# Javelin Reader vs OmniFocus 4

The clearest difference is rating: OmniFocus 4 at 4.0 against Javelin Reader's 1.9. OmniFocus 4 also leads on review sentiment (52% vs 19%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 12 months). Javelin Reader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 18.2). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. OmniFocus 4 sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Javelin Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

OmniFocus 4 holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OmniFocus 4 has 344 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 19% of Javelin Reader's written reviews are positive against 52% of OmniFocus 4's.

Javelin Reader ships an update every 12 months, OmniFocus 4 every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Javelin Reader | OmniFocus 4 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.9 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/javelin-reader/id520519608/reviews) | **[4.0 (344 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/omnifocus-4/id1542143627/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 17 | **344** |
| Positive reviews | 18.8% of reviews | **52.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 10 MB | 138 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.3** | 18.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Drumlin](https://appshunter.io/developer/512187924) | [The Omni Group](https://appshunter.io/developer/281731738) |

## What reviewers say

### Javelin Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/javelin-reader/id520519608)

This app is a PDF reader designed for books and articles, offering features like bookmarking, annotation, and highlighting. It allows users to download documents via URL, file sharing, or XML shortcuts, supporting DRM-protected files.

**Highlights:** PDF reading, Bookmarking, Annotation, Highlighting/markup, Document download via URL, File sharing support, DRM protected file support

**In-app purchases:** none


### OmniFocus 4

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/omnifocus-4/id1542143627)

This task management application helps busy professionals organize and prioritize their work. It offers a unified interface across multiple Apple devices, allowing users to create, organize, and focus on tasks efficiently. A free trial is available.

**Highlights:** Unified interface across Apple devices, Task creation and organization, Perspectives Bar for navigation, Focus mode for specific projects, Secure, end-to-end encrypted sync, Universal cross-platform purchase

**Features:** Siri integration, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Legacy Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Legacy Subscription | $99.99 | per year |
| Upgrade to v4 from v1-v3 | $37.49 | one-time |
| Upgrade v4 to Pro from v1-v3 | $37.49 | one-time |
| Unlock Standard (Mac Promo) | $56.00 | one-time |
| Unlock Standard | $74.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade from Standard to Pro | $74.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to v4 Pro from v1-v3 | $74.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Pro (Mac Promo) | $111.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Pro | $149.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Streamlined and better than ever
- 🔒 End-to-end encrypted
- 👍 Universal interface across devices
- 🚀 Powerful task management features
- 👍 Customizable perspectives

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy, crashes, and laggy
- 👎 Clunky and confusing user interface
- 👎 Degraded user interface compared to previous version
- 🐛 Sync issues and slow synchronization
- 👎 Lacks important features like time-sensitive notifications

**Reported bugs**

- View options button not working consistently
- Custom perspectives not persisting in sidebar
- App crashing on launch
- Drag and drop functionality issues
- Incorrect task completion when adding new tasks

**Requested features**

- Markdown support in notes
- Gantt view for projects
- Ability to reorder perspectives in the sidebar
- Print to PDF with due dates and completed dates
- Natural language processing for task creation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Javelin Reader free?

Javelin Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is OmniFocus 4 free?

OmniFocus 4 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Javelin Reader or OmniFocus 4?

OmniFocus 4 is rated higher. Javelin Reader averages 1.9 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while OmniFocus 4 averages 4.0 from 344 ratings.

### Do Javelin Reader or OmniFocus 4 have ads?

Neither Javelin Reader nor OmniFocus 4 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Javelin Reader or OmniFocus 4?

Javelin Reader ships an update every 12 months, and OmniFocus 4 every 3 weeks. Most recently, Javelin Reader was updated on October 23, 2026 and OmniFocus 4 on October 23, 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.*