# ExcalidrawZ vs Dark Reader

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ExcalidrawZ at 74% against Dark Reader's 30%. ExcalidrawZ also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). Dark Reader's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 4.2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ExcalidrawZ sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Dark Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Dark Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 7 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 74% of ExcalidrawZ's written reviews are positive against 30% of Dark Reader's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

ExcalidrawZ ships an update weekly, Dark Reader every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ExcalidrawZ | Dark Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/excalidrawz/id6636493997/reviews) | **[4.4 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-reader-pdf-viewer/id6736392716/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **12** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **73.5% of reviews** | 30.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 107 MB | 67 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chocoford Tech](https://appshunter.io/developer/1733805706) | [Utsav Mangla](https://appshunter.io/developer/1729995457) |

## What reviewers say

### ExcalidrawZ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/excalidrawz/id6636493997)

This app enhances a popular web-based drawing tool by adding essential file management features. It offers automatic saving, file grouping, and cloud synchronization to ensure your creations are always accessible and secure across devices.

**Highlights:** Automatic file saving, File grouping, iCloud backup, Cross-device synchronization, Enhanced security for drawings

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Starter | $2.99 | per month |
| One coffee a month | $2.99 | per month |
| One coffee a week | $6.99 | per month |
| Pro | $9.99 | per month |
| Max 3× | $29.99 | per month |
| Starter | $29.99 | per year |
| Max 10× | $99.99 | per month |
| Pro | $99.99 | per year |
| Max 3× (Yearly) | $299.99 | per year |
| Max 10× (Yearly) | $999.99 | per year |
| Buy me a coffee | $2.99 | one-time |
| Buy me two coffee | $4.99 | one-time |
| Buy me five coffee | $19.99 | one-time |
| Buy me ten coffee | $29.99 | one-time |
| Give me a great support | $49.99 | one-time |
| Ultimate support | $99.99 | one-time |


### Dark Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-reader-pdf-viewer/id6736392716)

Easily read PDF documents in a comfortable dark mode to reduce eye strain and save battery. This app automatically converts any PDF into a dark theme for a better reading experience on your devices.

**Highlights:** PDF dark mode conversion, Automatic dark mode application, All-in-one PDF viewer, Eye comfort focus, Supports iPhone, iPad, macOS

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual | $4.99 | per year |
| Lifetime: Buy once Use forever | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ExcalidrawZ free?

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

### Is Dark Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ExcalidrawZ or Dark Reader?

Dark Reader is rated higher. ExcalidrawZ averages 4.2 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Dark Reader averages 4.4 from 7 ratings.

### Do ExcalidrawZ or Dark Reader have ads?

Neither ExcalidrawZ nor Dark Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ExcalidrawZ or Dark Reader?

ExcalidrawZ ships an update weekly, and Dark Reader every 2 months. Most recently, ExcalidrawZ was updated on October 19, 2026 and Dark Reader on September 28, 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.*