Comparison

iPDF local vs TimeGlow

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

Head to head
About

iPDF local

Features
Read full description

Edit and sign PDFs directly on your iPhone, iPad or Mac with Apple silicon. Scan documents using the camera on your iPhone or iPad. iPDF local is your private PDF workspace for everyday document tasks. Open PDFs, add text, highlight content, draw, manage pages or scan documents with a modern interface and without unnecessary cloud dependency. EDIT PDFs WITH EASE • Add text and edit your own text objects • Draw with a pen or highlight content • Add circles, rectangles and stamps • Adjust color, opacity, background and line width • Move, rotate, resize or delete objects • Rotate, reorder, add and remove PDF pages • Create new PDFs • Scan documents with the camera on supported iPhones and iPads • Export and share PDFs PRIVATE AND LOCAL The local PDF editor does not require an account with us. Documents and drafts are stored locally. You decide when to export them or process them with a server you configured yourself. No unnecessary cloud. No data collection by iPDF local. Your documents stay under your control. PRO FOR POWERFUL WORKFLOWS With Pro, iPDF local also becomes a powerful frontend for your own document infrastructure. STIRLING PDF Connect your own Stirling PDF server for advanced tools including: • Merge and split PDFs • Compress files • OCR • Crop and rotate pages • Protect PDFs • Add watermarks • Convert documents • Sanitize PDFs • And more Stirling PDF tools NEXTCLOUD Browse files in your private Nextcloud, open documents directly in iPDF local and return finished files to your own workflow. PAPERLESS-NGX Search your Paperless-ngx archive, open documents in iPDF local and send finished documents back to your document system. FOR EVERYONE — AND POWER USERS You do not need your own server to use iPDF local as a PDF editor. But if you already use Stirling PDF, Nextcloud or Paperless-ngx, iPDF local grows into an exceptionally powerful mobile document workflow. Start for free. Basic includes local editing, page controls and single-page scans. Pro adds handwritten signatures, editable sharing, multi-page scans, non-PDF imports and server integrations. Conversions and server tools require the corresponding service you configure. Unlock Pro Lifetime once — no new subscription required. The current price for your region is shown before purchase. The editor adds PDF content; it does not reconstruct existing PDF body text. Handwritten signatures are not qualified digital signatures. iPDF local is an independent app and is not affiliated with Stirling PDF, Nextcloud or Paperless-ngx.

About

TimeGlow

This app helps you stay focused with visual timers for single tasks or multi-step routines. It uses color transitions and status cues to guide your focus, breaks, and transitions. An AI feature can even generate practical focus sequences based on your goals and available time.

Highlights
  • Focus Sessions for single activities
  • Focus Sequences for multi-step routines
  • AI-generated Focus Sequences
  • Timed breaks between activities
  • Background notifications
  • Activity history and focus insights
  • Categorization for various activities
Features
Read full description

TimeGlow is a visual focus timer designed to help you stay focused without constantly watching the clock. Create a simple Focus Session for one task, or build a Focus Sequence with multiple timed steps and breaks. TimeGlow uses clear color transitions and status cues to help you know when to focus, wrap up, take a break, and move on. Need help getting started? Use AI to turn a goal and an available amount of time into a practical Focus Sequence. For example, tell TimeGlow you have 45 minutes for a workout and it can organize that time into warm-up, cardio, strength, and recovery steps. TimeGlow includes: • Focus Sessions for single activities • Focus Sequences for multi-step routines • AI-generated Focus Sequences • Optional timed breaks between activities • Notifications to keep sessions moving when your device is locked or TimeGlow is in the background • Activity history and focus insights • Categories for Fitness, Work, Study, and more • Simple visual transitions that reduce the need to watch a countdown clock • TimeGlow Pro for unlimited AI sequences, expanded insights, and an ad-free experience Whether you’re exercising, studying, working, or simply trying to make better use of a block of time, TimeGlow helps turn your intention into a clear plan and keeps you moving through it. Plan less. Focus more. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

iPDF local4 screens
TimeGlow4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: iPDF local at none against TimeGlow's shown. TimeGlow's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). On price, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. iPDF local sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and TimeGlow sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iPDF local ships an update every 3 months, TimeGlow every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
iPDF local versus TimeGlow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriPDF localTimeGlow
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB39 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThomas RhodeDozenRed LLC

In-app purchases

4 purchases

iPDF local

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly$0.997 Days
  • Monthly Plan$2.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription$17.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Purchase$8.99
2 purchases

TimeGlow

Subscriptions2
  • TimeGlow Pro Monthly$0.991 Month
  • TimeGlow Pro Annual$7.991 Year

Questions

Is iPDF local free?
iPDF local is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TimeGlow free?
TimeGlow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do iPDF local or TimeGlow have ads?
TimeGlow shows ads; iPDF local does not.
Which is updated more often, iPDF local or TimeGlow?
iPDF local ships an update every 3 months, and TimeGlow every 4 days. Most recently, iPDF local was updated on October 3, 2026 and TimeGlow on September 28, 2026.

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