Comparison

Preview mini vs Feather

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

Head to head
About

Preview mini

Edit and annotate images and PDFs with a desktop-like experience on your iPhone and iPad. Offers advanced features for viewing, converting, and managing files, inspired by macOS.

Highlights
  • Image editing and cropping
  • PDF annotation and editing
  • File conversion
  • Drag and drop support
  • Keyboard shortcuts
  • Password protection for PDFs
Features
Read full description

Preview mini is a powerful tool for working with images and PDFs on iPhone and iPad. Inspired by macOS. Created for iOS.  Preview mini combines the convenience of editing images and PDFs into a single application, offering advanced features for viewing, annotating, and converting files. The macOS-inspired desktop experience, featuring the brand-new File Desktop, familiar window controls, drag and drop, keyboard interaction, and even more to fall in love with. IMAGE EDITING – Highlight and crop image fragments – Rotate, flip, and resize – Add text, notes, and shapes – Support for blank templates with resolution selection PDF HANDLING – Edit and annotate PDF documents – Highlight text and create custom annotations* – Duplicate, convert, and manage PDF pages* – Add and remove passwords to protect files* IMPORT, EXPORT, AND INTEGRATION – Export images in HD quality* – Export JPEG/PNG with file size preview* – Support for keyboard shortcuts and trackpad for convenient use* *Features available in the full version of the application. Using Preview mini significantly simplifies the processing of images and PDF documents. You can quickly edit files, highlight important details, fill out forms, and add signatures without the need to switch between different applications. This saves you time, increases productivity, and makes working with documents convenient and intuitive! Download Preview mini and manage images and PDFs with macOS convenience on your iPhone and iPad! ––– Legal notice This application is NOT an Apple product. Preview mini is an independent development, inspired by macOS but not affiliated with Apple Inc. Images in the screenshots are provided by artists: Pok Rie (https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@pok-rie-33563) Fabian Wiktor (https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@fabianwiktor)

About

Feather

Create stunning 3D artwork from any angle with intuitive tools and a powerful rendering engine. This app allows for seamless navigation, versatile brushes, and advanced editing features, making it ideal for artists and designers to bring their visions to life.

Highlights
  • Intuitive 3D navigation and drawing
  • Pressure-sensitive 3D brushes
  • 3D Liquify tool for detailed editing
  • Post-processing effects and lighting
  • Export to 3D formats
  • Fully offline functionality
  • AR View for real-world placement
Read full description

Feather is a next-generation 3D drawing application built for professional designers, visionary artists, and you. Bring your imagination to life with versatile 3D brushes redesigned for space, seamless and intuitive navigation, and a delicate interplay of light and shadow powered by the Airbreath rendering engine. Feather is the ultimate creative space to unleash your ideas without limits. Draw. Rotate. Create. • All you need is a pen and touch. Freely navigate 3D space, draw from any perspective, and turn your ideas into reality. Editing feels like gaming. • Move, rotate, and scale using the joystick. Tedious 3D editing has never been easier. Liquify the space. • Masterpieces arise from many trials. Use "3D Liquify" to push and pull every detail, letting your imagination roam free. Brushes reimagined in 3D. • Enjoy the classic feel of drawing with pressure-sensitive 3D brushes, featuring styles and patterns for enhanced expression. Every angle tells a story. • 3D artworks are meant to be viewed from various angles. Capture and sequence shots to weave your own story. A creative toolkit for artists, designers, architects, and everyone. • Tools unleash your boundless imagination. Feather is for creators who embrace diverse themes, styles, techniques, and dimensions. Polish it up. • Make your creations vibrant with shading and special effects. • Lighting: Illuminate and cast shadows with a single tap. • Post-processing: Add a finishing touch with grain, depth of field, glow, pixelation, or toon shading. Export to 3D formats. • Your 3D creations have no limits. Export your work from Feather, use it in other tools, and explore new workflows. Features you need. Indeed. • Fully Offline: Use anywhere without an internet connection. • Shapes: Draw straight lines, circles, ellipses, and smooth curves. • Eraser: Works just as you expect. • Live Mirror: Draw symmetrical lines with a virtual mirror. • Import Reference: Insert images or 3D models into your workspace. • Clipboard: Display reference images in a separate window. • Background Image: Add colors or images behind your 3D artwork. • AR View: View 3D creations in real-world settings. • Share: Generate a 3D viewer link to share your artwork. • Folders: Organize drawings into folders for easy access. • Geometric Primitives: Draw on spheres, cylinders, cones, or rings. • Data Backup: Back up your files and keep them secure. ... what if you don’t have a pen? • Turn on "Finger-pen" mode to sketch, paint, and edit using just your fingers. Showcase your work. • Feather Gallery is the best place to view and share 3D artworks. Discover what’s possible and find inspiration. Your journey starts here. • From detailed guides to hands-on tutorials, everything you need is at your fingertips. • Documentation: Learn all of Feather's interfaces, gestures, and features. • Basic tutorial: Follow our videos to draw and learn how to use Feather. • Community: Join Feather users from around the world on Discord.

Screenshots

Preview mini4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Preview mini at Free against Feather's $14.99. Preview mini also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 weeks). Feather's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume 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

Preview mini is free to download; Feather costs $14.99 up front. Preview mini sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Feather asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Preview mini holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 212 and 118 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 63% of Preview mini's written reviews are positive against 65% of Feather's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Preview mini ships an update every 10 days, Feather every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Preview mini versus Feather: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPreview miniFeather
PriceFree — better$14.99
Rating4.3 (212 ratings) — better4.1 (118 ratings)
Positive reviews63.2% of reviews65.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings212 — better118
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPad
Requires iOS18.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size103 MB49 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMarian KoenigSketchsoft Inc.

Customer experience

Preview mini

All ratings212 ratings
Positive80.7%
Neutral4.7%
Negative14.6%
Written reviews68 reviews
Positive63.2%
Neutral10.3%
Negative26.5%

Feather

All ratings107 ratings
Positive72.9%
Neutral9.3%
Negative17.8%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive65.0%
Neutral15.0%
Negative20.0%

Bugs and requests

Preview mini

Reported bugs

13 issues
  • Changes not saved when attaching to email
  • App errors out on large PDFs and crashes
  • App shuts down during photo editing, unsaved work lost
  • Cannot type the letter 'y' in documents
  • Payment issues with Apple, requires new credit card data
Show 8 more
  • Pro version not activated after deduction, amount not refunded
  • Errors when trying to buy the full version
  • Small glitch with 'cut' upon install
  • PDF cropping is not the same as Preview
  • Cannot paste as shown in preview videos
  • App hangs during PDF editing, lost entire work
  • No difference found between free and full version after purchase
  • File export only works with paid version

Requested features

27 requests
  • Split-screen or slide-over capability
  • Export PDF as picture (JPG, etc.)
  • Ability to paste one image on top of another
  • Ctrl-Z for quick undo
  • Straight line option for markup
Show 22 more
  • Tiled printing option
  • Export multiple edited images at once
  • Dark mode option
  • Advanced analytics dashboard
  • Ability to add PDF to share sheet
  • Copy & Paste transparent objects
  • More advanced image editing options
  • Slide show functionality
  • Presentation modes for PDFs
  • Ability to rotate and crop PDFs
  • Full screen slide mode
  • PDF filling functionality
  • Selectable fonts
  • Improve PDF cropping
  • Use in extension window for quick edits
  • Allow users to quickly edit inside the extension window
  • Support for share dialog
  • Improve light UI mode
  • Allow users to do to PDF what can be done to images (rotate, cut, add text)
  • Ability to change font size
  • Ability to remove highlighting
  • Better file management applet

Feather

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Preview mini

One-time1
  • Preview mini PRO$4.99
None

Feather

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Preview mini free?
Preview mini is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Feather free?
Feather costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Preview mini or Feather?
Preview mini is rated higher. Preview mini averages 4.3 out of 5 from 212 ratings, while Feather averages 4.1 from 118 ratings.
Do Preview mini or Feather have ads?
Neither Preview mini nor Feather shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Preview mini or Feather?
Preview mini ships an update every 10 days, and Feather every 3 weeks. Most recently, Preview mini was updated on November 3, 2026 and Feather on November 4, 2026.

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