Reader's Bench vs Notator | Annotate Documents
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
Notator | Annotate Documents
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Notator is the ultimate app for all your PDF and image annotation needs, along with seamless note-taking capabilities. It adapts effortlessly to any situation, whether you're studying, working, or simply organizing your personal life. Experience the versatility of Notator today! What does Notator have in store for you? 1. Easy Annotation on PDFs and Images Effortlessly elevate your PDFs and images using a range of editing tools like pens, text boxes, and shapes. Infuse your own style by adding annotations, whether it's making notes on drawings, creating study guides, or refining your materials to perfection. 2. Supports Apple Pencil Our platform is fully compatible with the Apple Pencil, guaranteeing a seamless and precise writing experience when working on your documents. Additionally, you have the flexibility to utilize your fingers as an alternative input method. 3. Flexible PDF Import Extract specific portions from images saved on your device, recently captured photos, or PDF materials, and seamlessly insert them into your document while editing. 4. High-Quality PDF Support No need to worry about image degradation when importing large PDFs, even ones as big as A0 size. Edit detailed drawings and extensive project materials with ease, so you can stay stress-free while working on your documents. 5. Clipping and Pasting of PDFs & Photos Extract specific portions from images saved on your device, recently captured photos, or PDF materials, and seamlessly insert them into your document while editing. 6. Zoom Function Enables zooming up to 1000%, ensuring a hassle-free experience for annotating and reviewing intricate details in drawings. 7. Intuitive Page Management Effortlessly manage pages in imported PDFs or created documents with an intuitive interface. Rearrange, duplicate, delete, or add pages with ease, putting you in complete control. 8. Cloud Storage Compatible Easily import PDFs and images from cloud storage services like iCloud, Dropbox, Box. You can also upload your own documents hassle-free. 9. Notator Pro By upgrading to Notator Pro, you unlock the following features: - Export your created documents as PDFs or JPGs to easily share them with other apps. - Edit documents created by colleagues, friends, or family on different devices (note: real-time co-editing is not available). Stay tuned for more exciting updates as we add more useful features. To register, simply head to the "Settings" menu and select "Notator Pro." And guess what? You can enjoy a free trial for the first week! ◆ Ideal for a wide range of situations including: - Annotating intricate drawings or documents with precision. - Extracting specific sections from multi-page PDFs and adding your notes. - Annotating PDFs and images stored in cloud storage effortlessly. - Cutting out sections from various PDFs and images and compiling them into a single document. ◆ Contact Us If you have any questions, problems, or requests about using the app, feel free to contact us via our contact form. https://cimtops-sglab.com/about#contact-us ◆ Terms of Service https://cimtops-sglab.com/terms ◆ Privacy Policy https://cimtops-sglab.com/privacy-policy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Reader's Bench at weekly against Notator | Annotate Documents's every 2 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Reader's Bench sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Notator | Annotate Documents sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Reader's Bench ships an update weekly, Notator | Annotate Documents every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 6, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Reader's Bench | Notator | Annotate Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.5 (2 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 7 MB | 30 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Rohmiapps Inc. | CIMTOPS SG LAB Pte. Ltd. |
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
Notator | Annotate Documents
- Notator Pro Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
- Notator Pro Yearly7 Days trial$8.991 Year
Questions
Is Reader's Bench free?
Is Notator | Annotate Documents free?
Do Reader's Bench or Notator | Annotate Documents have ads?
Which is updated more often, Reader's Bench or Notator | Annotate Documents?
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