# Penman vs ZIP Opener・File Reader

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ZIP Opener・File Reader at 100% against Penman's 58%. ZIP Opener・File Reader also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.1). Penman's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 13 months). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Penman sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and ZIP Opener・File Reader sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ZIP Opener・File Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Penman has 252 ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Penman's written reviews are positive against 100% of ZIP Opener・File Reader's.

Penman ships an update every 2 weeks, ZIP Opener・File Reader every 13 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Penman | ZIP Opener・File Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (252 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penman-ai-note-taker/id1434184098/reviews) | **[4.7 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zip-openerfile-reader/id6738324911/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **252** | 20 |
| Positive reviews | 57.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 13 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 104 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SER_INT](https://appshunter.io/developer/525443615) | [Andy Sutanto](https://appshunter.io/developer/1659282966) |

## 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


### ZIP Opener・File Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zip-openerfile-reader/id6738324911)

Easily open and extract ZIP files, including those with passwords. Organize and share your extracted files efficiently with a history tracking feature. Enjoy a smooth experience managing compressed files.

**Highlights:** Open ZIP files, Extract password-protected ZIPs, File management, Selective sharing, History tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ZIP Extractor Pro | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| ZIP Opener Pro - 1Y | $19.99 | per year |
| Offering for New Users | $19.99 | one-time |
| ZIP Opener Pro | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Penman free?

Penman is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is ZIP Opener・File Reader free?

ZIP Opener・File Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Penman or ZIP Opener・File Reader?

ZIP Opener・File Reader is rated higher. Penman averages 4.1 out of 5 from 252 ratings, while ZIP Opener・File Reader averages 4.7 from 20 ratings.

### Do Penman or ZIP Opener・File Reader have ads?

ZIP Opener・File Reader shows ads; Penman does not.

### Which is updated more often, Penman or ZIP Opener・File Reader?

Penman ships an update every 2 weeks, and ZIP Opener・File Reader every 13 months. Most recently, Penman was updated on October 19, 2026 and ZIP Opener・File Reader 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.*