# Dark Reader vs SpeakPen

The clearest difference is update cadence: SpeakPen at every 3 days against Dark Reader's every 2 months. Dark Reader's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dark Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year and SpeakPen sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Dark Reader ships an update every 2 months, SpeakPen every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dark Reader | SpeakPen |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-reader-pdf-viewer/id6736392716/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **7** | — |
| Positive reviews | 30.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 67 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Utsav Mangla](https://appshunter.io/developer/1729995457) | [Qumge Infotech (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1273676758) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### SpeakPen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speakpen/id6743360755)

This AI-powered tool transforms spoken words into organized text notes. It offers automatic transcription, intelligent summaries, and supports multiple languages. Ideal for students, professionals, and anyone who needs to capture ideas quickly.

**Highlights:** AI-powered speech-to-text, Automatic intelligent summaries, Multi-language transcription, Audio recording and import, Organized note-taking interface, Dark mode support

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SpeakPen Pro | $9.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dark Reader free?

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

### Is SpeakPen free?

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

### Do Dark Reader or SpeakPen have ads?

Neither Dark Reader nor SpeakPen shows ads.

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

Dark Reader ships an update every 2 months, and SpeakPen every 3 days. Most recently, Dark Reader was updated on September 28, 2026 and SpeakPen on October 21, 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.*