Comparison

OpenNotes vs PUB Reader for MS Publisher

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

Head to head
About

OpenNotes

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
Read full description

OpenNotes is a simple, free, open-source notes app built for handwriting, PDFs, and focused organization. Create notebooks, import PDFs, write with Apple Pencil, add images or text, organize notes into folders, and export your work when you need it. OpenNotes is local-first and privacy focused. There are no accounts, no analytics, and no tracking. Your notes live on your device, with optional backup to your own iCloud so they survive a lost iPad or a deleted app. Nothing is ever sent to us — your notes stay in your Apple account, readable by no one else.

About

PUB Reader for MS Publisher

Easily view, search, and convert Microsoft Publisher files to PDF on your iPhone or iPad without needing the original software. Access newsletters, brochures, and more offline with a simple interface and secure on-device processing.

Highlights
  • Open Microsoft Publisher (.pub) files
  • Convert Publisher files to PDF
  • Search text within documents
  • Print and share exported PDFs
  • Offline document access
  • Zoom support for navigation
Features
Read full description

PUB Reader for MS Publisher Open Microsoft Publisher (.pub) files on your iPhone or iPad—without Microsoft Publisher. PUB Reader lets you quickly view, search, and convert Publisher documents into PDF, making it easy to access newsletters, brochures, flyers, business cards, and other Publisher files anywhere. Features • Open Microsoft Publisher (.pub) files • View multi-page Publisher documents • Search text within supported documents • Convert Publisher files to PDF • Print and share exported PDF files • Fast document navigation with zoom support • Simple and intuitive interface • 100% offline—your files never leave your device Why Choose PUB Reader? • No Microsoft Publisher required • Fast and lightweight • Secure on-device processing • Perfect for opening archived Publisher documents • High-quality PDF export for easy sharing and printing Perfect For • Students • Professionals • Businesses • Designers • Educators • Anyone who needs to access Microsoft Publisher documents on iPhone or iPad Supported Formats Open • Microsoft Publisher (.pub) Export • PDF (.pdf) Your privacy matters. All file viewing and conversion are performed entirely on your device. Your documents are never uploaded to external servers. Download PUB Reader for MS Publisher today and open your Publisher files anytime, anywhere. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ For support or feedback, please contact us at admin@yenpi.com

Screenshots

OpenNotes4 screens
PUB Reader for MS Publisher4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PUB Reader for MS Publisher at 5.0 against OpenNotes's 4.4. OpenNotes's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 5 weeks) and ratings volume (25 vs 4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PUB Reader for MS Publisher 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 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OpenNotes ships an update every 5 days, PUB Reader for MS Publisher every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
OpenNotes versus PUB Reader for MS Publisher: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOpenNotesPUB Reader for MS Publisher
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (25 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings25 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB269 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMark Miller延平 陈

Customer experience

OpenNotes

All ratings25 ratings
Positive84.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%

PUB Reader for MS Publisher

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

OpenNotes

No in-app purchases

None

PUB Reader for MS Publisher

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is OpenNotes free?
OpenNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PUB Reader for MS Publisher free?
PUB Reader for MS Publisher is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, OpenNotes or PUB Reader for MS Publisher?
PUB Reader for MS Publisher is rated higher. OpenNotes averages 4.4 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while PUB Reader for MS Publisher averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do OpenNotes or PUB Reader for MS Publisher have ads?
Neither OpenNotes nor PUB Reader for MS Publisher shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OpenNotes or PUB Reader for MS Publisher?
OpenNotes ships an update every 5 days, and PUB Reader for MS Publisher every 5 weeks. Most recently, OpenNotes was updated on October 7, 2026 and PUB Reader for MS Publisher on October 18, 2026.

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