ClaroPDF Pro vs OrbitNote
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ClaroPDF Pro
This app transforms PDFs into accessible documents. It allows you to listen to text with synchronized highlighting, annotate PDFs with various tools, and convert image-based PDFs into searchable text. Manage and sync your files across devices for seamless study and productivity.
- Text-to-speech with synchronized highlighting
- PDF annotation tools (highlight, underline, notes)
- Image and PDF image to accessible text conversion
- Background speech playback
- Customizable readability settings
- iCloud synchronization
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ClaroPDF Pro is an accessible, reading and study PDF tool for all. Annotate, mark up, listen to and save PDF files which are then still fully compatible with other popular PDF apps. Have accessible text PDF files spoken back to you with human quality voice & synchronized highlighting. PDF image files or photographs of text can be converted to accessible, searchable PDF files using the Claro Cloud conversion service. + Speech, Productivity and Accessibility Alongside the full range of iOS system voices, ClaroPDF Pro lets you choose up to 4 high-quality voices for free, in the languages of your choice. A ‘Speak in Background’ option lets you listen to a PDF while viewing another app - great for proofreading PDF files while you’re working in other apps. The ‘Speak on tap’ and ‘Stop on tap’ options make speech easy to control. + ClaroPDF allows the background color of the PDF to be changed, and text color inverted, to enhance readability. ClaroPDF fully supports VoiceOver. + Annotations, Notes and Comments ClaroPDF includes a powerful Annotation toolbar that lets you add notes and other comments. These are fully interchangeable with most other popular PDF apps, so your ClaroPDF comments will still be there if you open the PDF on another device. Annotations created in another PDF app can also be viewed and edited. Annotation features include: highlight; underscore; strikeout; notes; free text (type straight into the PDF); free line draw; shapes (circle, square, line - with many options); images (you can even insert photos from your iPad camera or photo library into the PDF file); audio and video. + Photos and Image PDF to Text PDF Conversion You can convert photos and other images to fully accessible text PDF files that can be spoken, searched, copied and highlighted. As well as converting photos, you can also convert any PDF Image file into a fully accessible Text PDF file. Along with making these PDF files accessible and searchable, it will also compress them, reducing file size. 5000 pages and photos can be converted using the 5000 included credits. Further credit can be purchased in app. Photos and Image PDF to Text PDF Conversion in ClaroPDF uses the Claro Cloud conversion service and requires an internet connection. ***Minimum camera spec: 2MP*** + Managing PDF Files PDF files can be opened in ClaroPDF from all other apps, including Mail and Safari. All opened PDF files will be placed in the ClaroPDF Documents List for later viewing. You can also open files from Dropbox, Google Drive, or import files via iTunes. PDF files can be saved into ClaroPDF’s Documents, Dropbox or Google Drive, sent by email, or opened in other apps that support PDF files. The ClaroPDF Documents List is fully customisable, allowing you to organise your PDF files and folders. + Sync with iCloud You can sync ClaroPDF with your iCloud account. This lets you store and synchronize your PDF files and annotations across multiple devices. Sync with iCloud can also act as a document backup so you can keep your documents safe. + Save as PDF Extension The "Save as PDF" Extension lets you convert text and images to PDF files from Safari, Notes, Photos and other apps using the iOS "Share" feature. When converted, these new PDF files will appear in your documents list inside ClaroPDF. + Included Text to Speech Voices Download any 4 of our high quality text to speech voices. Once you have downloaded your free voices, other Nuance Expressive, Acapela and CereProc voices are available to purchase in-app. + Switch Accessibility ClaroPDF responds to switch or Bluetooth keyboard commands: 1 (~1) Start speech 2 (~2) Stop speech 3 (~3) Turn to previous page 4 (~4) Turn to next page + Fullscreen mode Allows the full document to be seen without toolbars in view. Ideal for smaller screens! Need help with ClaroPDF or have any suggestions? Please email support@clarosoftware.com
OrbitNote
This tool allows users to read, annotate, and listen to PDF documents. It converts image-based PDFs to accessible text and offers features like speech playback, highlighting, and iCloud sync for seamless document management across devices.
- Annotate PDFs with highlights, underscores, and notes
- Convert image PDFs to searchable text
- Listen to PDFs with human-quality voice playback
- Change background and text colors for readability
- Sync documents and annotations with iCloud
- Import/export PDFs from cloud storage and other apps
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OrbitNote is an accessible, reading and study PDF tool for all. Annotate, mark up, listen to and save PDF files which are then still fully compatible with other popular PDF apps. Have accessible text PDF files spoken back to you with human quality voice & synchronised highlighting. PDF image files or photographs of text can be converted to accessible, searchable PDF files and read in the app. + Speech, Productivity and Accessibility Alongside the full range of iOS system voices, OrbitNote comes with a range of high-quality voices in different languages. A ‘Speak in Background’ option lets you listen to a PDF while viewing another app - great for proofreading PDF files while you’re working in other apps. The ‘Speak on tap’ and ‘Stop on tap’ options make speech easy to control. + OrbitNote allows the background colour of the PDF to be changed, and text colour inverted, to enhance readability. OrbitNote fully supports VoiceOver. + Annotations, Notes and Comments OrbitNote includes a powerful Annotation toolbar that lets you add notes and other comments. These are fully interchangeable with most other popular PDF apps, so your OrbitNote comments will still be there if you open the PDF on another device. Annotations created in another PDF app can also be viewed and edited. Annotation features include: highlight; underscore; strikeout; notes; free text (type straight into the PDF); free line draw; shapes (circle, square, line - with many options); images (you can even insert photos from your iPad camera or photo library into the PDF file); audio and video. + Photos and Image PDF to Text PDF Conversion You can convert photos and other images to fully accessible text PDF files that can be spoken, searched, copied and highlighted. As well as converting photos, you can also convert any PDF Image file into a fully accessible Text PDF file. Along with making these PDF files accessible and searchable, it will also compress them, reducing file size. Further credit can be purchased in app. Photos and Image PDF to Text PDF Conversion in OrbitNote requires an internet connection. + Managing PDF Files PDF files can be opened in OrbitNote from all other apps, including Mail and Safari. All opened PDF files will be placed in the OrbitNote Documents List for later viewing. You can also open files from Google Drive, OneDrive, or import directly from your device. PDF files can be saved into OrbitNote Documents, OneDrive or Google Drive, sent by email, or opened in other apps that support PDF files. + Sync with iCloud You can sync ClaroPDF with your iCloud account. This lets you store and synchronise your PDF files and annotations across multiple devices. Sync with iCloud can also act as a document backup so you can keep your documents safe. + Switch Accessibility OrbitNote responds to switch or Bluetooth keyboard commands: 1 (~1) Start speech 2 (~2) Stop speech 3 (~3) Turn to previous page 4 (~4) Turn to next page + Fullscreen mode Allows the full document to be seen without toolbars in view. Ideal for smaller screens!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: OrbitNote at Free against ClaroPDF Pro's $9.99. OrbitNote also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.2). ClaroPDF Pro's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.5). On review sentiment, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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
OrbitNote is free to download; ClaroPDF Pro costs $9.99 up front. ClaroPDF Pro sells 17 one-off in-app purchases and OrbitNote sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
OrbitNote holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 48 and 60 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 51% of ClaroPDF Pro's written reviews are positive against 50% of OrbitNote's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
ClaroPDF Pro ships an update every 3 weeks, OrbitNote every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and July 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ClaroPDF Pro | OrbitNote |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.2 (48 ratings) | 4.7 (60 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 51.4% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 48 | 60 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 4 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 147 MB | 257 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Claro Software Limited | Everway Opco Ltd. |
Customer experience
ClaroPDF Pro
OrbitNote
In-app purchases
ClaroPDF Pro
- JessFree
- HeatherFree
- 50 Credits$0.99
Show 14 moreShow fewer
- Jill$1.99
- Heather$1.99
- Micah$1.99
- Rod$1.99
- Will$1.99
- Allison$1.99
- Ava$1.99
- Susan$1.99
- Laura$1.99
- Rachel$1.99
- 200 Credits$3.99
- 5000 Credits$3.99
- Olivia$3.99
- 500 Credits$8.99
OrbitNote
- Krzysztof$1.99
- Joaquim$1.99
- 5000 Credits$3.99
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Elise$3.99
- Valentin$3.99
- Elias$3.99
- Emilie$3.99
- Filip$3.99
- Freja$3.99
- Unlock ClaroPDF Pro$9.99









