Comparison

PDF Field Guide vs Formatr

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

Head to head
About

PDF Field Guide

Quickly access, search, and share your essential PDF documents. Organize and import files for offline viewing, and convert images into searchable PDFs. Smart zoom and full-screen reading enhance your experience.

Highlights
  • Organize and group documents
  • Import PDFs for offline viewing
  • Create searchable PDFs from images
  • Smart zoom and full-screen reading
  • Keyword search and table of contents
  • Share documents via multiple methods
Features
Read full description

PDF Field Guide is the #1 quick reference companion helping you recall information quickly!  Add, view, search and share your most important PDF documents quickly and easily from your iPhone, iPad and Mac. Helping you recall information quickly when you need it most! ADD - Organize and group your most needed documents for fast access. - Import PDFs from iCloud or Files App for offline viewing. - Create searchable PDFs using your camera and automatic document recognition. - Convert images to searchable PDFs from your photos or camera roll. VIEW - Double tap on the screen to Smart Zoom to the text you want to read. - Automatically switch to full screen reading mode when placed in landscape orientation. - Requires no internet connection. Documents are stored locally in iOS Files App. - Supports system dark mode. SEARCH - Perform keyword search to find information quickly. - Create customizable table of contents for fast access to important pages. - Tap to jump to sections in documents with embedded table of contents. - Tap to follow hyperlinks in documents with embedded links. - Highlight to select text in OCR-enabled documents allowing you to copy or share key information. SHARE - Share individual or multiple documents via email, text, AirDrop and more. - Family sharing enabled. - No subscriptions. Ever.

About

Formatr

Features
Read full description

Formatr provides AI-powered tools designed to simplify academic writing and research workflows for students, researchers, and academics. Our platform streamlines document formatting, automates citation management, and helps users stay organized with intuitive deadline tracking. Whether you're preparing a research paper for publication or formatting an assignment, our tools save time, reduce stress, and ensure professional results. With a mission to empower scholars worldwide, we combine cutting-edge technology with a deep understanding of academic challenges to deliver solutions that truly make a difference. Try Formatr today and focus on what matters most—your ideas! Plans & Subscriptions: Formatr offers both free and paid access options: Non-subscription plans: One-time purchases that unlock specific tools or features. Auto-renewable subscriptions: Provide access to premium features on an ongoing basis. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your account settings after purchase. Terms of Use: https://formatr.ai/terms-of-service.php

Screenshots

PDF Field Guide4 screens
Formatr4 screens

Verdict

The call

PDF Field Guide and Formatr are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. PDF Field Guide sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Formatr sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $12.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDF Field Guide ships an update monthly, Formatr every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
PDF Field Guide versus Formatr: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF Field GuideFormatr
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.016.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB71 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperHeidi PaulFormatr, LLC

In-app purchases

2 purchases

PDF Field Guide

One-time2
  • Premium Pass$1.99
  • Pro Pass$4.99
7 purchases

Formatr

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$12.001 Month
  • Annual Subscription$119.991 Year
One-time5
  • Annual Subscription$4.99
  • Pay per use$5.00
  • Pay per use$7.00
Show 2 more
  • Weekly Subscription$15.00
  • Semester Subscription$30.00

Questions

Is PDF Field Guide free?
PDF Field Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Formatr free?
Formatr is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PDF Field Guide or Formatr have ads?
Neither PDF Field Guide nor Formatr shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PDF Field Guide or Formatr?
PDF Field Guide ships an update monthly, and Formatr every 4 weeks. Most recently, PDF Field Guide was updated on October 16, 2026 and Formatr on October 13, 2026.

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