Semanty vs ExplainThisDoc
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Semanty
Read full descriptionHide full description
You're reading something in a foreign language and hit an unfamiliar word. What do you do? Switch apps, type it out, scroll through a wall of dictionary entries, then guess which meaning fits β by then the reading flow is long gone. And if it's a phrase or idiom, a traditional dictionary likely won't help at all. Semanty takes a different approach: select the word, and get exactly what it means right there in that sentence. No guessing through lists of definitions. And even if you only select one word of a phrase, Semanty recognizes the full expression and explains it. Read Without Interruption Supports EPUB, PDF, and web page imports. Open a book, a paper, an article β tap any word or phrase you don't understand. No switching apps, no breaking focus. Just keep reading. Remember in Sentences, Not Words Every word and sentence you look up is automatically saved to your notebook. There are no isolated word cards here β each entry is the original sentence you encountered. When reviewing, you're not asked to recall a definition out of context. You see the sentence and ask yourself: do I understand this? That familiar moment brings the meaning back naturally. Spaced Repetition Built on a spaced-repetition algorithm. What you know well shows up less. What you struggle with comes back sooner. Progress you can actually see. Safari Extension Not reading inside the app? The Safari extension gives you the same tap-to-understand experience right in your browser. Clean and Quiet No ads. No distractions. No social features. Just a calm space for reading and learning. By downloading this app, you agree to Appleβs standard Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
ExplainThisDoc
Read full descriptionHide full description
Keep letters, bills, and PDFs together. Find your documents again and get difficult letters explained whenever you need help understanding them. ExplainThisDoc helps you keep personal paperwork handy on your iPhone and iPad without maintaining a folder system. Explanations, personal notes, and linked documents stay together. Your archive and everyday document tools are free. Only Pro explanations use credits: one credit per analysis. No subscription. COLLECT AND FIND Scan your letters, documents, and paperwork with your camera, or import PDFs, photos, and supported files already saved on your phone, attached to emails, or shared by other apps. You can also add text from the clipboard. Use search and filters to find documents in your archive. Link related documents, such as a contract and its invoice. WORK WITH THE ORIGINAL Open documents in the built-in reader and search their recognized text. Highlight passages, add annotations, and add a signature. Rotate saved PDF and scan pages. CHOOSE HOW TO UNDERSTAND β’ Archive only: Save, read, and find documents without using AI. β’ On-device analysis: Get categorization, free short summaries, and key information directly on your device. β’ Pro analysis: Get more detailed explanations, context, and possible next steps. Depending on the document and the analysis you choose, results may highlight deadlines, amounts, tasks, and important conditions. Add recognized appointments to your calendar and open addresses in Maps. PRO WHEN YOU NEED IT Each Pro analysis uses one credit. Buy additional credits as one-time in-app purchases. Your first installation includes three trial credits, provided once, for three Pro analyses. Your free archive remains usable without credits. YOUR DOCUMENTS, YOUR CONTROL Your archive is stored on your device. Optionally sync it through iCloud across your own devices using the same account. Protect access with Face ID, and use export and import to back up or transfer your collection. No ads or trackers. Text recognition and on-device analysis run on your device. For Pro, recognized document text is sent through our server to your chosen AI provider. Original files, PDFs, photos, and scans are not sent to these AI providers. Start with one document.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: ExplainThisDoc at every 3 days against Semanty's every 2 weeks. Semanty's advantage is iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.0). 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
Both are free to download. Semanty sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and ExplainThisDoc sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Semanty ships an update every 2 weeks, ExplainThisDoc every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Semanty | ExplainThisDoc |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 3 days β better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac β better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 β better | 26.0 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 90 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | η¬ ε΄ | Julian Heger |
In-app purchases
Semanty
- Premium Membership (Monthly)$2.991 Month
- Premium Membership (Annual)$29.991 Year
ExplainThisDoc
- 5 Credits$2.99
- 50 Credits$24.99
- 200 Credits$69.99
Questions
Is Semanty free?
Is ExplainThisDoc free?
Do Semanty or ExplainThisDoc have ads?
Which is updated more often, Semanty or ExplainThisDoc?
Other comparisons















