Comparison

PatchDoc vs OpenDisplay

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

Head to head
About

PatchDoc

A versatile document editor and viewer for iPhone and iPad. Quickly edit text, code, and CSV files, preview PDFs and Office documents, and extract archives. Streamline your mobile file management.

Highlights
  • Text and code editing with syntax highlighting
  • CSV table browsing and editing
  • HTML source editing with live preview
  • PDF viewing with annotations
  • Preview for Office documents and images
  • Archive browsing and extraction
Features
Read full description

Patchdoc is a local file tool for iPhone and iPad, designed to open, edit, preview, save and organize all common documents. Core Features - Edit TXT, Markdown, JSON, YAML, CSV, XML, HTML, SVG, LaTeX, source code and configuration files - Create new files including TXT, Markdown, Python, C++ and other code documents - Markdown: toggle between source code and preview modes; export as HTML or PDF - HTML: toggle between source code and preview modes; export to PDF - PDF tools: reading, annotation, signature, image/text stickers, page management, cropping, compression and format conversion - Archive support: preview directories and inner files inside ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR archives, plus decompression - Image editor: crop, rotate, color adjustment, text overlay, brush drawing and mosaic blur - Video toolkit: playback, frame capture, rotation, mute audio, compressed export and SRT subtitle preview - Built-in local storage: create folders, import files, search, move, rename, delete, compress, pin items, add notes, and transfer files over LAN - WebDAV / FTP access: read-only browsing with file import; mount external folders or single files - Home screen widgets for quick shortcuts

About

OpenDisplay

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a genuine second display for your Mac. This open-source solution allows you to extend your screen space, keeping essential apps visible. Connect via USB for minimal latency or Wi-Fi for easy setup.

Highlights
  • Use iPhone/iPad as a second Mac display
  • Connect via USB or Wi-Fi
  • Retina-sharp rendering
  • Touch and scroll support
  • Portrait or landscape orientation
  • Private by design, no tracking
Features
Read full description

OpenDisplay turns your iPhone or iPad into a second display for your Mac. It's the open-source way to put your spare Apple device to work as a real extended monitor — drag windows onto it, keep chat, notes, or logs in view, and gain screen space anywhere you go. It's not a mirror: it's a genuine additional display your Mac treats like any other monitor. • Real extended display — arrange it in your Mac's Display settings and drag windows across • Connect over USB for the lowest latency, or over Wi-Fi with zero setup • Retina-sharp, pixel-for-pixel rendering • Touch and scroll — tap, drag, and two-finger scroll to control your Mac • Works in portrait or landscape • Private by design — a direct connection between your own devices, with no accounts, no servers, and no tracking IMPORTANT: OpenDisplay requires the companion OpenDisplay app for Mac, running on your computer on the same cable or Wi-Fi network. Get it at https://peetzweg.github.io/opendisplay — without it, this app has nothing to connect to. OpenDisplay is open source under the GPL-3.0 license. Read the code, report issues, or contribute at https://github.com/peetzweg/opendisplay

Screenshots

PatchDoc4 screens
OpenDisplay1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: OpenDisplay at none against PatchDoc's 1. OpenDisplay also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). PatchDoc's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 8 days). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. PatchDoc sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. OpenDisplay asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for PatchDoc against 4.9 for OpenDisplay. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 14 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PatchDoc ships an update every 3 days, OpenDisplay every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
PatchDoc versus OpenDisplay: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPatchDocOpenDisplay
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (6 ratings) — better4.9 (14 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings614 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 8 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer夏骏 倪Philip Poloczek

Customer experience

PatchDoc

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

OpenDisplay

All ratings14 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

PatchDoc

One-time1
  • 终身会员$0.99
None

OpenDisplay

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PatchDoc free?
PatchDoc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is OpenDisplay free?
OpenDisplay is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PatchDoc or OpenDisplay?
PatchDoc is rated higher. PatchDoc averages 5.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while OpenDisplay averages 4.9 from 14 ratings.
Do PatchDoc or OpenDisplay have ads?
Neither PatchDoc nor OpenDisplay shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PatchDoc or OpenDisplay?
PatchDoc ships an update every 3 days, and OpenDisplay every 8 days. Most recently, PatchDoc was updated on October 2, 2026 and OpenDisplay on October 14, 2026.

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