# pdf vs BigPaper

The clearest difference is rating: BigPaper at 4.0 against pdf's 3.3. BigPaper also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). pdf's advantage is review sentiment (68% vs 27%). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. pdf sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and BigPaper sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

BigPaper holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 23 and 20 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 68% of pdf's written reviews are positive against 27% of BigPaper's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

pdf ships an update every 3 weeks, BigPaper every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | pdf | BigPaper |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-notes-for-ipad-ads/id391487223/reviews) | **[4.0 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bigpaper-mind-map-pdf-markup/id1633929939/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **23** | 20 |
| Positive reviews | **68.0% of reviews** | 26.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 141 MB | 253 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AMuseTec Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/342152781) | [10happy Technology Development(Dalian) Co.,Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1567148260) |

## 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


### 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 |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is pdf free?

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

### Is BigPaper free?

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

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

BigPaper is rated higher. pdf averages 3.3 out of 5 from 23 ratings, while BigPaper averages 4.0 from 20 ratings.

### Do pdf or BigPaper have ads?

pdf shows ads; BigPaper does not.

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

pdf ships an update every 3 weeks, and BigPaper every 5 days. Most recently, pdf was updated on November 10, 2026 and BigPaper on November 3, 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.*