Comparison

Nautilus vs PDF Maker & Document Scanner

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

Head to head
About

Nautilus

This research-focused browser allows users to read the web, annotate pages, and interact with AI for summaries and explanations. It also facilitates document creation and organization, syncing across devices.

Highlights
  • Web browsing with research tools
  • AI-powered page summarization and translation
  • Direct annotation on web pages
  • Export markup as PDF or Word
  • Read and annotate PDFs
  • Document drafting and organization
  • AI writing assistance
Features
Read full description

Nautilus is a web browser built for research. Read the web, mark it up, ask AI about what you find, and write up your work without leaving the app, on iPad and iPhone. Students, researchers, journalists, writers and professionals use it to go from first search to finished document in one place. Browse with research tools built in Open pages in tabs, pin the ones you come back to, and keep sites in bookmarks and history. Switch to Reader for a clean page without distractions, or let Reader turn on automatically. Request the desktop version of a site when you need it. Understand any page Ask AI about the page you're reading. Summarize a long article, or translate a page into your language or into English, then switch back to the original at any time. Circle it with Magic Lasso Circle a passage, chart or image on a page. Ask AI to explain it, ask your own question, highlight it, or save it as a clip on your Clippings board so your findings stay together. Mark up the web Draw and write directly on web pages. Export a page with your markup as a PDF in A4, Letter or Legal size, or as a Word document, Markdown, RTF, plain text or an image. Read and annotate your sources Open PDFs, papers and reports in tabs beside your web pages. Highlight, write in the margins, add comments, and compare two documents side by side. Fill and sign forms, scan paper pages into PDFs, measure scaled drawings, and hide sensitive text before you share. Write it up Draft in Word documents, RTF, Markdown or plain text. Plan a long paper or book section by section on a Corkboard, keep your sources open next to the draft, take snapshots of earlier versions, and compile everything into one document or ebook. Study Projects gather the readings for each subject in one place. AI help from first idea to final draft Chat through ideas, ask about your own documents, and get explanations. Rewrite, simplify, correct spelling and grammar, change the tone, or translate what you've written. Also in Nautilus Record lectures and interviews and create transcripts. Connect ideas on whiteboards with sticky notes, organize plans in outlines, and work through calculations and charts in Math Notebooks. Your library, safe and in sync Keep documents in folders and notebooks with covers, and find anything with search. Export to PDF, Word, HTML, EPUB and more. Sync with iCloud, Dropbox, Box, Google Drive or WebDAV. Automatic saving, recovery and backups protect your work, and passcodes lock the app or private folders. Formerly Notes Writer Pro Nautilus is the new name of Notes Writer Pro. Your existing PDF notes and outlines open here. Privacy Policy http://www.noteswriter.com/Kairoos_Privacy_Policy.html Terms of Use https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

PDF Maker & Document Scanner

Easily transform photos, documents, and scans into professional PDF files. This app offers a straightforward way to convert various file types into PDFs, with options to import from your camera or gallery and manage pages within the created documents. Share your PDFs instantly once they are ready.

Highlights
  • Convert photos to PDF
  • Scan documents to PDF
  • Import from camera/gallery
  • Share/export PDFs
  • Manage pages
Features
Read full description

Someone needs it as a PDF, but you only have a photo, scan, or file? Turn it into a PDF from your camera, gallery, or imported files, then fix the order, rename the document, and share the final version. Get the file ready before the next thing interrupts you! Most PDF jobs are not big projects. It is usually one form, a few pages from class, a receipt, a signed paper, or several pictures that would look better as a single file. Most of the time, it is easier to use a simple PDF creator than open a larger editor just to handle one quick file. Create PDFs from everyday files The app is built around simple PDF creation from everyday phone content. Use photos, images, camera scans, or imported files, then make a PDF you can rename, reorder, and export when the document looks right. Scan paper documents For pages you still have in front of you, the camera scanner keeps things simple. Capture printed documents, school notes, forms, receipts, letters, or office papers, then save them as PDF files instead of sending plain photos. Convert photos and images A lot of documents start as pictures now. Use the image converter to take photos from your gallery, place them in the right order, and make a PDF that looks cleaner when you need to send, upload, print, or store it. Import saved files For saved files, you do not need to scan anything again or turn the file into images first. Import the supported file, make it into a PDF, rename it if the name is too vague, and keep the finished document ready for sharing or later use. What you can do: - Create PDF files from photos, images, scans, and files - Scan paper documents with your camera - Convert pictures from your gallery into PDF files - Import supported files and save them as PDFs - Start a PDF from a blank canvas - Rename files so they are easier to recognize - Reorder pages before exporting - Manage pages inside your PDF documents - Keep a history of created PDFs - Share or export files quickly Everyday PDF tasks The app works well for everyday situations, not only office work. You might use it for class notes, homework, signed papers, forms, invoices, receipts, personal records, travel documents, confirmations, or quick camera scans. It is also useful when someone asks you to “send it as a PDF” and you only have the original as a photo or file. Photo to PDF, scan to PDF, file to PDF Photo to PDF is simple: choose images, check the page order, and create the document. Scan to PDF is just as direct: use the camera, capture the paper, and save it as a PDF. File to PDF is there when you want to import a supported file and turn it into something easier to share. Organize pages before sharing The page tools are useful when the first version is not quite right. Move pages around, give the PDF a clearer name, keep track of recent files, and send the final version without digging through a confusing workflow. Simple PDF creation This is more of a practical PDF creator than a complicated document workspace. You can scan, import, create, rename, reorder, and share, without getting pulled into a long editing process. For everyday PDFs from photos, images, files, and paper scans, that is usually what matters most. Use it to: - Turn photos into one PDF - Scan a paper document - Save images as a PDF file - Create a PDF from imported files - Reorder pages before sending - Rename a document for easier tracking - Share a clean PDF instead of loose images - Keep recent PDF files in one place A good PDF tool should save time, not add more steps. This app gives you the basic workflow most people need: choose the source, create the PDF, fix the order, rename it, and share or export the result. Download our app when you need a PDF from photos, scans, images, or files without opening a complicated editor. Create documents from your camera, gallery, blank canvas, or imported files, then organize pages and share the finished PDF. Turn the thing you have into the file they need!

Screenshots

Nautilus4 screens
PDF Maker & Document Scanner4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Nautilus at none against PDF Maker & Document Scanner's shown. Nautilus also leads on ratings volume (3.2K vs 113). PDF Maker & Document Scanner's advantage is review sentiment (60% vs 48%) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Nautilus sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and PDF Maker & Document Scanner sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Nautilus against 4.6 for PDF Maker & Document Scanner. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nautilus has 3.2K ratings behind it against 113, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 48% of Nautilus's written reviews are positive against 60% of PDF Maker & Document Scanner's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nautilus ships an update every 11 days, PDF Maker & Document Scanner every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 14, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Nautilus versus PDF Maker & Document Scanner: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNautilusPDF Maker & Document Scanner
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (3.2K ratings)4.6 (113 ratings) — better
Positive reviews48.2% of reviews60.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3.2K — better113
Update frequencyEvery 11 daysEvery 9 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size502 MB42 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperKairoos Solutions SLZOHIAGADA LTD

Customer experience

Nautilus

All ratings3,242 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral2.6%
Negative6.5%
Written reviews790 reviews
Positive48.2%
Neutral15.1%
Negative36.7%

PDF Maker & Document Scanner

All ratings112 ratings
Positive89.3%
Neutral4.5%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%

Bugs and requests

Nautilus

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Notes randomly disappearing
  • Formatting issues with text and images
  • Unreliable audio recording and playback
  • Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
  • Inability to transfer files between free and pro versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Handwriting recognition
  • Improved eraser and shape tools
  • Customizable keyboard and toolbar
  • Better integration with cloud storage
  • Ability to rotate and resize images

PDF Maker & Document Scanner

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Nautilus

Subscriptions2
  • Nautilus Unlock All and AI3 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Nautilus Unlock All and AI3 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Nautilus Pro Lifetime$14.99
4 purchases

PDF Maker & Document Scanner

Subscriptions4
  • PDF Creator Premium$6.997 Days
  • PDF Creator Premium$9.991 Year
  • PDF Creator Premium$19.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • PDF Creator Premium$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Nautilus free?
Nautilus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PDF Maker & Document Scanner free?
PDF Maker & Document Scanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Nautilus or PDF Maker & Document Scanner?
PDF Maker & Document Scanner is rated higher. Nautilus averages 4.6 out of 5 from 3.2K ratings, while PDF Maker & Document Scanner averages 4.6 from 113 ratings.
Do Nautilus or PDF Maker & Document Scanner have ads?
PDF Maker & Document Scanner shows ads; Nautilus does not.
Which is updated more often, Nautilus or PDF Maker & Document Scanner?
Nautilus ships an update every 11 days, and PDF Maker & Document Scanner every 9 days. Most recently, Nautilus was updated on November 14, 2026 and PDF Maker & Document Scanner on October 30, 2026.

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