Comparison

RelatedWorks vs Orc Mode

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

Head to head
About

RelatedWorks

Features
Read full description

RelatedWorks is a native macOS and iOS/iPadOS app built for Computer Science researchers. It helps you manage the papers you read, annotate them with cross-referenced notes, and automatically draft the Related Works section of your next paper. Features * Project-based workspaces — one project per paper you're writing * Import PDFs with AI-powered metadata extraction (macOS only) * PDF Inbox via Share Extension — send PDFs from Safari or Files into a synced Inbox, then bulk import captured papers on macOS * Search DBLP and arXiv to fetch bibliographic data automatically (macOS only) * Semantic IDs — give each paper a short memorable tag like @Transformer or @BERT * Cross-reference annotations — link papers using @mentions in your notes * Citation Graph — compare @mentions, in-project references, and shared outside references for each project (macOS only) * Generate a streaming LaTeX-ready Related Works draft with one click (macOS only) * Per-project generation prompts with presets for Survey, Research Paper, Tech Report, or Custom (macOS only) * Export BibTeX entries fetched from DBLP or auto-generated (macOS only) * iCloud Drive sync — keep your library in sync across Mac and iPhone/iPad * Export, import, and open projects from Finder as .relatedworks files (macOS); import projects on iPhone and iPad * Supports Ollama and Google Gemini (macOS only) * iPhone and iPad companion app — browse papers, review notes, and make lightweight edits on the go * Automation and linking support — relatedworks:// deep links, read-only AppleScript, and Hookmark integration On iPhone and iPad, RelatedWorks is designed primarily as a companion viewer and lightweight editor for your research library. The iOS/iPadOS app does not require or rely on any AI backend; instead, it syncs your library seamlessly from the macOS version via iCloud. You can comfortably browse papers, review notes, and refine annotations on the go, making it easy to continue working on your literature and prepare for writing wherever you are. Any annotations you edit on iPhone or iPad automatically sync back to your Mac, providing a smooth “go-and-work” experience for paper reading and writing.

About

Orc Mode

A distraction-free task manager that helps you organize your work with clear task states, due dates, and recurring schedules. Track your progress through different workflows and review completed items.

Highlights
  • Task states (TODO, NEXT, WAITING, DONE)
  • Due dates and recurring schedules
  • Tagging and filtering
  • Notes and task details
  • Task history review
  • Light and dark mode support
Features
Read full description

Orc Mode is a focused task manager inspired by Emacs Org Mode. Organize your work with clear task states, due dates, tags, and recurring schedules. Track what needs attention now, what is waiting, and what is already done. Features: Create, edit, and delete todos; Use TODO, NEXT, WAITING, and DONE workflows; Add notes, due dates, and tags; Filter tasks by tag; Set recurring daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly tasks; Review completed items in history; Supports light and dark mode. Orc Mode is designed for people who want a simple, structured, and distraction-free way to manage personal tasks on iPhone.

Screenshots

RelatedWorks4 screens
Orc Mode4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Orc Mode at 15.1 against RelatedWorks's 26.0. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
RelatedWorks versus Orc Mode: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRelatedWorksOrc Mode
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyWeekly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS26.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB41 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJunxue ZHANGPatrick OBoyle

In-app purchases

None

RelatedWorks

No in-app purchases

None

Orc Mode

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RelatedWorks free?
RelatedWorks is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Orc Mode free?
Orc Mode is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do RelatedWorks or Orc Mode have ads?
Neither RelatedWorks nor Orc Mode shows ads.

Other comparisons