Comparison

pdf vs ZoomNotes Lite

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

ZoomNotes Lite

This app allows for handwritten notes and sketches on various digital documents, including PDFs and Office files. It offers unlimited zooming, customizable paper styles, and extensive sharing options. Additional features and pen types are available through in-app purchases.

Highlights
  • Unlimited zoom and panning
  • Handwritten notes and sketches
  • Markup PDFs and Office documents
  • Customizable paper sizes and styles
  • Extensive document sharing options
  • Digital planning with calendar integration
Features
Read full description

ZoomNotes Lite is an iPad/iPhone visual note-taking app. It lets you quickly make handwritten notes and sketches on virtual paper, on PDF files, on MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint docs (via GoogleDrive), and over images. Uniquely, it also lets you zoom in and out without arbitrary limits, an invaluable feature for this type of app. It has a free fully functioning pen (although you will be able to try the pens too), and more available as in-app purchases. It has unlimited paper sizes/styles, unlimited colours and line thicknesses, and a large range of ways to share its documents making ZoomNotes the most versatile handwriting/drawing app. ZoomNotes Desktop for Mac now also available. ZoomNotes is much more than a replacement for your trusted paper notebook! Compatible with any capacitive stylus pen (although fingers work well too). Here some reviews of the app store of the full version- The best note taking app available! ***** by MarkNance – Version 7.1.4 – Jul 6, 2016 Don’t be put off by all its features! ***** by Stevearcher – Version 7.1.3 – May 24, 2016 Most complete Note app I’ve tried ***** by ItsDartstx – Version 7.1.3 – Apr 20, 2016 Most effective note taking app ***** by John25642 – Version 7.1.3 – Jul 7, 2016 Full featured and innovative ***** by music-major – Version 7.1.3 – May 15, 2016 Hands(writing)-down, best notepad replacement out there. ***** by Jed123zz – Version 7.1.3 – Mar 23, 2016 Free features include: -1 Pen type - Felt tip. -Huge Zoom Range and Whiteboard page style -Rotatable views -Split screen mode (edit 2 documents at once) -Digital planning with links, which can also show events and reminders from the Calendar and Reminder apps -Write over PDF file -Write over MS Word, Powerpoint and Excel files (via GoogleDrive) -Calendar events/reminders :add events linked to your documents, possibly with alarms. The URL in the event links back to the document in ZoomNotes. -Typed text- limited to a single font, fills and borders -Regular shapes and arrows -Symbol library -Select, scale, rotate and shift -Cut, copy, paste (including between documents, pages and other apps) -Write over pdf files (markup) -Configurable paper types -Intuitive folder interface for documents -Sharing as PDF files, images, videos or ZoomNotes documents (via email, iTunes, clipboard, Dropbox, Twitter and Evernote) -In app printing -VGA compatible for use with projectors, monitors and AirPlay -Universal app - iPhone and iPad -iCloud support -Geo-located documents; documents can be optionally geo-located and viewed as pins on a map. -Layers let you control what is visible on a page, also options for 'master layers' which show on all pages. In app purchases features include: -7 extra Pen types, including Italic, Gel, Nib, Pencil and Watercolour. -Sub-pages (pages within pages within...) -Typed text- fully configurable fonts, colours, fills and borders -Unlimited colours and line styles -Bookmarks with animated playback -Insert images from camera or photo library -Insert web pages -Insert videos from camera or photo library -Edit inserted images, including masking and cropping -Record and playback sounds, including import and export of caf files - Handwriting recognition (14 different languages). Please note that the full version of ZoomNotes is equivalent to the Lite version with all the in-app purchases. There are lots more details including some videos of the app in action at www.zoom-notes.com Please remember to leave us a review. If you wish, you can send us feedback directly, we reply to every email sent to support@zoom-notes.com. If you experience any problems or bugs in the app, please email us your device information, which iOS version you are running to support@zoom-notes.com and we will fix it asap. Twitter - @zoomnotes

Screenshots

ZoomNotes Lite4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ZoomNotes Lite at 4.2 against pdf's 3.3. ZoomNotes Lite also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (214 vs 22). On price, review sentiment, update cadence 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. pdf sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and ZoomNotes Lite sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ZoomNotes Lite holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ZoomNotes Lite has 214 ratings behind it against 22, 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 72% of ZoomNotes Lite's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
pdf versus ZoomNotes Lite: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterpdfZoomNotes Lite
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.3 (22 ratings)4.2 (214 ratings) — better
Positive reviews68.3% of reviews72.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings22214 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size141 MB151 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAMuseTec Co., Ltd.Deliverance Software Ltd

Customer experience

pdf

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

ZoomNotes Lite

All ratings214 ratings
Positive77.6%
Neutral9.8%
Negative12.6%
Written reviews329 reviews
Positive72.0%
Neutral8.5%
Negative19.5%

User reviews

pdf

From 22 App Store ratings

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

ZoomNotes Lite

From 214 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Versatile and feature-rich
  • 👍 Smooth handwriting experience
  • 💡 Powerful customization options
  • 🚀 Seamless PDF annotation
  • 👍 Reliable syncing and backup

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
  • 👎 Confusing and outdated user interface
  • 🐛 Inconsistent pen and eraser behavior
  • 👎 Limited free version functionality

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

ZoomNotes Lite

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Syncing issues leading to document conflicts
  • Random lines and dots appearing on the page
  • Disappearing handwritten notes after saving
  • Inability to unlock paid features after purchase

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved text editing and formatting
  • Easier organization with better folder management
  • More tutorials and documentation
  • Ability to recover accidentally deleted notes

In-app purchases

3 purchases

pdf

One-time3
  • 2-Month Pass$0.99
  • 1-Year Pass$4.99
  • Lifetime License$9.99
10 purchases

ZoomNotes Lite

One-time10
  • Highlighter pen$0.99
  • Text$0.99
  • Images$0.99
Show 7 more
  • Bookmarks$0.99
  • Sounds$0.99
  • Sub-documents$0.99
  • Tables$0.99
  • Workspaces$1.99
  • All Pens$2.99
  • All features$7.99

Questions

Is pdf free?
pdf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ZoomNotes Lite free?
ZoomNotes Lite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, pdf or ZoomNotes Lite?
ZoomNotes Lite is rated higher. pdf averages 3.3 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while ZoomNotes Lite averages 4.2 from 214 ratings.
Do pdf or ZoomNotes Lite have ads?
pdf shows ads; ZoomNotes Lite does not.
Which is updated more often, pdf or ZoomNotes Lite?
pdf ships an update every 3 weeks, and ZoomNotes Lite every 3 weeks. Most recently, pdf was updated on October 10, 2026 and ZoomNotes Lite on October 18, 2026.

Other comparisons