Comparison

pdf vs Notebook

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

Head to head
About

pdf

Manage and annotate PDF files on your iPad with fast page turning and intuitive finger-writing. Easily import PDFs, organize them into bookshelves, and export annotated versions via email. Features include zoom, cropping, and multiple pen options.

Highlights
  • Fast page turning and scanning
  • Intuitive finger-writing and annotation
  • Easy PDF import via Dropbox, Email, iTunes
  • Categorized bookshelves with search
  • Export annotated PDFs via email
  • Pinch zoom and crop page margins
Read full description

[notice] pdf-notes for iPad (ads) involves advertisements. Paid version is available at http://itunes.apple.com/app/id4172008446 Utilize pdf-notes to manage all the pdf files on your iPad. Fast display, quick page-turning even a thousand pages, useful finger-writing and email your notes to your friends. Differentiation-1. While turning pages of paperbooks fast, you can glance over the pages. While turning pages of pdf-notes fast, you can still run over the contents. Speedy page turning and scanning the contents with pdf-notes or paperbooks. Differentiation-2. There are many pdf readers allow you to annotate; but do you know which app allows you can write any notes in a second? If you are using pdf-notes, you may experience very fast and intuitive finger-writing like: zoom-in and note by double-tap or; writing with one finger, page-turning with two fingers, pen-changing with three fingers. - Easy importing PDF files through (DropBox, Email or Safari's) "Open In..." or iTunes - Categorized multiple bookshelves(booklists) with powerful search - Displaying pages as optimized size 1024x768 of iPad - Portrait and landscape view - Pinch zoom and crop page-margins - Fast loading and Speedy page-turning - Finger-writing with a variety of pens, highlighters and text notes - Easy "zoom-in and note" on a magnified screen by a double tap - One-step page-turning using 2 fingers on editing mode - One-step pen-changing or undo/redo using 3 fingers on editing mode - Exporting annotated PDF files to Email - External display and screen brightness controls - AirPrint and multi-tasking Misunderstandings about pdf-notes: - Not only pdf-notes but every app recently updated is removed from the open-in menu because iOS5 or formers currently show only 10 apps in open-in menu. - iPad/iphone Mail/iBooks can't display PDF annotations so that please open it in the other pdf apps. - please visit the support site for more information http://bit.ly/f6D31P Blog http://pdf-notes.com Email musebook@musebook.com Twitter http://twitter.com/musebook4u YouTube http://youtu.be/4AyRyFq9yxg NOTE: All content contained herein is subject to change without notice.

About

Notebook

Capture thoughts, create to-do lists, and organize tasks with colorful backgrounds and customizable features. Add photos, audio, and set reminders to never miss important items. Sync notes to the cloud for easy backup and sharing.

Highlights
  • Quick note-taking
  • Checklists and to-do lists
  • Colorful backgrounds
  • Add photos and audio
  • Set reminders
  • Folder organization
  • Cloud sync and backup
Features
Read full description

Easy Notes - Notepad, Free Notes App is an easy-to-use notepad free for note-taking app. With this easy notebook and notepad app, take quick notes with colorful backgrounds and checklists to organize notes and tasks easily. Use this note taker and aesthetic notes to add photos or audio to your notes. Easy Notes is a good notes taking app and notebook for keeping notes and organizing tasks. It will be a good note taking app and digital notebook free for you. Key features: * Add sticky note widget to your desktop, easy to open and edit your notes. * Can be organized in folders, easy to classified your notes; * Add Checklist for To do list & Shopping list * Five kinds of notes background color available to change, make your notes in personalized way. * Change the Font size; * Transform your note into a checklist view; * Set reminder to your notes, no longer missing you important things; * Auto-saved. You don’t have to do anything to save them. * Share your notes via e-mail, SMS, and etc.; * Backup/export to SD card * Import backup notes files. * Sync your notes to Google task, let you sync/backup online. Free Note Taking Apps Easy Notes - Notepad Free, Notebook, Free Notes App is a free note taking app for taking notes. Take notes, make a shopping list or build a checklist with this simple notepad free. Easy to Use Notepad Take notes, view notes, and check note status with this good notes app. Display notes in list or grid mode. Pin the key notes at the top is also available in this notes writer. Personalize Notes with Colors Easy Notes - Notepad Free, Writers Notebook, Free Notes App is a good note app that supports color notes. Write notes with different note colors or awesome notes backgrounds. Easy Notes writer customizes notebooks with different themes. Choose your favorite themes in this free note taking apps. Notes Category and Memo Make notes for school, work, or other usage scenarios. This easy notepad, note-taking free note book app helps you categorize notes into different tabs. Manage your n otes more efficiently and easily. Memo more notes tabs as needed. School Notes and Work Notes This notetaking app is easy to take school notes, book notes, text note, and stick notes. Hand-drawn to help you make school notes. Calendar Notes and Notepad Use this free note pad recorder to view your notes in calendar mode. Note taking apps help to write notes, record memos or organize notes in the form of a calendar. Backup and Restore with cloud This awesome notes writer sync note from the Google cloud. Never worry about losing note pad. Easy to share notes or import shared notes into the notebooks. Local backup is available. Reminder for Notebook Free The free notes app allows you to easily set reminders for simple notepad notes. Schedule your time and don't miss important notes. Well orginized with this notebook free. Keep Notes Safe Notepad Lock helps keep notes private with password locks. Note writer with locker protect one note pad or the entire notes category to keep the notbook safe. Others are not able to view the locked nots. Sticky Notes Widget The sticky notes widget and stickies help write quick notes. Easy to add note widget as a note widget with various color note widget themes. Access your sticky notes free on homescreen quickily. Customize the sticky notes widget and stickies to help you work better.

Screenshots

Notebook4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Notebook at none against pdf's 3. Notebook also leads on ads (none vs shown) and device support (3 vs 1). pdf's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 11 months) and rating (3.3 vs 3.0). On price 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. pdf sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Notebook asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

pdf holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: pdf has 22 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of pdf's written reviews are positive against 50% of Notebook's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

pdf ships an update every 3 weeks, Notebook every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
pdf versus Notebook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterpdfNotebook
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.3 (22 ratings) — better3.0 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews68.3% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings22 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 11 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size141 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAMuseTec Co., Ltd.Shreyaskumar Patel

Customer experience

pdf

All ratings21 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral4.8%
Negative38.1%
Written reviews293 reviews
Positive68.3%
Neutral9.9%
Negative21.8%

Notebook

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%

Bugs and requests

pdf

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Annotated PDFs losing data during export
  • Crashes after recent app updates
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps
  • Incorrect page numbering and navigation

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add text typing and editing capabilities
  • Implement a table of contents feature
  • Improve integration with cloud storage services
  • Allow custom organization of PDF files
  • Enhance the note-taking experience

Notebook

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

pdf

One-time3
  • 2-Month Pass$0.99
  • 1-Year Pass$4.99
  • Lifetime License$9.99
None

Notebook

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is pdf free?
pdf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Notebook free?
Notebook is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, pdf or Notebook?
pdf is rated higher. pdf averages 3.3 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while Notebook averages 3.0 from 3 ratings.
Do pdf or Notebook have ads?
pdf shows ads; Notebook does not.
Which is updated more often, pdf or Notebook?
pdf ships an update every 3 weeks, and Notebook every 11 months. Most recently, pdf was updated on October 10, 2026 and Notebook on October 8, 2026.

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