements, GPS locations, and multiple photos directly into your sample forms • Switch between typing, selecting from your photo library, or taking new photos with your device’s camera Stay organized in the field • Keep related observations grouped together in campaigns and sample sets • Edit and review saved samples anytime—your data is always accessible and backed up on your device • Quickly search across all samples to find the record you need Export ready-to-use data • Export your entire campaign, a sample set, or individual samples as CSV files ready for input into excel, QGIS, R, Python... • Exports include all of your sample data organised together and bundled for easy sharing • CSV format (one row per sample) ensures compatibility with any spreadsheet (excel, numbers, libra calc) or statistical software (R, Python), and lab workflows Designed by and for researchers and students • Ideal for research scientists of any career stage that undertake fieldwork in any environment • Ideal for undergraduate students doing fieldwork or lab-based data collection • Ideal for lecturers leading field and lab-based teaching and field courses  • Ideal for anyone who needs reliable, structured note-taking Key benefits • Fully offline: no sign-in, no external storage, and no hidden uploads. • Flexible: design forms that fit your exact workflows. • Transparent: your data stays on your device until you choose to export it. • Practical: CSV + photos export for multi-backup and direct import into analysis tools. FieldApp gives you a digital notebook built for structured data collection. Replace messy paper sheets with an organized, portable system that integrates multiple observations (date/time, location, general notes, text/number inputs, photos) into one sample sheet, making export and interrogation of your data quick and painless. One time purchase for all future app updates.

Screenshots

Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup4 screens
FieldApp Notebook4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup at Free against FieldApp Notebook's $2.99. FieldApp Notebook's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup is free to download; FieldApp Notebook costs $2.99 up front. Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. FieldApp Notebook asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup ships an update weekly, FieldApp Notebook every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup versus FieldApp Notebook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDrawboard PDF Annotate, MarkupFieldApp Notebook
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating4.8 (1.9K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews64.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.9K — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 11 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size97 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDrawboard Pty LtdChristopher James Williamson

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

FieldApp Notebook

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
None

FieldApp Notebook

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup free?
Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FieldApp Notebook free?
FieldApp Notebook costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup or FieldApp Notebook have ads?
Neither Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup nor FieldApp Notebook shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup or FieldApp Notebook?
Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup ships an update weekly, and FieldApp Notebook every 11 days. Most recently, Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup was updated on September 22, 2026 and FieldApp Notebook on September 10, 2026.

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