ReadSync vs ArchiveLab
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
ReadSync
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ReadSync remembers where you stopped reading โ on every device. Open a PDF on your Mac, read to page 120, then pick up your iPhone. ReadSync opens the same document on the same page. Your highlights, notes and bookmarks are already there. WHY READSYNC โข Your reading position syncs automatically through iCloud โ in the free version too โข No account to create, no subscription, no company server holding your files โข Works completely offline โ syncing is a layer on top, never a requirement PICK UP WHERE YOU LEFT OFF โข A Continue Reading row at the top of your library, most recent first โข A Home Screen widget that opens the document on the page you left โข Nothing to press: the page is saved as you read and travels with you โข Handoff: the document open on your Mac appears on your iPhone, and opens on the same page READING โข A quiet reader that hides its controls while you read โข A reading lock that turns off selection, highlights and notes, so you can scroll and zoom without triggering anything by accident โข Keep the screen awake while a document is open โข Night mode that darkens the page without draining the colour from your highlights โข Single or two-page layout, vertical or horizontal scrolling โข Adjustable default zoom โข Translate any passage you select into your own language, on your device with Apple's built-in translation โข Look up any word in the dictionary without leaving the page โข Password-protected PDFs open too โ remember the password once, in your iCloud Keychain, and your other devices open them without asking HIGHLIGHTS AND NOTES โข Five highlight colours โข Attach a note to any passage โข Every highlight and note in one list โ tap to jump straight to the page โข Export everything from a document as a single file, to Notes, Mail or Files โข Nothing is written into the PDF itself; your original file stays untouched FINDING YOUR PLACE โข Full-text search inside the document โข The PDF's own table of contents โข Bookmarks for the pages you want to come back to YOUR LIBRARY โข Add files from Files or iCloud Drive โข Open a PDF in ReadSync from Mail, Safari, Messages or any app's share sheet โข Leave a file where it is, or copy it into ReadSync so it syncs across your devices โข Cover, progress and page count at a glance โข Sort by last read, title or date added โข Search your library by title READING STATS โข Total reading time, and how much of it was this week โข A chart of the last seven days โข Progress for every document you have started FREE AND PRO The free version is a whole reader, not a demo: iCloud sync, night mode, search, table of contents, bookmarks, translation and all five highlight colours, with room for 5 documents and 10 highlights or notes in each one. ReadSync Pro lifts both limits and opens reading stats and note export. It is a one-time purchase โ there is no subscription. A limit only ever stops you adding something new. Everything already in your library stays open, in full, whether you buy or not. PRIVACY ReadSync is built entirely with Apple's own frameworks and stores everything in your private iCloud database. Your documents are never uploaded to anyone else's server. Anonymous usage statistics are sent only if you agree when asked, and never include your files, page contents, notes or highlights.
ArchiveLab
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Turn screenshots into a searchable library. You screenshot everything. You never find it again. ArchiveLab fixes this by turning your screenshot chaos into a connected, searchable visual library. Extract text offline, link ideas on an infinite canvas, and find any saved post, idea, or reference in seconds. 100% private โ no cloud, no account. HOW IT WORKS Import screenshots from your gallery Offline OCR extracts text instantly on device Drag, connect and map items on an infinite visual canvas Organize by platform (Instagram, TikTok, X) with Social Spaces, folders & tags Search any word or image in seconds KEY FEATURES Infinite Canvas โ Spatially link screenshots & text Offline OCR โ Ultra fast, no internet required Full Text Search โ Find any word, comment or tweet instantly Social Spaces โ Separate views for Instagram, TikTok, X, etc. Smart Folders & Tags โ Build your own visual memory system Local & Fast โ All data stays on device, even with huge libraries Export โ TXT/CSV sharing of extracted content PRIVACY FIRST No cloud. No accounts. No tracking. Your data never leaves your phone. PERFECT FOR Creators saving visual inspiration Students & researchers archiving sources Social media lovers who never want to lose a post Anyone tired of endless scrolling through screenshots
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ArchiveLab at none against ReadSync's 1. ArchiveLab also leads on iOS requirement (15.5 vs 18.0). ReadSync's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS
Both are free to download. ReadSync sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ArchiveLab asks for nothing beyond the download.
ReadSync ships an update every 3 weeks, ArchiveLab every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ReadSync | ArchiveLab |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 2 weeks โ better |
| Ads | No โ better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No โ better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.5 โ better |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 73 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Alper Albayrak | EL MEHDI OUHAMMOU |
In-app purchases
ReadSync
- Unlock Pro$7.99
ArchiveLab
No in-app purchases









