# BigPaper vs Pencil

The clearest difference is ratings volume: BigPaper at 20 against Pencil's 4. BigPaper also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BigPaper sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Pencil sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.0 for BigPaper against 4.0 for Pencil. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BigPaper has 20 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 27% of BigPaper's written reviews are positive against 25% of Pencil's.

BigPaper ships an update every 5 days, Pencil weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BigPaper | Pencil |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bigpaper-mind-map-pdf-markup/id1633929939/reviews) | **[4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-pdf-notes-with-pencil/id6466286421/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **20** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **26.7% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 253 MB | 511 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [10happy Technology Development(Dalian) Co.,Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1567148260) | [Kairoos Solutions SL](https://appshunter.io/developer/978066434) |

## What reviewers say

### BigPaper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bigpaper-mind-map-pdf-markup/id1633929939)

This app offers an infinite canvas for note-taking, PDF annotation, and mind mapping. Import various document formats and add text, handwriting, tables, and more. Efficiently organize and edit content without page limitations.

**Highlights:** Infinite canvas for freeform note-taking, Import and annotate PDFs and other documents, Mind mapping with element connections, Handwriting and drawing tools with Smart Shapes, Table creation and linking, Multi-format document import and export, Screenshot mode for quick content capture

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BigPaper - Full Version Unlock | $8.99 | one-time |


### Pencil

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-pdf-notes-with-pencil/id6466286421)

This app allows users to handwrite, sketch, and annotate PDFs on their iPad and iPhone. It supports Apple Pencil and other styluses for note-taking, drawing, and even watercolor painting. Features include audio recording within notes and AI assistance for summarizing and translation.

**Highlights:** Handwrite and sketch with stylus or finger, Annotate and mark up PDFs, Record audio directly in notes, Create formatted text notes, Watercolor painting workspace, Scan and import documents, AI assistance for summaries and translation

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlock All and AI Assistant | $3.99 | per month |
| Pencil Annual | $14.99 | per year |
| Pencil Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BigPaper free?

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

### Is Pencil free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BigPaper or Pencil?

Pencil is rated higher. BigPaper averages 4.0 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while Pencil averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do BigPaper or Pencil have ads?

Neither BigPaper nor Pencil shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BigPaper or Pencil?

BigPaper ships an update every 5 days, and Pencil weekly. Most recently, BigPaper was updated on October 24, 2026 and Pencil on October 30, 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.*