# pdf vs Notebook

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.

Both are free to download. pdf sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Notebook asks for nothing beyond the download.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | pdf | Notebook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.3 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-notes-for-ipad-ads/id391487223/reviews)** | [3.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-notes-and-lists/id1611143330/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **22** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **68.3% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 11 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 141 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AMuseTec Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/342152781) | [Shreyaskumar Patel](https://appshunter.io/developer/1599209768) |

## What reviewers say

### pdf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-notes-for-ipad-ads/id391487223)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2-Month Pass | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1-Year Pass | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime License | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 💡 Great annotation tools
- 🔒 Secure and reliable
- 📚 Excellent for students and academics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 💸 Expensive paid version
- 📤 Difficulty exporting annotated PDFs
- 🔍 Lack of search functionality
- 🖍️ Inconsistent behavior of highlighting and erasing

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-notes-and-lists/id1611143330)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*