Comparison

TL;DR vs Cortex

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

Head to head
About

TL;DR

Features
Read full description

Our app helps you quickly turn long articles, documents, messages, and reports into clear and concise summaries. Perfect for anyone who wants to save time and get straight to the point. Key Features: Instant Summaries Transform large texts into short and accurate summaries in seconds. Flexible Formats Choose your preferred length: short, medium, or detailed. Supports Any Text Works with PDFs, articles, emails, essays, research papers, and more. AI-Powered Accuracy Uses advanced AI to extract key ideas and essential information. History & Saving Easily access your previous summaries anytime. Simple Interface Clean and intuitive design for a smooth user experience. Premium Features Upgrade to unlock full functionality: Unlimited Usage β€” no limits on text length Advanced Modes β€” structured, key points, and detailed summaries Faster Processing β€” optimized for large documents File Upload Support β€” PDF, DOCX, and more History Access β€” save and review past results Ad-Free Experience Early Access to New Features Premium makes your workflow faster, smoother, and more efficient. Who It’s For Students, researchers, professionals, and anyone who wants to read faster and understand more with less effort. Save time. Focus on what matters. Legal Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://telegra.ph/Privacy-Policy-11-16-268 Support: https://telegra.ph/Terms-of-Use-11-16-2

About

Cortex

Features
Read full description

Your all-in-one AI assistant. Cortex brings the world's best AI models into a single app. No need to switch between apps. Access them all in one place. Multiple AI Models Switch between models mid-conversation or compare two side by side. One prompt, two answers β€” pick the best. Live Web Search Get answers powered by real-time web results. Always accurate, always current. Scheduled Prompts Set daily, weekly, or monthly AI tasks. Cortex runs them automatically and sends you a push notification with the result. Smart Memory Cortex remembers your preferences and personalizes every response automatically. Voice & File Support Speak your prompt or attach images and PDFs directly to any model. Rich Content Code blocks, tables, math equations, and diagrams β€” beautifully rendered in chat. Prompt Templates Ready-made prompts for coding, writing, translation, analysis, creative work, and productivity. Fully Customizable Adjust tone, style, friendliness, and add custom instructions. Make the AI sound exactly how you want. 33 Languages Full interface localization including English, Turkish, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, and more. Stay Organized Folders, search, export, share, and summarize your conversations. Download Cortex β€” your AI, your rules. Cortex Plus and Cortex Pro are optional auto-renewable subscriptions. Payment is charged to your Apple Account, and subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel them in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use: https://cortex.odbs.tech/terms-of-use Privacy Policy: https://cortex.odbs.tech/privacy-policy

Screenshots

TL;DR4 screens
Cortex4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Cortex at every 4 days against TL;DR's every 5 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. TL;DR sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and Cortex sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TL;DR ships an update every 5 months, Cortex every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference Β· 5 level
TL;DR versus Cortex: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTL;DRCortex
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 4 days β€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad β€” better
Requires iOS16.616.4 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size6 MB70 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer515 College Dr LLCODBS LLC

In-app purchases

1 purchases

TL;DR

Subscriptions1
  • Weekly$6.997 Days
7 purchases

Cortex

Subscriptions4
  • Plus Weekly$4.997 Days
  • Pro Monthly$8.991 Month
  • Pro Weekly$9.997 Days
Show 1 more
  • Pro Yearly$69.991 Year
One-time3
  • 500 Credits$1.99
  • 50 Credits$2.99
  • 150 Credits$6.99

Questions

Is TL;DR free?
TL;DR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cortex free?
Cortex is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do TL;DR or Cortex have ads?
Neither TL;DR nor Cortex shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TL;DR or Cortex?
TL;DR ships an update every 5 months, and Cortex every 4 days. Most recently, TL;DR was updated on October 15, 2026 and Cortex on October 25, 2026.

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