Comparison

PaperSense vs Preprint Reader

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

Head to head
About

PaperSense

Features
Read full description

Turn a 30-page scientific text into a clear summary and a list of core concepts explained at graduate-textbook level. PaperSense reads the source for you and delivers what matters: the argument, the method, the findings, and the terminology you would otherwise look up on Wikipedia. Built for graduate students, doctoral candidates, postdocs, clinicians, and anyone whose reading list grows faster than their reading time. What you get For every document you import, PaperSense produces three things: a structured summary in three to five paragraphs, five to twelve key concepts extracted from the text, and a graduate-textbook-level explanation for each concept. Tap any concept in the sidebar to see its definition, its role in the source, and its wider context in the field. How it works Import a PDF from Files, iCloud Drive, Dropbox, or your document scanner. Analysis runs in seconds. The original document is preserved with a full-featured viewer, so you can jump between the analysis and the source at any time. Your notes and highlights stay attached. Output in your language, or the source language Read a German source and get the analysis in English. Read a Chinese source and get the analysis in Spanish. Or set output to "same as source" and let PaperSense detect the language automatically. Currently supported: English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Simplified Chinese. Your library, everywhere Every analyzed document stays organized in your personal library, synced across iPhone, iPad, and Mac via iCloud. Search across all your analyses. Filter by field, author, or concept. Once analyzed, everything works offline β€” perfect for commutes and flights. Flexible pricing Basic includes 15 analyses per month at 3.99 EUR per month or 39.99 EUR per year. Pro includes 50 analyses per month at 9.99 EUR per month or 99.99 EUR per year. Upgrade or downgrade any time. Every new user gets a free welcome credit β€” no subscription required to try the app first. Bring your own key Advanced users can unlock BYOK mode with a one-time purchase of 14.99 EUR, then use their own OpenAI API key for analyses without a monthly cap. Requests go directly from your device to OpenAI. Your key stays in the iOS Keychain and never touches our servers. Privacy No account required. Anonymous by default. Only the text needed for analysis leaves your device. In BYOK mode, our servers are not involved at all β€” the key and the content travel directly to OpenAI over an encrypted connection. Universal One subscription covers all your Apple devices. Native iPhone, iPad, and Mac apps, built specifically for each platform. Perfect for Master and doctoral students preparing literature reviews. PhD candidates keeping up with their field. Postdocs skimming conference proceedings. Clinicians tracking journal issues. Journalists reporting on preprints. Anyone who wants to read more sources in less time and actually retain what they read. Start with your free welcome credit today. β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€” EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula Privacy policy: https://flappdev.com/index.php/privacy

About

Preprint Reader

Features
Read full description

Preprint is a fast, focused reader for the latest research from arXiv, bioRxiv, and medRxiv. Browse a feed built from the subjects you follow, search across three sources, and read papers in a clean native PDF reader. Save what matters, download for offline reading, and keep track of what you have read. SEARCH THREE SOURCES Search arXiv, bioRxiv, and medRxiv from one place, and switch source with a tap. arXiv papers open in the native reader. bioRxiv and medRxiv papers open in a built-in web view. A FEED THAT IS YOURS Follow categories from any source and your feed fills with their newest papers, newest first. No algorithm and no noise, just the fields you care about. READ AND ANNOTATE A distraction-free PDF reader with highlights, bookmarks, a table of contents, and light or dark reading modes. Download papers to read offline. YOUR READING, TRACKED The You tab shows a reading activity map, your current streak, and how much you have read across sources. STAY ORGANIZED Group papers into collections, tag them, and mark them read or unread. Follow authors to get a notification when they post something new. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account and no tracking. Your library syncs privately through your own iCloud. Clear your history or reset everything whenever you want. Preprint is not affiliated with or endorsed by arXiv, bioRxiv, medRxiv, or Europe PMC. Thank you to these services for their open access to research.

Screenshots

PaperSense4 screens
Preprint Reader3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Preprint Reader at none against PaperSense's 5. Preprint Reader also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 2 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. PaperSense sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Preprint Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PaperSense ships an update every 2 weeks, Preprint Reader daily. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 4 level
PaperSense versus Preprint Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPaperSensePreprint Reader
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksDaily β€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo β€” better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac β€” betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.617.0 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size4 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFlorian SchimankeAriq Koh

In-app purchases

5 purchases

PaperSense

Subscriptions4
  • PaperSense$3.991 Month
  • PaperSense Pro Monthly$8.991 Month
  • PaperSense (Annual)$39.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • PaperSense Pro Yearly$89.991 Year
One-time1
  • Bring Your Own Key$14.99
None

Preprint Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PaperSense free?
PaperSense is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Preprint Reader free?
Preprint Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do PaperSense or Preprint Reader have ads?
Neither PaperSense nor Preprint Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PaperSense or Preprint Reader?
PaperSense ships an update every 2 weeks, and Preprint Reader daily. Most recently, PaperSense was updated on October 16, 2026 and Preprint Reader on October 11, 2026.

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