Comparison

Ctrl for iPad vs PDF Projector

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Ctrl for iPad

Create, edit, and run custom control interfaces for multiple devices and protocols from a single app. Mix and match MIDI, OSC, HTTP, TCP, and UDP to control hardware and software, with options for audio and video playback. Share workspaces across devices and customize your interface with custom palettes and images.

Highlights
  • All-in-one interface for building and running workspaces
  • Support for MIDI, OSC, HTTP, TCP, and UDP protocols
  • Mix and match protocols for advanced control
  • Audio and video playback capabilities
  • Easy workspace import/export and sharing
  • Customizable color palettes and interface design
  • Multiple control types including buttons, sliders, and crossfaders
Read full description

- All in One Build, Edit and Run. All from one interface With Ctrl there's no need to ever leave the app. Create workspaces quickly, make changes in realtime and be ready to run your workspace all with a tap of a few buttons. - Mix and Match Trigger multiple commands using multiple protocols Build advanced interfaces with the flexible rules and command system. Trigger remote devices using MIDI, OSC, HTTP, TCP and UDP or mix them to control multiple device types. Playback audio locally and video over HDMI and AirPlay. - Share Work between device multiple devices with ease Why limit yourself to one device? Easily import and export workspaces and share between devices with file sharing and AirDrop support. - Customise Make Ctrl your own with custom control palettes Design colour palettes for your workspaces that match specifications Use the in-app palette builder or access pre-built styles online Set custom images or logos to suit your interface Set custom background images to make a completely unique interface design Controls - Buttons that allow control with single or multiple touches - Sliders that allow control with a variable value output - Steppers that allow variable control with set intervals - Crossfaders that allow control with a variable value output - Rotaries that allow control of rotation or parametric values - Descriptors that allow for information to be added your workspace - Custom built modules that control third party hardware & software - And more Control Protocols - MIDI / Musical Instrument Digital Interface - OSC / Open Sound Control - HTTP / HTTP/1.1 Methods, Headers, Body - TCP / Transmission Control Protocol - UDP / User Datagram Protocol - Audio Playback - Video Playback - sACN / Lighting Control [BETA] API Methods - MIDI - OSC - HTTP This app is provided by default to download at no cost. This trial version is designed for users to test the basic functions of the application, production use is not supported. Outputting from Ctrl for iPad will be disabled after 5 minutes of use without a Lite, Core or Pro license. If you are looking at Ctrl for iPad for a project or installation and want to try the full features of the app, contact our team through our website.

About

PDF Projector

Turn your device into a presentation projector. Display PDF slideshows full-screen on external monitors and control navigation from your iPhone or iPad. An Apple Watch can even act as a remote.

Highlights
  • Projects PDFs to external screens
  • Use iPhone/iPad for navigation
  • Apple Watch remote control
  • Thumbnail and page preview
  • Supports iCloud documents
  • Share PDFs from other apps
Features
Read full description

Projects PDF slideshows onto an external screen. If you have an Apple Watch, you can also use it as a remote control. This app is useful if you write presentations using LaTeX Beamer, or LibreOffice Impress, or some other application that exports to PDF. Simply open your PDF in the app and connect an external display (e.g., via VGA, HDMI, USB-C, or AirPlay). Your slides will be displayed full-screen on the external display, while the app provides additional navigation controls on your iPad or iPhone. You can navigate on your iPad or iPhone by tapping and swiping, or using the buttons on the toolbar, or scrolling through the thumbnails, or using an external keyboard. When in landscape mode, you will also see a preview of the next page (which you can turn on/off using the button on the upper toolbar). You can browse and open any of your iCloud documents, or you can share PDFs from your favourite app to open in PDF Projector. WATCH REMOTE: If you have an Apple Watch, you can use this as a remote control. Simply open a PDF document in the iPhone app and connect it to an external display, and then start the Watch app to use the remote control. If you talk a lot between slides, try adding the "Next Page" complication to your clock face (requires watchOS 7). This will let you step through the slides without having to keep reopening the app. You can also configure Settings / General / Wake Screen (on any watchOS version) to keep the app on screen for longer while you present your talk.

Screenshots

PDF Projector4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Ctrl for iPad at Free against PDF Projector's $0.99. PDF Projector's advantage is review sentiment (83% vs 40%) and rating (4.7 vs 3.3). On ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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

Ctrl for iPad is free to download; PDF Projector costs $0.99 up front. Ctrl for iPad sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. PDF Projector asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PDF Projector holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of Ctrl for iPad's written reviews are positive against 83% of PDF Projector's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Ctrl for iPad versus PDF Projector: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCtrl for iPadPDF Projector
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating3.3 (7 ratings)4.7 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews83.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings7 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS15.612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperON LX LimitedBenjamin Burton

Customer experience

Ctrl for iPad

All ratings7 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative42.9%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%

PDF Projector

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Ctrl for iPad

One-time6
  • Lite$14.99
  • Lite to Core Upgrade$37.99
  • Core to Pro Upgrade$44.99
Show 3 more
  • Core$59.99
  • Lite to Pro Upgrade$84.99
  • Pro$99.99
None

PDF Projector

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ctrl for iPad free?
Ctrl for iPad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PDF Projector free?
PDF Projector costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Ctrl for iPad or PDF Projector?
PDF Projector is rated higher. Ctrl for iPad averages 3.3 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while PDF Projector averages 4.7 from 3 ratings.
Do Ctrl for iPad or PDF Projector have ads?
Neither Ctrl for iPad nor PDF Projector shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ctrl for iPad or PDF Projector?
Ctrl for iPad ships an update every 2 months, and PDF Projector every 2 months. Most recently, Ctrl for iPad was updated on November 6, 2026 and PDF Projector on November 7, 2026.

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