Comparison

Notator | Annotate Documents vs Pencil

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Notator | Annotate Documents

This app allows for detailed annotation of PDFs and images with various tools, including support for Apple Pencil. It offers flexible import options, high-quality rendering for large files, and intuitive page management. Upgrade to Pro for advanced export and editing capabilities.

Highlights
  • PDF and image annotation
  • Apple Pencil support
  • Flexible PDF import
  • High-quality PDF support
  • Zoom up to 1000%
  • Intuitive page management
  • Cloud storage integration
Features
Read full description

Notator is the ultimate app for all your PDF and image annotation needs, along with seamless note-taking capabilities. It adapts effortlessly to any situation, whether you're studying, working, or simply organizing your personal life. Experience the versatility of Notator today! What does Notator have in store for you? 1. Easy Annotation on PDFs and Images Effortlessly elevate your PDFs and images using a range of editing tools like pens, text boxes, and shapes. Infuse your own style by adding annotations, whether it's making notes on drawings, creating study guides, or refining your materials to perfection. 2. Supports Apple Pencil Our platform is fully compatible with the Apple Pencil, guaranteeing a seamless and precise writing experience when working on your documents. Additionally, you have the flexibility to utilize your fingers as an alternative input method. 3. Flexible PDF Import Extract specific portions from images saved on your device, recently captured photos, or PDF materials, and seamlessly insert them into your document while editing. 4. High-Quality PDF Support No need to worry about image degradation when importing large PDFs, even ones as big as A0 size. Edit detailed drawings and extensive project materials with ease, so you can stay stress-free while working on your documents. 5. Clipping and Pasting of PDFs & Photos Extract specific portions from images saved on your device, recently captured photos, or PDF materials, and seamlessly insert them into your document while editing. 6. Zoom Function Enables zooming up to 1000%, ensuring a hassle-free experience for annotating and reviewing intricate details in drawings. 7. Intuitive Page Management Effortlessly manage pages in imported PDFs or created documents with an intuitive interface. Rearrange, duplicate, delete, or add pages with ease, putting you in complete control. 8. Cloud Storage Compatible Easily import PDFs and images from cloud storage services like iCloud, Dropbox, Box. You can also upload your own documents hassle-free. 9. Notator Pro By upgrading to Notator Pro, you unlock the following features: - Export your created documents as PDFs or JPGs to easily share them with other apps. - Edit documents created by colleagues, friends, or family on different devices (note: real-time co-editing is not available). Stay tuned for more exciting updates as we add more useful features. To register, simply head to the "Settings" menu and select "Notator Pro." And guess what? You can enjoy a free trial for the first week! ◆ Ideal for a wide range of situations including: - Annotating intricate drawings or documents with precision. - Extracting specific sections from multi-page PDFs and adding your notes. - Annotating PDFs and images stored in cloud storage effortlessly. - Cutting out sections from various PDFs and images and compiling them into a single document. ◆ Contact Us If you have any questions, problems, or requests about using the app, feel free to contact us via our contact form. https://cimtops-sglab.com/about#contact-us ◆ Terms of Service https://cimtops-sglab.com/terms ◆ Privacy Policy https://cimtops-sglab.com/privacy-policy

About

Pencil

Create beautiful notes, sketch ideas, and annotate PDFs with advanced ink tools and AI assistance. Convert handwriting to text, scan documents, and organize files seamlessly across cloud services. Enjoy a realistic ink-on-paper feel with stylus support.

Highlights
  • Advanced ink tools for writing and sketching
  • AI Assistant for summarization and translation
  • Handwritten notes to editable text conversion
  • Document scanning with automatic frame recognition
  • Cloud service integration for file management
  • Full-text search for PDFs
  • PDF reader with highlighting and read aloud
Features
Read full description

Pencil brings handwriting, sketching, PDF annotation and watercolor painting to iPad and iPhone. Designed especially for Apple Pencil on iPad, it also works with other compatible styluses and your finger. Take notes in class, mark up a document, plan your week or paint an idea while it is still fresh. • Write and sketch your way. Use Apple Pencil on iPad, or write and draw with a compatible stylus or your finger on iPad and iPhone. Start a PDF note from a paper template, choose your ink colors and add typed text, images and shapes. Use lined or grid backgrounds to give your notes structure. • Make your PDFs useful. Highlight passages, add comments, write in the margins and insert your signature. Search inside a document, bookmark important pages and rearrange, duplicate or rotate pages as your work develops. • Keep the conversation with your notes. Record audio directly in a PDF note and play it back alongside the page. Revisit a lecture, meeting or explanation without separating the recording from your written notes. • Type when words come first. Create formatted Text Notes with fonts, colors, lists, checklists, tables and images. Turn a quick thought into a clear set of notes, a plan or a longer draft, then export it as a PDF to share. • Explore watercolor painting. Open a dedicated painting workspace, choose your paper and experiment with brushes, mixed colors and washes. Paint from a reference photo, try guided practice lessons and export your painting as an image or PDF. • Bring paper into your notebook. Scan documents with the camera, import files through the Files app and add photos to your work. Keep notes, PDFs and paintings organized in folders, ready to return to when you need them. • Get help from AI. Ask questions about your documents, summarize a passage, explain an unfamiliar concept or translate selected text. Use AI Chat to work through an idea alongside your notes. Privacy Policy: https://www.noteswriter.com/Kairoos_Privacy_Policy.html Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Notator | Annotate Documents4 screens
Pencil4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Pencil at 4.0 against Notator | Annotate Documents's 2.0. Pencil also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Notator | Annotate Documents sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Pencil sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pencil holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 4 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Notator | Annotate Documents ships an update every 2 months, Pencil every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Notator | Annotate Documents versus Pencil: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNotator | Annotate DocumentsPencil
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.0 (1 ratings)4.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—25.0% of reviews
Number of ratings14 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.026.0
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB465 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCIMTOPS SG LAB Pte. Ltd.Kairoos Solutions SL

Customer experience

Notator | Annotate Documents

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Pencil

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Notator | Annotate Documents

Subscriptions2
  • Notator Pro Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Notator Pro Yearly7 Days trial$8.991 Year
2 purchases

Pencil

Subscriptions1
  • Unlock All and AI Assistant3 Days trial$2.991 Month
One-time1
  • GoodPencil Upgrade$3.99

Questions

Is Notator | Annotate Documents free?
Notator | Annotate Documents is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pencil free?
Pencil is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Notator | Annotate Documents or Pencil?
Pencil is rated higher. Notator | Annotate Documents averages 2.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Pencil averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Notator | Annotate Documents or Pencil have ads?
Neither Notator | Annotate Documents nor Pencil shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Notator | Annotate Documents or Pencil?
Notator | Annotate Documents ships an update every 2 months, and Pencil every 8 days. Most recently, Notator | Annotate Documents was updated on October 6, 2026 and Pencil on October 11, 2026.

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