MXTNote vs Reader's Bench
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MXTNote
This app helps organize research and study materials by linking PDFs, notes, and web pages. It offers PDF reading, text and handwriting notes, and an arXiv explorer for academic papers. Create a knowledge graph to visualize connections between your research fragments.
- PDF reader with link navigation
- Text and handwriting note-taking
- Link notes and PDFs to create a knowledge graph
- ARXIV explorer for academic papers
- Web page import (HTML to PDF)
- OCR and image search for PDFs
- Sync across devices
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MXTNote is a free PDF reader and note taking app. When we study for a subject, we start by collecting reference, document idea fragments, then we expand our knowledge structure by creating links between these fragments, or add more content around them. MXTNote provide ways to simplify some of these steps Here are some examples: - A PDF references another PDF, you can select the two location and link them. - After embedding a selection from PDF to notebook, a two way link is automatically created between PDF and notebook. - Link can be created between notes to form a graph, to capture a knowledge/task dependency At block level, MXTNote consists of the following: - PDF reader - Text note taking - Handwriting note taking - Graph view - ARXIV explorer - Calendar Here are the detail features: (those marked with (*) requires MXTNote account, free signup) Reading: - PDF reader with thumbnail index, link navigation - Import web page (HTML will be converted to PDF) - support DJVU/MOBI (*)(file will be converted to PDF) - Text search (using text in PDF, or OCR) - Image search (useful for searching math symbols) - Translate selected text into English Notes: - Simple text note - Write on PDF or select box from PDF - Support links between notes, attach tags to notes. - Search notes by original PDF, tags, or text - Built-in split screen to copy note to notebook - Multiple page notebook with text or handwriting. - Support pressure sensitive input (Apple pencil). - Print notebook to PDF file or printer - Use Latex input for math formula or use the Math formula editor ARXIV: - Search ARXIV and download paper - Monitor ARXIV for new papers matching predefined query Sync: - Sync across all your device (*) - Available as web app Other: - In-app tutorial available for major functions please visit our website for details: https://note.mxtsoft.com/doc
Reader's Bench
This app is a PDF reader and markup tool designed for serious study and research. It allows users to read, annotate, take notes, and review highlighted content from PDF documents with efficient performance and a distraction-free interface.
- PDF reading and markup
- Handwriting and typed notes
- Annotation extraction for review
- Highlight, underline, strikethrough
- Image capture and insertion
- Export notes and annotated PDFs
- Word definition and sentence translation
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Reader's Bench — Read, Annotate & Take Notes Reader's Bench is a powerful PDF and ePub reader built for students, researchers, and professionals who need to study documents deeply. Import PDFs and ePub files, annotate them with a rich set of tools, take handwritten notes side by side, and organize everything in one place. KEY FEATURES • PDF & ePub Reader Import PDFs from the Files app, share sheet, or Safari. Supports vertical and horizontal scrolling, single-page and continuous page views, and a comfortable dark mode for reading in any lighting. • Rich PDF Annotations Highlight, underline, and strikethrough text. Add text boxes, image boxes, freehand drawings, and capture areas with Apple Pencil or your finger. Every annotation can be edited, moved, or deleted at any time. • Annotation Review View all your annotations in a summary list, filter by type, and export the review as a separate PDF report. Revisit key points without re-reading the entire document. • Handwritten Notes Take notes on a digital canvas with Apple Pencil. Switch between Canvas (infinite scroll) and Page (discrete pages) modes. Choose from dotted, squared, lined, or blank backgrounds and customize colors. Shape detection automatically perfects hand-drawn shapes. • Split View Work with your PDF and notes side by side. Switch between horizontal and vertical layouts and resize panels with a draggable divider. • Bookmarks & Search Bookmark pages for quick access and browse them in one place. Search inside documents and jump to results by page instantly. • Export & Share Export annotated PDFs, handwritten notes as PDFs, or annotation reviews as reports. Share via the iOS share sheet or print directly from the app. • iCloud Sync Documents and annotations sync across your devices via iCloud, so your work is always with you. • ePub Support Import ePub books and convert them to PDF for reading and annotation. • Share Extension Import PDFs directly from any app using the system share sheet. Reader's Bench turns your iPad and iPhone into a complete study and research workstation.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: MXTNote at 5.0 against Reader's Bench's 3.5. MXTNote also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). 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
Both are free to download. Reader's Bench sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. MXTNote asks for nothing beyond the download.
MXTNote holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively.
MXTNote ships an update every 2 weeks, Reader's Bench weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MXTNote | Reader's Bench |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | 3.5 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 131 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Tao Ma | Rohmiapps Inc. |
Customer experience
MXTNote
Reader's Bench
In-app purchases
MXTNote
No in-app purchases
Reader's Bench
- Reader's Bench Subscription14 Days trial$0.991 Month
- Pro Monthly$5.991 Month
- Pro Yearly$39.991 Year
- Pro Lifetime$69.99







