StrataRead vs Epoch Notes
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side ā with what reviewers say about each.
StrataRead
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StrataRead is a research library and PDF reader for people who read closely, collect evidence, and write with sources. Bring your papers, books, and reports into an organized workspace. Search your library, highlight important passages, capture notes, and carry your research into your writing without losing its connection to the original source. READ AND ANNOTATE ⢠Read PDFs with native rendering, zooming, and navigation. ⢠Highlight passages with color-coded annotations. ⢠Attach notes to the text you are reading. ⢠Review source information, notes, and extracts in the Inspector. FIND INFORMATION ACROSS YOUR LIBRARY ⢠Search indexed PDF text as well as bibliographic metadata. ⢠Narrow searches by fields such as author, title, and year. ⢠Use quoted phrases and search-field autocomplete. ⢠Filter notes and extracts to focus on passages matching your search. ⢠Find and open sources through Spotlight and supported Siri and Shortcuts actions. KEEP YOUR RESEARCH ORGANIZED ⢠Browse your sources in Library and return to recent reading. ⢠Organize sources with projects, keywords, and reading status. ⢠Explore projects, keywords, and source groups through the Library Map. ⢠On iPad, sort table columns and preview notes and extracts without opening each PDF. ⢠On iPhone, use a streamlined reading workspace with essential controls within reach. CAPTURE AND REUSE YOUR NOTES ⢠Collect highlighted text and notes as source-linked extracts. ⢠Clean up common PDF text issues, including broken lines and hyphenation. ⢠Export notes and extracts as structured Markdown with citation information. ⢠Create a separate Markdown file for each source. ⢠Bring your research into StrataWrite, Obsidian, and other writing or knowledge-management tools. BUILD BETTER REFERENCES ⢠Find bibliographic information using DOI, title, author, or ISBN. ⢠Manage details for journal articles, books, edited volumes, chapters, theses, dissertations, reports, and webpages. ⢠Copy formatted citations in supported styles, including APA and Chicago. ⢠Identify records with missing metadata and PDFs needing attention. ⢠Find open-access replacement PDFs when available. KEEP YOUR LIBRARY WITH YOU ⢠Synchronize library records, notes, and PDFs through iCloud. ⢠Keep downloaded PDFs available for offline reading. ⢠Share PDFs and export your notes when it is time to collaborate or write. PRIVACY AND CONTROL Your PDFs and notes remain in your library, with iCloud synchronization available across your devices. Full-text search indexes stay on your device. Metadata lookups use online bibliographic services. StrataRead contains no advertising, tracking, or developer analytics. Privacy & AI settings explain how the app handles your information. Built for researchers, students, educators, and anyone who wants to turn careful reading into useful, well-organized knowledge.
Epoch Notes
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Type your notes and draw on top at the same time with Epoch - the handwriting and typing app designed to leave the competition in the dust. Epoch bridges the gap between technical precision and creative freedom, offering a seamless workflow for students, researchers, and professionals. Key Features: - Complex Document Content Search: Find exactly what you need, even in dense technical notes and large folders. - LaTeX & Markdown Support: Use the syntax you love with zero friction. - Inline & Block Styles: Flexible formatting to match your document preferences. - Custom Commands & Formats: Tailor your workflow to your specific needs. - Pen Smoothing: Find your perfect handwriting. - Ultra-Fast PDF Rendering: View and export your work instantly. Perfect your notetaking workflow today with Epoch.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Epoch Notes at Free against StrataRead's $9.99. Epoch Notes also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). StrataRead's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS
Epoch Notes is free to download; StrataRead costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
StrataRead ships an update every 3 weeks, Epoch Notes every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | StrataRead | Epoch Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | Free ā better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 days ā better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac ā better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 26.0 |
| Further details ā not scored | ||
| Size | 22 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Stance Hurst | Luke Drushell |
In-app purchases
StrataRead
No in-app purchases
Epoch Notes
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is StrataRead free?
Is Epoch Notes free?
Do StrataRead or Epoch Notes have ads?
Which is updated more often, StrataRead or Epoch Notes?
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