Comparison

Penman vs Paraphrase Tool

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

Head to head
About

Penman

Effortlessly convert spoken words into text notes in over 120 languages using advanced speech-to-text technology. Enhance your writing with AI-powered actions and organize your notes with a powerful, intuitive editor. Sync securely across devices and export your work in various formats.

Highlights
  • Speech to text transcription
  • AI-powered writing enhancements
  • Intuitive text editor
  • Note organization and categorization
  • Cross-device iCloud sync
  • Export to PDF, TXT, Image, HTML
  • Multiple language support
Features
Read full description

Penman turns your voice into notes — and your notes into knowledge. Record lectures, meetings, and ideas with real-time voice transcription in 120+ languages, chat with your notes through Spaces AI, and let built-in study tools create flashcards and quizzes for you. VOICE TO TEXT, LIVE - Real-time speech transcription in 120+ languages - Import audio files and transcribe them in minutes - Dictate hands-free, then refine with AI actions (summarize, reorder, rewrite) SPACES — AI CHAT WITH YOUR NOTES - Ask questions and get grounded answers with citations and source cards - Knowledge retrieval across your notes, documents, and recordings - On-device intelligence with Apple Foundation Models AI STUDY TOOLS - Generate flashcards from any note in one tap - Build quizzes automatically and test yourself - Summarize, reorder, and run custom AI prompts SCAN, LISTEN, CREATE - OCR: turn photos and scans into editable text - Text-to-speech playback with word highlighting - Create images with Apple Image Playground EVERYWHERE YOU WORK - iCloud sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac - Export to PDF, TXT, JPG, and HTML - App Intents and Shortcuts for automation - Rich text editor with fonts and bidirectional writing support PREMIUM Unlock unlimited transcription, all AI features, and every export format with Penman Premium. Download Penman today and turn every conversation, lecture, and meeting into notes that work for you. Subscriptions will be charged to your credit card through your iTunes account, and will automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage your subscriptions in the App Store Account Settings. Terms of Use: https://penmanai.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://penmanai.app/privacy

About

Paraphrase Tool

This AI-powered tool helps you rewrite sentences and correct grammar to improve your writing. It can adjust the tone and enhance clarity in various languages, making it ideal for professionals, students, and creative individuals seeking to express their ideas perfectly.

Highlights
  • AI-powered paraphrasing
  • Grammar correction
  • Sentence rewriting
  • Tone adjustment
  • Multi-language support
  • Clarity enhancement
Features
Read full description

Effortless Rewriting, Perfect Expression! Refine your writing with AI-powered paraphrasing and grammar correction. Rewrite sentences, adjust tone, and enhance clarity in multiple languages—perfect for professionals, students, and creatives alike! Struggling to rephrase your ideas? We've got you covered! Paraphrase Tool uses cutting-edge AI technology to transform your text while preserving its meaning. Whether you're refining a sentence, rewriting a paragraph, or adjusting the tone to fit your needs, our intelligent tool makes it seamless. Share your feedback with us at paraphrase.tool.contact@gmail.com. Privacy Policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ipvXEEi2fq8r4hCF2Ab7C0cY139BRyJZ Terms of Use: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vEutLrisw6C2WXi5MTQt2CFzZNDz6HXS

Screenshots

Penman4 screens
Paraphrase Tool4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Paraphrase Tool at 4.7 against Penman's 4.1. Paraphrase Tool also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 58%). Penman's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Penman sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Paraphrase Tool sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Paraphrase Tool holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 252 and 245 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Penman's written reviews are positive against 80% of Paraphrase Tool's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Penman ships an update every 2 weeks, Paraphrase Tool every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Penman versus Paraphrase Tool: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPenmanParaphrase Tool
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (252 ratings)4.7 (245 ratings) — better
Positive reviews57.7% of reviews79.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings252 — better245
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.616.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size104 MB26 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperSER_INTPatrik Racskai

Customer experience

Penman

All ratings252 ratings
Positive77.8%
Neutral4.4%
Negative17.9%
Written reviews78 reviews
Positive57.7%
Neutral3.8%
Negative38.5%

Paraphrase Tool

All ratings231 ratings
Positive91.8%
Neutral3.9%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews59 reviews
Positive79.7%
Neutral5.1%
Negative15.3%

User reviews

Penman

From 252 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Accurate speech-to-text transcription
  • ⚡ Fast and efficient note-taking
  • 🎨 Beautiful, intuitive UI design
  • 🌍 Supports multiple languages
  • 📱 Easy text export to various formats

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezing
  • 💾 Data loss and disappearing text issues
  • 🔄 Unreliable syncing across devices
  • ⏸️ Recording stops when phone sleeps
  • ❌ Inconsistent speech-to-text accuracy

Paraphrase Tool

From 245 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✨ Multiple paraphrasing tone options
  • 👍 User-friendly and simple interface
  • 🎯 Effective for writing emails, essays, and speeches
  • ⚡ Quick and efficient paraphrasing
  • 💰 Lifetime subscription option available

Room to improve

  • 💳 Misleading lifetime subscription billing practices
  • 🔄 Subscription not syncing across devices
  • 📱 Limited to portrait mode on iPad
  • 🔔 Excessive review request notifications
  • 🐛 Restore purchase feature not working

Bugs and requests

Penman

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • App crashes on launch or during use
  • Text disappears without user action
  • Transcription halts when device enters sleep mode
  • iCloud sync failures between devices
  • Notes deleted when free trial expires
Show 6 more
  • Highlighting loses color after copy-paste
  • Recording continues but doesn't transcribe after interruption
  • App force closes when deleting notes
  • Restore purchase button non-functional
  • Perpetual onboarding loop after trial signup
  • Transcription accuracy drops after initial sentences

Requested features

10 requests
  • Persistent highlighting tool color selection
  • Export to Markdown (.md) format
  • Custom photo book covers
  • More font options
  • Ability to keep handwritten notes without conversion
Show 5 more
  • Keep phone active during recording
  • Recently deleted folder for recovery
  • Standalone keyboard replacement
  • Unlimited recording time in free version
  • Auto-save and local backup system

Paraphrase Tool

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Lifetime subscription requires repayment on different devices
  • Restore purchase fails repeatedly
  • Subscription status not displaying correctly after AppAdvice promotion
  • App repeatedly asks for payment despite active subscription
  • Free lifetime option advertised but not available in purchase flow
Show 1 more
  • Subscription attachment to email not persisting after app updates

Requested features

3 requests
  • Landscape mode support for iPad
  • Multi-language support
  • Reduce in-app review request frequency

In-app purchases

12 purchases

Penman

Subscriptions9
  • Monthly Discount Premium7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Monthly Penman Premium7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • 3 Months Penman Premium3 Days trial$8.993 Months
Show 6 more
  • Annual Voice to Text Live$14.991 Year
  • Yearly Discount Premium$14.991 Year
  • 6 Months Penman Premium3 Days trial$16.996 Months
  • Yearly Voice to Text plan7 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Yearly Speech to Text Live6 Months trial$19.991 Year
  • Yearly Speech Voice to Text7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time3
  • Unlimited Voice to Text$29.99
  • Unlimited Voice to Text$39.99
  • Unlimited Voice to Text$59.99
4 purchases

Paraphrase Tool

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Access$3.991 Month
  • Pro Access3 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime AccessFree
  • Lifetime$39.99

Questions

Is Penman free?
Penman is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Paraphrase Tool free?
Paraphrase Tool is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Penman or Paraphrase Tool?
Paraphrase Tool is rated higher. Penman averages 4.1 out of 5 from 252 ratings, while Paraphrase Tool averages 4.7 from 245 ratings.
Do Penman or Paraphrase Tool have ads?
Neither Penman nor Paraphrase Tool shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Penman or Paraphrase Tool?
Penman ships an update every 2 weeks, and Paraphrase Tool every 3 weeks. Most recently, Penman was updated on October 23, 2026 and Paraphrase Tool on October 22, 2026.

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