# pdf vs ZoomNotes Lite

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | pdf | ZoomNotes Lite |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-notes-for-ipad-ads/id391487223/reviews) | **[4.2 (214 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zoomnotes-lite/id621255925/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 22 | **214** |
| Positive reviews | 68.3% of reviews | **72.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 141 MB | 151 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AMuseTec Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/342152781) | [Deliverance Software Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/374494333) |

## 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


### ZoomNotes Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zoomnotes-lite/id621255925)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Highlighter pen | $0.99 | one-time |
| Text | $0.99 | one-time |
| Images | $0.99 | one-time |
| Bookmarks | $0.99 | one-time |
| Sounds | $0.99 | one-time |
| Sub-documents | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tables | $0.99 | one-time |
| Workspaces | $1.99 | one-time |
| All Pens | $2.99 | one-time |
| All features | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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- 👎 Confusing and outdated user interface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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

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


## Frequently asked 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.

---

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