OrbitNote vs SnapType
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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!
SnapType
This app allows students to easily complete school worksheets by adding text to images of their assignments using their device's keyboard. It's a helpful tool for those who struggle with handwriting, enabling them to share their completed work via print, email, or other sharing options.
- Add text to worksheet images
- Import worksheets from device
- Use device keyboard for input
- Print completed worksheets
- Email completed worksheets
- Share completed worksheets
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SnapType helps students keep up with their peers in class even when their penmanship holds them back. Students can easily complete school worksheets with the help of an iPad or iPhone. With SnapType, students can take a picture of their worksheets, or import worksheets from anywhere on their device. They can then use their iOS device keyboard to add text to these documents and print, email, or share their creations. It is the perfect solution for kids, and even adults, who struggle with their handwriting. Just read a few of our amazing testimonials: "Dear Amberlynn, Thank you so much for creating this app. You have changed the way my 12 year old son with dyspraxia functions in school. He is more independent and I cannot thank you enough. Please continue to help kids like my son. You are changing lives. Thank you." "Thank you for this ! I am going to talk to my sons teachers about this -you are a blessing ! I can honestly tell you that I have spent many hours crying inside an Hurting watching my son struggle to write pages of sentences and spelling words and other homework - to the point that I have stopped him and honestly wrote for him left handed to make it look more like a neater version of his because I could not take it anymore ! Thank you" "I just wanted to personally thank you for creating it, as this is an app that I use nearly every day with my son to do his homework. You have created an app with a simple interface, but with an incredibly powerful impact. Thank you." "It is wonderful and something so simple yet so so so important for little guys like mine who cannot write BUT is learning to type and has so much to say and SHOW." "We trialed SnapType with an 8-year old who is receiving school-based occupational therapy due to visual motor and visual perceptual issues. The biggest complaint from teachers about handwriting for this student was related to illegible answers on worksheets. The student quickly learned to take images of the worksheets with her iPad, upload them to the device and type in her answers. In addition to making her writing legible and eliminating issues with visual perceptual skills, the child's interest in the task was greatly improved, as was her pride in her work." "Thank you so much Amberlynn. What a wonderful idea and gift to those kids that struggle with dysgraphia. I have converted many a workbook page for my son. This is WONDERFUL!" "Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm a mother of twins. My son is autistic and my daughter has cerebral palsy. They are still only 2 and a half... but I'm sure they will both need and use this. The fact that you have also made it free and are paying for it out of pocket is just the sweetest thing ever. I read about this last night and cried tears of joy. You are amazing! And I'm going to be telling everyone who will listen about you, this story, and your app. Thank you again, I truly appreciate it!!”
Screenshots
Verdict
OrbitNote and SnapType both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 64% of SnapType's written reviews are positive against 50% of OrbitNote's. SnapType also leads on ratings volume (366 vs 60). On price, rating, 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
Both are free to download. OrbitNote sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and SnapType sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $49.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
OrbitNote holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SnapType has 366 ratings behind it against 60, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of OrbitNote's written reviews are positive against 64% of SnapType's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
OrbitNote ships an update monthly, SnapType every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | OrbitNote | SnapType |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (60 ratings) — better | 4.5 (366 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 64.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 60 | 366 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 4 weeks — better |
| 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 | 15.5 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 252 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Everway Opco Ltd. | SNAPTYPE, LLC |
Customer experience
OrbitNote
SnapType
Bugs and requests
OrbitNote
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
SnapType
Reported bugs
10 issues- Location is never where you tap
- Boxes don’t move when you want it to
- Automatic blur problem
- Upgrade doesn't restore
- Crashes when trying to install on iPad
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- Keeps crashing
- Will not let me delete more than 3 documents
- Bought pro and when I tap restore it crashes
- Can not save
- Having issues getting the desired document or pic of worksheet to open
Requested features
5 requests- Fix automatic blur
- Add erasing function for Apple Pencil
- More space for documents (basic version)
- Ability to write on SnapType (free version)
- Enable text-to-speech for worksheet directions
In-app purchases
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
SnapType
- Everything Unlocked14 Days trial$49.991 Year









