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 8 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 September 1, 2026 and September 23, 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 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings68 — 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 ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews10 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 8 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 September 1, 2026 and OpenDisplay on September 23, 2026.

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