MDash vs PDF Scanner
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MDash
This app is a plain text Markdown editor that stores your notes locally. It offers live rendering of Markdown, including diagrams, and syncs across Apple devices. Advanced features like PDF export and iCloud sync are available through a Pro subscription.
- Live Markdown rendering
- Mermaid diagram generation
- Cross-device Apple ecosystem support
- Local note storage
- Full-text search and find/replace
- Document scanning and OCR
- Import from other Markdown apps
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MDash is a Markdown editor that keeps your notes as plain text on your device. No lock-in, no account, no sync you did not ask for. Write on iPhone, iPad and now Mac — the full workspace on every screen. MARKDOWN, RENDERED LIVE Type plain Markdown and watch the preview update as you type: headings, lists, task checkboxes, tables, code blocks with syntax awareness, links and images. Show the text, the preview, or both side by side. MERMAID DIAGRAMS — FREE FOR EVERYONE Describe a flowchart, sequence diagram, Gantt chart, class diagram or state machine in plain text and MDash draws it instantly. Rendering is built into the app: no network, nothing leaves your device. ON MAC AND APPLE WATCH The complete MDash workspace runs on macOS — a three-column library, keyboard-first editing and the same live preview and Mermaid rendering. On Apple Watch, browse your library and read any note on your wrist. One purchase covers iPhone, iPad, Mac and Watch. YOUR LIBRARY, ORGANIZED • Pinned notes, Last 7 Days, and Trash with restore • Full-text search across every note, with jump to match • In-document find and replace with match highlighting • Attach photos to notes; files stay ordinary Markdown • Folders keep related notes together; create one right from the sidebar • Tags under the title, a Tags section in the sidebar, and search by tag • Smart folders collect notes automatically from the tags you choose • Scan documents into a note, and search the text inside photos and scans — on device, free • Import from Obsidian, Bear, Apple Notes, TextBundle or any folder of Markdown files — free • Version History keeps earlier versions of every note on device, ready to restore — free EXPORT AND SHARE • Export Markdown and plain text — free • Copy as rich text for mail and documents • PDF, HTML, Word (DOCX), ePub, RTF, JPG and TextBundle export with MDash Pro MDASH PRO — LIFETIME OR MONTHLY MDash Pro unlocks iCloud sync across your devices, export to PDF, HTML, Word, ePub and more, and watermark-free Mermaid diagrams. Choose a one-time lifetime purchase or a monthly subscription — both unlock exactly the same features. The monthly subscription renews automatically until cancelled; manage or cancel it anytime in your App Store account settings. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Notes are stored on device; sync is optional and uses your iCloud. Mermaid rendering is local. There is no tracking and no account. Questions or ideas? Leave a review or reach out through the App Store page — MDash is built by an independent developer and shaped by user feedback. Terms of Use: https://nightcodeapps.com/apps/markdown-editor/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://nightcodeapps.com/apps/markdown-editor/privacy/
PDF Scanner
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Turn paper into a PDF you can use. Scan receipts, forms and contracts, extract text with OCR, and add your handwritten signature before sharing. No ads, no account: your document library stays on your iPhone or iPad. SCAN PAPER AND PHOTOS • Capture multiple pages or import selected photos and PDF files. • Review suggested page edges, adjust corners, correct perspective and rotate pages. • Choose enhanced color, grayscale or black and white. • Put the front and back of an ID card on a single PDF page. COPY TEXT AND FIND DOCUMENTS • Recognize text on your device, then copy it or export a TXT file. • Add recognized text to create a searchable PDF. • Find documents by title, tags or recognized content. ADD YOUR SIGNATURE • Draw a signature, position it on the page and resize it. • Save up to 10 signature templates for reuse. • Cover sensitive areas with opaque blocks and check the exported file before sharing. ORGANIZE, EXPORT AND SHARE • Keep tax receipts, expense records and class notes in folders with tags and favorites. • Merge documents, reorder pages and recover deleted files from Trash. • Export PDF, JPEG, text or page images in ZIP. Choose Letter, A4 or original page dimensions. • Share and print through system tools. Export selected documents as separate PDFs in a single ZIP. YOUR LIBRARY STAYS WITH YOU Documents are stored locally and are not automatically uploaded. Text recognition runs on your device. Enable the app lock to require device authentication when returning to the app. OCR language support depends on your device and system version; check important text. Imported PDFs become page images. Drawn signatures are graphical marks, not certified digital signatures.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PDF Scanner at none against MDash's 3. PDF Scanner also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). MDash's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs fortnightly) and device support (6 vs 3). On price and ads 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
Both are free to download. MDash sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. PDF Scanner asks for nothing beyond the download.
MDash ships an update every 4 days, PDF Scanner fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MDash | PDF Scanner |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (5 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days — better | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 64 MB | 50 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Artur Gorbaczewski | 彩月 姚 |
In-app purchases
MDash
- MDash Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
- MDash Pro Yearly7 Days trial$9.991 Year
- MarkdownEditor Pro Lifetime$24.99
PDF Scanner
No in-app purchases









