# PDF Editor vs Notewise

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PDF Editor at none against Notewise's 16. PDF Editor also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). Notewise's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly) and ratings volume (282 vs 19). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Notewise sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. PDF Editor asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for PDF Editor against 4.6 for Notewise. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notewise has 282 ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 57% of PDF Editor's written reviews are positive against 53% of Notewise's.

PDF Editor ships an update fortnightly, Notewise every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Editor | Notewise |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-editor-expert-edit-sign/id1670185874/reviews) | [4.6 (282 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notewise-ai-notes-pdf-docs/id6480045936/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 19 | **282** |
| Positive reviews | **57.1% of reviews** | 53.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 22 MB | 431 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RainbowFactory LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1670679665) | [ZIIKR](https://appshunter.io/developer/1535317711) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Editor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-editor-expert-edit-sign/id1670185874)

This application allows users to annotate PDF documents on Mac and iOS devices. Easily add notes, highlights, and comments to your files with a simple and intuitive interface. It's ideal for providing feedback or filling out forms.

**Highlights:** Add notes and comments, Highlight important text, Fill in PDF forms, User-friendly interface, Cross-device compatibility

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Notewise

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notewise-ai-notes-pdf-docs/id6480045936)

This app offers a versatile digital canvas for note-taking, PDF annotation, and sketching. It leverages AI to summarize content, generate quizzes, and transcribe audio. Designed for students, professionals, and creators, it provides tools for organization, collaboration, and enhanced productivity.

**Highlights:** AI-powered note summarization and quizzing, Handwritten notes and PDF annotation, Audio recording with synced transcripts, OCR for searchable handwriting, Real-time collaboration, Infinite freeform canvas

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Notewise Cloud Basic Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Notewise Cloud Starter Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Notewise Cloud Pro Monthly | $15.99 | per month |
| Notewise Cloud Basic Yearly | $28.99 | per year |
| Notewise Cloud Starter Yearly | $36.99 | per year |
| Notewise Cloud Pro Yearly | $129.99 | per year |
| Notewise Marketplace Content | $1.99 | one-time |
| Notewise Marketplace Content | $2.99 | one-time |
| Notewise Marketplace Content | $3.99 | one-time |
| Notewise Marketplace Content | $4.99 | one-time |
| Notewise Marketplace Content | $5.99 | one-time |
| Notewise Marketplace Content | $6.99 | one-time |
| Notewise Marketplace Content | $7.99 | one-time |
| Notewise Marketplace Content | $8.99 | one-time |
| Notewise Marketplace Content | $9.99 | one-time |
| Notewise Unlimited | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🔄 Excellent cross-platform synchronization (Android, iOS, Mac, PC)
- ✨ Comprehensive feature set with tables, shapes, and drawing tools
- 🎨 High-quality dark mode implementation
- 📱 Works seamlessly across multiple devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes after updates
- 🐛 Handwriting and annotations disappearing randomly
- 🐛 Lasso selection tool includes unwanted background
- 🐛 App freezes and lags when highlighting large areas
- 🐛 Text input fields not functioning properly

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on every update
- Handwritten content randomly disappears
- Annotations vanishing intermittently
- Lasso selection tool malfunctions
- Text input fields not responding

**Requested features**

- Add layers feature for advanced editing
- Implement automatic zoom box that follows writing
- Add pencil, waterbrush, and crayon drawing tools
- Sticker marketplace or sticker customization
- Horizontal page flipping/swiping navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Editor free?

PDF Editor is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Notewise free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PDF Editor or Notewise?

PDF Editor and Notewise are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 19 and 282 ratings respectively.

### Do PDF Editor or Notewise have ads?

Neither PDF Editor nor Notewise shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PDF Editor or Notewise?

PDF Editor ships an update fortnightly, and Notewise every 2 days. Most recently, PDF Editor was updated on October 10, 2026 and Notewise on October 16, 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.*