pdf vs Inkflow Visual Notebook
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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[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.
Inkflow Visual Notebook
Capture and organize ideas with a fluid digital writing experience. Sketch, jot down notes, and arrange them visually. Enhance your creativity with tools for text, photos, and custom backgrounds.
- Fluid digital writing and sketching
- Resizing and reorganizing of content
- Full resolution zoom for detail
- Integration of text and photos
- Export to PDF, JPEG, PNG
- Basic and Plus editions with varying features
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Inkflow is a note-taking and brainstorming experience unlike any other! Capture your ideas as easily as with pen and paper, then resize and reorganize them with your fingers. DIGITAL WRITING DONE RIGHT Inkflow's ink feels like a really smooth fountain pen. Great for expressive writing or sketching. Effortlessly scale or move anything you select. This will change the way you think about ink: Jot down a list of concepts then rearrange them to fit into the bigger picture. literally move your thoughts around the page, and assemble big ideas with your fingers. This works great for brainstorming and planning. It's also perfect for prototyping layouts, sketching, and drawing. FULL RESOLUTION ZOOM Zoom and pan with two fingers. Inkflow's ink stays sharp no matter how much you zoom in, so you can add fine details at full quality. It's also lightning fast and lag free. This allows writing and drawing with incredible precision, with or without a stylus. TEXT, PHOTOS, and PAPER BACKGROUNDS TOO Insert text boxes and photos anywhere on the page and resize them seamlessly with the ink. You can also choose from a selection of different stationery. EASILY CREATE and SHARE Inkflow let's you export your books to PDF, high-resolution JPEG, and share them via Twitter, Email, or with other Apps. TRY INKFLOW FOR FREE Rather than just read about Inkflow, go ahead and try it out: We've decided to make the Basic Edition of Inkflow completely FREE. The Basic Edition is a full featured note-taking and sketching app. It comes with the Fountain Pen with black ink, photos, and a standard set of 5 popular fonts for text. Books max out at 20 pages each, but you can create as many as you like. If you're looking for more, there is... INKFLOW PLUS Upgrade instantly at any time to the Plus Edition to get: - Inkport - Dozens of premium stationery designs - iCloud sync - A customizable, full color palette, - Pencil, Eraser, and Paint Brush tools, - The Write-Behind Highlighter tool, - Rotate, Cut, Copy, Paste Ink, and Page Management, - Export as PNG with transparent backgrounds, - Notebooks with unlimited pages, - Custom paper backgrounds, - An additional 50+ fonts, - And more! The Plus Edition lets you do even more things such as: Painting, cartooning, page layouts, and brainstorming in full color. Learn more in the in-App Quickstart Guide. INKPORT: COPY AND PASTE FROM THE REAL WORLD Only Inkflow Plus includes the revolutionary Inkport tool. Inkport uses your iPad's camera to instantly convert your written notes and sketches into Inkflow's native vector ink. Easily pull in materials from multiple sources and go from paper to iPad without missing a beat. Inkport is going to change the way you use paper in your workflow. Universal App for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch: Upgrade once and get Inkflow Plus on all your compatible devices connected to your iTunes account! EDUCATORS: Inkflow Plus is also available as a standalone App, and qualifies for Apple's Volume Purchase Program. A PLATFORM FOR CREATIVITY We strongly believe that the iPad is not just a consumption device. It's a creativity device. Check out our whole range of creativity Apps on our website. Keep on creating! Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy policy: https://www.qrayon.com/home/privacy/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Inkflow Visual Notebook at 4.6 against pdf's 3.3. Inkflow Visual Notebook also leads on ratings volume (1.9K vs 23) and device support (3 vs 1). pdf's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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. pdf sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Inkflow Visual Notebook sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Inkflow Visual Notebook holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Inkflow Visual Notebook has 1.9K ratings behind it against 23, 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 71% of Inkflow Visual Notebook's.
pdf ships an update every 3 weeks, Inkflow Visual Notebook every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 10, 2026.
| Parameter | Inkflow Visual Notebook | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (23 ratings) | 4.6 (1.9K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 68.0% of reviews | 71.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 23 | 1.9K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 141 MB | 58 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | AMuseTec Co., Ltd. | Qrayon, LLC |
Customer experience
Inkflow Visual Notebook
User reviews
What we love
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 💡 Great annotation tools
- 🔒 Secure and reliable
- 📚 Excellent for students and academics
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 💸 Expensive paid version
- 📤 Difficulty exporting annotated PDFs
- 🔍 Lack of search functionality
- 🖍️ Inconsistent behavior of highlighting and erasing
Inkflow Visual Notebook
From 1.9K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Intuitive interface
- 💡 Great for brainstorming and sketching
- 👍 Useful for note-taking and journaling
- 👍 Versatile for various purposes (work, school, art)
Room to improve
- 🔒 Limited features in free version
- 💰 Paid upgrade is expensive for some users
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and data loss issues
- 🔒 Lack of cloud sync and cross-device access
- 🔒 Difficult to organize and manage notebooks/pages
Bugs and requests
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
Inkflow Visual Notebook
Reported bugs
4 issues- Frequent crashes and data loss
- Unreliable auto-save and syncing
- Compatibility issues with newer devices/OS
- Pen/input lag and inconsistent responsiveness
Requested features
5 requests- Add more pen/brush options and customization
- Implement layers and advanced drawing tools
- Improve page management (insert, delete, reorder)
- Integrate cloud sync and cross-device access
- Add password protection and locking features
In-app purchases
- 2-Month Pass$0.99
- 1-Year Pass$4.99
- Lifetime License$9.99
Inkflow Visual Notebook
- Inkflow Plus Monthly Subscription$1.991 Month
- Inkflow Plus Annual Subscription7 Days trial$12.991 Year
- Inkflow Plus$19.99
Questions
Is pdf free?
Is Inkflow Visual Notebook free?
Which has better reviews, pdf or Inkflow Visual Notebook?
Do pdf or Inkflow Visual Notebook have ads?
Which is updated more often, pdf or Inkflow Visual Notebook?
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