Comparison

pdf vs Notebook

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

Head to head
About

pdf

This app allows you to read and annotate PDF files on your iPhone with fast page turning and convenient finger-writing tools. Easily import PDFs and share your notes via email or cloud services.

Highlights
  • Fast PDF display and page turning
  • Finger-writing and annotation tools
  • Import PDFs via Dropbox, Email, iTunes
  • Categorized bookshelves with search
  • Export annotated PDFs
  • Password-protected bookshelves
Features
Read full description

Utilize pdf-notes to read pdf files on your iPhone. The fastest and convenient pdf-notes for iPad is now available for iPhone. 1. Fast display, quick page-turning even a thousand pages 2. Convenient finger-writings 3. Sharing notes by mail or clouds. - Categorized multiple bookshelves(booklists) with powerful search - Easy importing PDF files through (DropBox, Email or Safari's) "Open In..." or iTunes - Finger-writing with a variety of pens, highlighters, drawings, sticky or text notes - Outlines and bookmarks - Exporting annotated PDF files to mail or clouds - Protected bookshelves by a password - External display and AirPrint * please visit the support site for more information http://bit.ly/1gBUQV1 Blog http://bit.ly/1992293 Email musebook@musebook.com Twitter http://twitter.com/musebook4u YouTube http://youtu.be/_60pvYx6pT4 NOTE: All content contained herein is subject to change without notice.

About

Notebook

Organize your thoughts, plans, and ideas with a versatile notebook and list-making application. Create unlimited notes, manage tasks with checklists, and customize your workspace. Sync across devices for seamless access to your organized information.

Highlights
  • Unlimited notes and lists
  • Folders and organization tools
  • Rich text editing
  • Checklists and to-do lists
  • Cloud sync and backup
  • Quick search and tags
Features
Read full description

Organize Your Thoughts, Simplify Your Life! Tired of messy notes or forgotten ideas?
 Turn chaos into clarity with Notes – Notebook & List Maker, your ultimate space for creativity, planning, and productivity.
Whether you’re journaling, managing projects, or capturing daily ideas — keep everything beautifully organized and accessible anytime, anywhere. Perfect for students, professionals, creators, and anyone who loves to stay organized and inspired! Key Features • Unlimited Notes & Lists
Write, plan, and create without limits — from quick thoughts to detailed notebooks. • Folders & Organization Tools
Sort your notes easily into folders and categories for a clean, clutter-free workspace. • Rich Text Editing
Customize fonts, colors, and styles to make your notes uniquely yours. • Checklists & To-Do Lists
Stay productive with easy task lists and reminders — perfect for daily routines or long-term goals. • Cloud Sync & Backup
Access your notes from anywhere with secure cloud sync and never lose important data again. • Quick Search & Tags
Find what you need instantly with smart search and tagging features. Go Premium Unlock your full potential with Notes Premium: • Ad-Free Experience
Enjoy distraction-free writing and focus on what matters most. • Unlimited Folders & Storage
Create as many notebooks and folders as you like — perfect for large projects or journaling. • Exclusive Themes & Customization
Personalize your workspace with elegant themes and color palettes. • Priority Support
Get faster assistance from our team whenever you need help. Subscription Info Weekly Subscription – $4.99 Use Cases * Journaling & daily reflections
 * Project planning & task management
 * Study notes & class organization
 * Grocery lists & reminders
 * Creative writing or brainstorming ideas
 * Work documentation & meeting notes
 We know how valuable your ideas are — that’s why Notes – Notebook & List Maker helps you keep them safe, structured, and stylish.
Capture thoughts instantly, plan smarter, and stay productive every single day — all in one elegant app. Start writing smarter. Stay organized. Be unstoppable. Privacy Policy: https://solitudecolorsllc.wordpress.com/privacy-policy/
 Terms of Use: https://solitudecolorsllc.wordpress.com

Screenshots

pdf4 screens
Notebook4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Notebook at 71% against pdf's 49%. Notebook also leads on rating (4.3 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (523 vs 17). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. pdf sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Notebook sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Notebook holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notebook has 523 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 49% of pdf's written reviews are positive against 71% of Notebook's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

pdf ships an update every 5 weeks, Notebook every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on July 10, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
pdf versus Notebook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterpdfNotebook
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (17 ratings)4.3 (523 ratings) — better
Positive reviews48.6% of reviews70.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings17523 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size109 MB73 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAMuseTec Co., Ltd.Solitude Colors

Customer experience

pdf

All ratings17 ratings
Positive76.5%
Neutral11.8%
Negative11.8%
Written reviews70 reviews
Positive48.6%
Neutral14.3%
Negative37.1%

Notebook

All ratings523 ratings
Positive83.0%
Neutral4.8%
Negative12.2%
Written reviews68 reviews
Positive70.6%
Neutral7.4%
Negative22.1%

Bugs and requests

pdf

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Notebook

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Login issues and lost user data
  • Compatibility problems with older devices
  • Copying and pasting not working as expected

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add search functionality
  • Improve delete/edit options
  • Provide subscription-free version
  • Enhance calendar integration

In-app purchases

3 purchases

pdf

One-time3
  • 2-Month Pass$0.99
  • 1-Year Path$2.99
  • Lifetime License$4.99
1 purchases

Notebook

Subscriptions1
  • Weekly$2.997 Days

Questions

Is pdf free?
pdf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Notebook free?
Notebook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, pdf or Notebook?
Notebook is rated higher. pdf averages 4.0 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Notebook averages 4.3 from 523 ratings.
Do pdf or Notebook have ads?
Both pdf and Notebook show ads.
Which is updated more often, pdf or Notebook?
pdf ships an update every 5 weeks, and Notebook every 3 weeks. Most recently, pdf was updated on July 10, 2026 and Notebook on September 21, 2026.

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