Comparison

pdf vs BoardNotes

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

BoardNotes

This app combines whiteboard, notebook, PDF management, mind mapping, and flashcard creation into a single, versatile handwriting note-taking tool. It offers a wide array of pen types, organizational features, and study aids to enhance productivity and learning.

Highlights
  • Handwriting note-taking
  • Integrated whiteboard
  • PDF import and editing
  • Mind mapping functionality
  • Spaced repetition flashcards
  • Multiple pen and brush types
  • Layer management
Features
Read full description

Feature Introduction: BoardNotes is a versatile handwriting note-taking app that integrates five major functions—whiteboard, notebook, PDF, mind map, and flashcards—covering most note-taking scenarios. It serves as your All-In-One App. Handwriting Pen: 1. BoardNotes utilizes Apple's native pen technology and has developed additional pens tailored for Chinese writing, including a fountain pen, a laser pointer for presentations, and a tape pen for masking notes. 2. Choose from a variety of brushes (laser pen, tape pen, ballpoint pen, straight-line pen, wavy-line pen, custom fountain pen, quill pen, pencil, marker, watercolor pen, fill pen, single-line pen, crayon, freehand pen) to unleash your creativity. 3. Lasso tool (extremely powerful). 4. Eraser (pixel eraser and object eraser). Whiteboard: 1. The whiteboard is ideal for organizing fragmented knowledge, brainstorming, and boosting creativity. 2. Write and draw freely without worrying about boundaries. 3. Customize background colors and grid templates. 4. Add various card types (text, image, video, audio, webpage, file, handwriting). 5. Multiple auxiliary tools: background board, pins, link navigation (supports bidirectional links), connectors, timer (countdown supported), calculator. 6. Quickly locate notes using the search function. Notebook & PDF: 1. Create notebooks and PDFs with multiple paper templates and cover options. Import images from Photos or PDFs from the Files app as pages or covers. 2. Add text, images, stickers, videos, webpage snapshots, audio recordings, links (bidirectional links supported), timers, calculators, and floating PDF windows. 3. Layer functionality—show or hide layers as needed. 4. Insert new pages via blank sheets, images, scanned documents, or files. 5. Cut, copy, and paste pages into other notebooks or PDFs. 6. Duplicate, rotate, or delete pages. 7. Reorder pages via long-press and drag in thumbnail view. 8. Create outlines and add bookmarks. 9. Search (text, handwritten notes, etc.). 10. Import e-books (epub, mobi, azw, etc.). Mind Map: 1. Mind mapping is a key feature within the whiteboard. 2. Nodes support multiple formats (text, image, handwriting, video, audio, webpage snapshot, file). 3. Offers 3 structures and 18 color schemes. 4. Add summaries (brackets). 5. Handwritten mind maps (using handwritten cards). 6. Long-press and drag selected cards into the mind map. 7. Reorder nodes or adjust hierarchy via long-press and drag. Flashcard: 1. Flashcards use the SuperMemo algorithm to automatically schedule optimal review intervals, reminding you before forgetting to maximize memory efficiency. 2. Flashcards support text, images, and handwriting. 3. Quickly create cards from notes in whiteboards, notebooks, or PDFs using the rectangular lasso tool. Download BoardNotes for free on iPad, iPhone, and Mac. For suggestions, please contact us via the in-app feedback feature.

Screenshots

pdf4 screens
BoardNotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: BoardNotes at 4.7 against pdf's 4.0. BoardNotes also leads on review sentiment (81% vs 49%) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 weeks). 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. pdf sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and BoardNotes sells 23 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BoardNotes holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BoardNotes has 115 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 81% of BoardNotes's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

pdf ships an update every 5 weeks, BoardNotes every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on July 10, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
pdf versus BoardNotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterpdfBoardNotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (17 ratings)4.7 (115 ratings) — better
Positive reviews48.6% of reviews81.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings17115 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 10 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size109 MB339 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAMuseTec Co., Ltd.Chongqing Ouluowa Technology Co., Ltd.

Customer experience

pdf

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

BoardNotes

All ratings115 ratings
Positive94.8%
Neutral1.7%
Negative3.5%
Written reviews42 reviews
Positive81.0%
Neutral4.8%
Negative14.3%

Bugs and requests

pdf

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

BoardNotes

Reported bugs

16 issues
  • Whiteboards erasing automatically
  • No automatic backup leading to data loss
  • Syncing issues between iPad and Mac
  • Pencil tip not appearing on PDF annotations
  • App crashes frequently
Show 11 more
  • Recording data is lost
  • Cannot create new notebooks
  • Gear icon for settings missing in dark mode
  • Issue with eraser and color selection logic
  • Lasso tool missing cut button after cropping
  • PDF embeds appear blurry
  • Handwriting search not implemented
  • Accidental touches/palm rejection issues
  • Chinese font display issues in markdown
  • App freezes when using search function
  • Software flashes back (crashes)

Requested features

24 requests
  • Sync to Google Drive/other cloud services
  • Faster 'add to cards' function
  • View carded items in sidebar
  • Color coding for pins
  • Image opacity adjustment
Show 19 more
  • Faster image copy from whiteboard
  • Android app version
  • WebDAV function
  • Markdown editing/viewing function
  • Handwriting recognition and search
  • Improve palm rejection/anti-touch
  • Add more brush types (with stroke variation)
  • Search for handwritten text
  • Dark Mode UI
  • More calculator functions (square root, trig identities)
  • In-app browser (ChatGPT, YouTube integration)
  • Easier UI navigation of notebook pages
  • Ability to change existing page formats
  • More in-depth pen fine-tuning
  • Optimize UI, move undo/redo to top right
  • Adjust pressure sensitivity
  • Customizable top toolbar icons
  • Add college rule paper
  • Translate function for papers

In-app purchases

3 purchases

pdf

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

BoardNotes

One-time23
  • 7 days membership$0.99
  • 5 days membership$0.99
  • Math Formula Recognition$1.99
Show 20 more
  • 1 month membership$1.99
  • Annual Membership$3.99
  • Permanent Unlock All$3.99
  • 6 months membership$3.99
  • 6 months membership (discount)$3.99
  • Permanent Unlock All$4.99
  • Annual Membership$4.99
  • 6 months membership2 variants$4.99
  • Full version Unlock$5.99
  • Annual Membership (discount)$5.99
  • 6 months membership$6.99
  • Permanent Unlock All$6.99
  • Annual Membership2 variants$6.99
  • Spring Festival Discount$6.99
  • Annual Membership$7.99
  • Permanent Unlock All$7.99
  • Permanent Unlock All(discount)$7.99
  • Permanent Unlock All$8.99
  • Permanent Unlock All$9.99
  • Permanent Unlock All$19.99

Questions

Is pdf free?
pdf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BoardNotes free?
BoardNotes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, pdf or BoardNotes?
BoardNotes is rated higher. pdf averages 4.0 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while BoardNotes averages 4.7 from 115 ratings.
Do pdf or BoardNotes have ads?
Both pdf and BoardNotes show ads.
Which is updated more often, pdf or BoardNotes?
pdf ships an update every 5 weeks, and BoardNotes every 10 days. Most recently, pdf was updated on July 10, 2026 and BoardNotes on September 27, 2026.

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