Comparison

Nitro PDF Pro vs TheSmartNotebook App

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

Head to head
About

Nitro PDF Pro

Edit, annotate, and secure PDF documents on the go. This app offers powerful tools for professionals to manage PDFs, including mobile scanning and AI-powered data extraction. Seamlessly integrate with cloud services and use styluses for precise markups.

Highlights
  • Edit and annotate PDFs with precision tools
  • Organize pages, merge, and extract PDFs
  • Mobile scanning with OCR for searchable PDFs
  • Secure documents with password protection
  • AI-powered data extraction from tables
  • Seamless integration with cloud storage
Features
Read full description

Nitro PDF Pro is the modern PDF solution with everything you need to edit, annotate, manage, and secure documents on the go. Built for professionals who need powerful PDF tools anywhere, anytime. Create, edit, and manage PDFs seamlessly across iPhone and iPad. Nitro PDF Pro integrates with Apple's Files app and your favorite cloud services—iCloud Drive, OneDrive, Box, Dropbox, Google Drive and more—so your documents are always within reach. Work with Apple Pencil or Bluetooth styluses for freehand drawing, writing, and annotating, and use mobile scanning to turn receipts and documents into PDFs. GET MORE DONE WITH NITRO'S POWERFUL PDF FEATURES EDIT AND ANNOTATE Highlight, underline, draw, add text, and leave comments on any PDF with precision tools designed for touch and Apple Pencil. • Edit text and images with full-page paragraph reflow • Add sticky notes, text edits, and freehand drawings • Highlight and underline key passages • Mark documents with stamps such as Approved or Draft PAGE MANAGEMENT Organize your documents your way. • Add, delete, reorder, and rotate pages • Extract specific pages into a new document • Merge multiple PDFs and documents into a single file MOBILE SCANNING Turn paper into searchable PDFs instantly. • Scan documents, receipts, and business cards directly on your device • Automatic edge detection and perspective correction • Turn scanned documents into searchable, editable PDFs with OCR • Batch scan multiple pages in one session SECURE AND PROTECT Keep every document, and everything inside it, safe with password protection, encryption, and permission controls. • Password-protect files and restrict copying or editing • Permanently redact sensitive information AI-POWERED PRODUCTIVITY Get AI tools built for privacy and control, so you can boost productivity without compromising security. • Automatically extract structured data from tables and forms SEAMLESS INTEGRATION Work where you work, with the tools you trust. • Open PDFs directly from the Files app, OneDrive, and SharePoint • Share via AirDrop, Mail, or third-party apps • Access your documents across iPad and iPhone with iCloud sync Try Nitro PDF Pro for free with a 14-day trial and see why it's the PDF editor for professionals who need to create, edit, and collaborate on PDFs with confidence—from the office to anywhere. Questions about Nitro PDF Pro? User Guides give you step-by-step instructions for editing, annotating, scanning, securing, and managing documents. Get instant support via our in-app Knowledge Assistant or connect directly with our expert team.

About

TheSmartNotebook App

Scan handwritten notes to create digital, searchable documents. Organize and share your notes instantly to cloud storage with smart shortcuts. Enjoy the freedom of handwriting with digital efficiency.

Highlights
  • Scan handwritten notes
  • Digital note storage
  • OCR text search
  • Organize and share notes
  • Cloud storage integration
  • Quick sharing shortcuts
Features
Read full description

TheSmartNotebook App, comparte de manera ágil y en cuestiones de segundo sus anotaciones del SmartNotebook, además las almacena para acceder a ellas en cualquier momento desde su celular. Usando la poderosa aplicación de TheSmartNotebook y su celular inteligente va poder escanear sus notas escritas a mano para tenerlas digitales. Con nuestra integración de OCR va poder buscar dentro de sus notas a través del índice inteligente de buscador de palabras. TheSmartNotebook App permite organizar y compartir sus notas , en las diferentes nubes. la aplicación cuenta con cinco símbolos ( los hemos llamado “atajos” ), que junto a ellos va poder compartir en las nubes sus escaneos ya recortados limpios y transcritos de la manera mas ágil y precisa en segundos. Disfruta de poder seguir escribiendo a mano y la eficiencia de tenerlas y compartirlas de manera digital, sigue escribiendo de manera libre que TheSmartNotebook se encargara junto con sus atajos de compartirlas como imagen o texto en las diferentes nubes o plataformas digitales que decidas.

Screenshots

Nitro PDF Pro4 screens
TheSmartNotebook App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Nitro PDF Pro at 3.9 against TheSmartNotebook App's 1.0. Nitro PDF Pro also leads on ratings volume (161 vs 2). TheSmartNotebook App's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads and device support 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. Nitro PDF Pro sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per year. TheSmartNotebook App asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Nitro PDF Pro holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nitro PDF Pro has 161 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nitro PDF Pro ships an update every 2 months, TheSmartNotebook App every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Nitro PDF Pro versus TheSmartNotebook App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNitro PDF ProTheSmartNotebook App
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (161 ratings) — better1.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews12.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings161 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.014.0.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size63 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNitro Software, Inc.Virtual-Tec

Customer experience

Nitro PDF Pro

All ratings161 ratings
Positive70.2%
Neutral5.0%
Negative24.8%
Written reviews65 reviews
Positive12.3%
Neutral6.2%
Negative81.5%

TheSmartNotebook App

All ratings2 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

Nitro PDF Pro

Reported bugs

19 issues
  • Cannot reorder PDF files
  • Crashes when opening PDFs from websites/email
  • Does not save markups or documents
  • Difficulty creating new folders
  • Cannot rotate pages
Show 14 more
  • Cannot markup/draw on PDFs with editing disabled
  • Does not save documents after editing
  • Cannot rotate PDFs
  • Program freezes up
  • Fails to save after deleting pages
  • App crashes after update
  • Editing is lost prior to crash
  • Crashes every time to edit a PDF
  • Cannot handle deleting pages
  • Crashes when opening fillable PDFs
  • Crashes when typing in fields
  • No Apple Pencil support
  • Stylus link gives 404 error
  • Bugs like suddenly not being able to draw

Requested features

10 requests
  • Keyboard support (Cmd + F for search)
  • Ability to cancel search with Esc
  • OCR and conversion to text documents on tablets
  • User manual for iPad app
  • Support for Apple Pencil
Show 5 more
  • Ability to create table of contents
  • Ability to create fillable forms
  • Ability to rearrange pages
  • Ability to add to library
  • More intuitive interface

TheSmartNotebook App

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Nitro PDF Pro

Subscriptions1
  • Annual Subscription14 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Nitro PDF Pro for iOS$9.99
None

TheSmartNotebook App

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Nitro PDF Pro free?
Nitro PDF Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TheSmartNotebook App free?
TheSmartNotebook App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Nitro PDF Pro or TheSmartNotebook App?
Nitro PDF Pro is rated higher. Nitro PDF Pro averages 3.9 out of 5 from 161 ratings, while TheSmartNotebook App averages 1.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Nitro PDF Pro or TheSmartNotebook App have ads?
Neither Nitro PDF Pro nor TheSmartNotebook App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Nitro PDF Pro or TheSmartNotebook App?
Nitro PDF Pro ships an update every 2 months, and TheSmartNotebook App every 2 weeks. Most recently, Nitro PDF Pro was updated on October 30, 2026 and TheSmartNotebook App on October 24, 2026.

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