# Pencil vs PaperFlow

The clearest difference is update cadence: PaperFlow at every 3 days against Pencil's weekly. PaperFlow also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pencil sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and PaperFlow sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pencil ships an update weekly, PaperFlow every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pencil | PaperFlow |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-pdf-notes-with-pencil/id6466286421/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **4** | — |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 511 MB | 85 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kairoos Solutions SL](https://appshunter.io/developer/978066434) | [Freedom It](https://appshunter.io/developer/6803289905) |

## What reviewers say

### Pencil

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-pdf-notes-with-pencil/id6466286421)

This app allows users to handwrite, sketch, and annotate PDFs on their iPad and iPhone. It supports Apple Pencil and other styluses for note-taking, drawing, and even watercolor painting. Features include audio recording within notes and AI assistance for summarizing and translation.

**Highlights:** Handwrite and sketch with stylus or finger, Annotate and mark up PDFs, Record audio directly in notes, Create formatted text notes, Watercolor painting workspace, Scan and import documents, AI assistance for summaries and translation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlock All and AI Assistant | $3.99 | per month |
| Pencil Annual | $14.99 | per year |
| Pencil Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |


### PaperFlow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paperflow-handwritten-notes/id6803289903)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PaperFlow Plus (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| PaperFlow Plus (Annual) | $59.99 | per year |
| Founder Plan (lifetime) | $99.90 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pencil free?

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

### Is PaperFlow free?

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

### Do Pencil or PaperFlow have ads?

Neither Pencil nor PaperFlow shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pencil or PaperFlow?

Pencil ships an update weekly, and PaperFlow every 3 days. Most recently, Pencil was updated on November 7, 2026 and PaperFlow on November 6, 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.*