Comparison

Papers by ReadCube vs Lab.Hacks

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

Head to head
About

Papers by ReadCube

Manage, read, and discover research literature on your mobile devices. Annotate PDFs, organize your library with custom lists and tags, and receive personalized recommendations for new papers. Syncs seamlessly with desktop and web applications.

Highlights
  • Read and manage research papers
  • Annotate PDFs with notes and highlights
  • Organize library with custom lists and tags
  • Discover new research with personalized recommendations
  • Search and download articles
  • Sync across devices
Features
Read full description

Papers by ReadCube is the simplest way to read, manage and discover research literature. Papers on your iPhone and iPad are the perfect companions to the Papers desktop software, enabling you to access your papers anywhere – read on the go, organize your library, and annotate PDFs with notes and highlights. Enhanced PDF: • Tap-able inline citations, reference lists, and author names so you can quickly find cited articles and related information • Supplements are automatically attached where available • Fullscreen or double-page PDF viewing plus multi-touch zoom/navigation for an optimal reading experience • Multi-color highlighting and note taking tools Easily find new papers: • Search the Papers databases within the app • Quickly download new articles with a single tap when you’re on campus or with your institutional proxy • Import directly from Safari, email attachments, and other apps • In your preferred browser, use any search engine to find article PDFs • Use the “Open In…” option from the browser or any app to add PDFs to your Papers library • Metadata is automatically resolved - no more guessing with cryptic file names Personalized Recommendations: • Discover relevant new papers based on your library or lists – you’ll never miss another important paper again! Stay organized: • Create custom lists and sort articles into one or multiple lists • Quickly search your entire library (and all annotations) • Add any number of #tags to further customize your library organization • Sync everything – papers, notes, highlights – between the Papers desktop and web apps or your other mobile devices Simplify your research life – try Papers for free on your iPhone, iPad, and computer. We love feedback from our users - please email support@papersapp.com with any suggestions or issues. Thanks for using Papers!

About

Lab.Hacks

This app serves as a laboratory assistant, offering a collection of essential tools, calculators, and guides for students, researchers, and technicians. It simplifies everyday lab tasks with features like dilution calculators, timers, and protocols, all accessible offline.

Highlights
  • Dilution, molarity, and unit conversion calculators
  • Smart lab timers
  • Quick reference tables
  • Step-by-step protocols and guides
  • Offline access
  • Minimalist design
Features
Read full description

Lab.hacks is your ultimate companion for everyday work in the laboratory. Whether you're a student, researcher, or lab technician, Lab.hacks provides you with a growing collection of essential tools, calculators, and practical hacks designed to make your lab life easier. Features: • Handy calculators for dilutions, molarity, unit conversions & more • Smart lab timers and quick reference tables • Step-by-step protocols and how-to guides • Offline access – always available when you need it • Minimalist design for maximum focus • No login required – just open and start using From pipetting shortcuts to buffer recipes – Lab.hacks brings efficiency to your fingertips. Stop wasting time searching for formulas and start working smarter in the lab! Get Lab.hacks now and discover how small tools can make a big difference. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Papers by ReadCube4 screens
Lab.Hacks4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lab.Hacks at 96% against Papers by ReadCube's 41%. Lab.Hacks also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.7). Papers by ReadCube's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement 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. Lab.Hacks sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Papers by ReadCube asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Lab.Hacks holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 551 and 136 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Papers by ReadCube's written reviews are positive against 96% of Lab.Hacks's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Papers by ReadCube versus Lab.Hacks: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPapers by ReadCubeLab.Hacks
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (551 ratings)4.9 (136 ratings) — better
Positive reviews41.2% of reviews96.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings551 — better136
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size77 MB37 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperDigital Science & Research Solutions Inc.Lab.hacks GmbH

Customer experience

Papers by ReadCube

All ratings548 ratings
Positive66.6%
Neutral10.0%
Negative23.4%
Written reviews182 reviews
Positive41.2%
Neutral18.1%
Negative40.7%

Lab.Hacks

All ratings136 ratings
Positive98.5%
Neutral0.7%
Negative0.7%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive96.3%
Neutral3.7%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Papers by ReadCube

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Frequent app crashes and freezes
  • Sync issues causing data loss and duplication
  • Unreliable PDF downloads and access
  • Inconsistent behavior of annotation tools
  • Compatibility problems with newer devices and OS versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add eraser tool for handwritten annotations
  • Improve PDF viewing and navigation experience
  • Implement better organization and folder management
  • Integrate citation and bibliography tools
  • Provide more customization options

Lab.Hacks

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Papers by ReadCube

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

Lab.Hacks

Subscriptions2
  • Lab.hacks Ad-free monthly$2.991 Month
  • Lab.hacks Ad-free annual$28.991 Year
One-time6
  • Donate 1$$0.99
  • Donate 5$$3.99
  • Donate 10$$8.99
Show 3 more
  • Donate 20$$17.99
  • Donate 50$$44.99
  • Donate 100$$89.99

Questions

Is Papers by ReadCube free?
Papers by ReadCube is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Lab.Hacks free?
Lab.Hacks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Papers by ReadCube or Lab.Hacks?
Lab.Hacks is rated higher. Papers by ReadCube averages 3.7 out of 5 from 551 ratings, while Lab.Hacks averages 4.9 from 136 ratings.
Do Papers by ReadCube or Lab.Hacks have ads?
Lab.Hacks shows ads; Papers by ReadCube does not.
Which is updated more often, Papers by ReadCube or Lab.Hacks?
Papers by ReadCube ships an update every 2 months, and Lab.Hacks every 2 months. Most recently, Papers by ReadCube was updated on October 3, 2026 and Lab.Hacks on October 12, 2026.

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