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.
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
FieldApp Notebook
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Replace paper field sheets with a flexible notebook built for structured data collection. FieldApp Notebook helps researchers, students and field teams build reusable forms, capture observations without a connection, and export clean data for analysis. No account is required, and your records stay on your device until you choose to share them. BUILD FORMS FOR YOUR WORK • Combine text, long text, numbers, yes/no answers, dates, photos, audio recordings and GPS locations. • Reuse field templates across sample sets. • Adapt forms as your project evolves. STAY ORGANISED • Group work into campaigns, sample sets and individual samples. • Search across sample names, campaigns, sample sets and recorded values. • Review and edit observations at any time. WORK COMPLETELY OFFLINE • Record data in remote locations without an account or internet connection. • Attach multiple photos from the camera or photo library. • Record audio notes with a live sound-level indicator and play them back alongside your observations. • Keep field records stored locally on your device. EXPORT FOR ANALYSIS • Export campaigns, sample sets or selected samples. • Create spreadsheet-ready CSV files for Excel, Numbers, R, Python, QGIS and other workflows. • Identify exported photos and recordings by sample-set, sample and field names. • Bundle data, photos and audio recordings into a ZIP archive for sharing. Use Backup & Restore to preserve a complete restorable copy of your fieldwork. FieldApp Notebook is a one-time purchase with no subscription.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup at Free against FieldApp Notebook's $2.99. Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup also leads on update cadence (every 11 days vs every 6 months). FieldApp Notebook's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8). On 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
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.
Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup ships an update every 11 days, FieldApp Notebook every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup | FieldApp Notebook |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $2.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (2K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 64.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 11 days — better | Every 6 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 97 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Drawboard Pty Ltd | Christopher 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
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
FieldApp Notebook
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup free?
Is FieldApp Notebook free?
Do Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup or FieldApp Notebook have ads?
Which is updated more often, Drawboard PDF Annotate, Markup or FieldApp Notebook?
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