# OpenNotes vs PDF Editor

The clearest difference is rating: PDF Editor at 5.0 against OpenNotes's 4.4. OpenNotes's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

PDF Editor holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OpenNotes has 25 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

OpenNotes ships an update every 5 days, PDF Editor every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OpenNotes | PDF Editor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opennotes-notes-and-pdf-markup/id6771224004/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-editor-sign-edit-merge/id6796535076/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **25** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 43 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mark Miller](https://appshunter.io/developer/1836539324) | [Jatupon Hongweing](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896471199) |

## What reviewers say

### OpenNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opennotes-notes-and-pdf-markup/id6771224004)

Create handwritten notes, import and annotate PDFs, and organize your thoughts with folders. This free, open-source app prioritizes privacy by keeping all your data local and on your device.

**Highlights:** Handwritten notes with Apple Pencil, PDF import and annotation, Folder-based organization, Add images and text, Local-first data storage, Export and share notes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### PDF Editor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-editor-sign-edit-merge/id6796535076)

Edit, sign, and protect your PDF documents directly on your device. This app offers a suite of tools for merging, splitting, compressing, and converting PDFs without uploading your files to any server. Enjoy a private and efficient document management experience.

**Highlights:** Unlock PDFs, Sign documents, Annotate PDFs, Merge and split files, Compress PDFs, Convert PDF to image/Excel, Password protection

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OpenNotes free?

OpenNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is PDF Editor free?

PDF Editor is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, OpenNotes or PDF Editor?

PDF Editor is rated higher. OpenNotes averages 4.4 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while PDF Editor averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do OpenNotes or PDF Editor have ads?

PDF Editor shows ads; OpenNotes does not.

### Which is updated more often, OpenNotes or PDF Editor?

OpenNotes ships an update every 5 days, and PDF Editor every 4 days. Most recently, OpenNotes was updated on October 7, 2026 and PDF Editor on September 18, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*