OrbitNote vs Notepad by mathies
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!
Notepad by mathies
This app allows users to record mathematical thinking by writing solutions, sketching diagrams, and creating graphs. Users can customize backgrounds, use text and pencil tools, and add various drawing objects. Work can be shared via screenshots.
- Customizable backgrounds (grid, lined, blank)
- Text and pencil tools for notes and drawings
- Extensive drawing objects (arrows, shapes, grids)
- Adjustable object colors, thickness, and transparency
- Screenshot sharing for portfolios
- Resizing and repositioning of elements
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Write solutions, sketch diagrams, create graphs and record your mathematical thinking using the Notepad by mathies. Take a screenshot of your work to share with others or add to a portfolio. Features: •Select the background: grid, isometric dot, lined or blank •Customize the background’s appearance by adjusting colours or the number of rows and columns, resizing and/or repositioning •Type notes using the text tool •Use the pencil tool for freestyle writing and drawings •Include drawing objects: arrows, lines, number lines, rulers, hops, dots, rectangles, squares, ovals, circles, triangles, starbursts, grids and polygons •Change colour, line thickness, fill colour and transparency •Copy and rotate all annotation objects
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: OrbitNote at 4.7 against Notepad by mathies's 2.3. OrbitNote also leads on ratings volume (60 vs 3). Notepad by mathies's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and review sentiment (67% vs 50%). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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. Notepad by mathies asks for nothing beyond the download.
OrbitNote holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OrbitNote has 60 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of OrbitNote's written reviews are positive against 67% of Notepad by mathies's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
OrbitNote ships an update monthly, Notepad by mathies every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | OrbitNote | Notepad by mathies |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (60 ratings) — better | 2.3 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 60 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.5 | 6.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 252 MB | 33 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Everway Opco Ltd. | OAME |
Customer experience
OrbitNote
Notepad by mathies
In-app purchases
OrbitNote
- Krzysztof$1.99
- Joaquim$1.99
- 5000 Credits$3.99
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- Elise$3.99
- Valentin$3.99
- Elias$3.99
- Emilie$3.99
- Filip$3.99
- Freja$3.99
- Unlock ClaroPDF Pro$9.99
Notepad by mathies
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is OrbitNote free?
Is Notepad by mathies free?
Which has better reviews, OrbitNote or Notepad by mathies?
Do OrbitNote or Notepad by mathies have ads?
Which is updated more often, OrbitNote or Notepad by mathies?
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