# Penman vs Paraphrase Tool

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Penman | Paraphrase Tool |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (252 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penman-ai-note-taker/id1434184098/reviews) | **[4.7 (245 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paraphrase-tool/id6476902526/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **252** | 245 |
| Positive reviews | 57.7% of reviews | **79.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 104 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [SER_INT](https://appshunter.io/developer/525443615) | [Patrik Racskai](https://appshunter.io/developer/1728193737) |

## What reviewers say

### Penman

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penman-ai-note-taker/id1434184098)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Discount Premium | $2.99 | per month |
| Monthly Penman Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| 3 Months Penman Premium | $8.99 | per 3 months |
| Annual Voice to Text Live | $14.99 | per year |
| Yearly Discount Premium | $14.99 | per year |
| 6 Months Penman Premium | $16.99 | per 6 months |
| Yearly Voice to Text plan | $19.99 | per year |
| Yearly Speech to Text Live | $19.99 | per year |
| Yearly Speech Voice to Text | $29.99 | per year |
| Unlimited Voice to Text | $29.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Voice to Text | $39.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Voice to Text | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- Persistent highlighting tool color selection
- Export to Markdown (.md) format
- Custom photo book covers
- More font options
- Ability to keep handwritten notes without conversion


### Paraphrase Tool

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paraphrase-tool/id6476902526)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Access | $3.99 | per month |
| Pro Access | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | Free | one-time |
| Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💳 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*