# PDF Notes S vs BigPaper

The clearest difference is ads: BigPaper at none against PDF Notes S's shown. BigPaper also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (17 vs 5). PDF Notes S's advantage is review sentiment (53% vs 27%) and rating (4.2 vs 4.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDF Notes S sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and BigPaper sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PDF Notes S holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 17 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 53% of PDF Notes S's written reviews are positive against 27% of BigPaper's.

PDF Notes S ships an update every 6 weeks, BigPaper every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Notes S | BigPaper |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-notes-s/id961336139/reviews)** | [4.0 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bigpaper-mind-map-pdf-markup/id1633929939/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **17** |
| Positive reviews | **52.9% of reviews** | 26.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 22 MB | 253 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AMuseTec Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/342152781) | [10happy Technology Development(Dalian) Co.,Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1567148260) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Notes S

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-notes-s/id961336139)

This app offers a dual-page PDF viewer with smooth scrolling and fast page turns. It also provides document management, quick previews of various file types, and annotation tools. An upgrade removes ads and unlocks full functionality.

**Highlights:** Dual-page PDF viewer, Horizontal/vertical scroll and page turns, Document browser for file organization, Quick Look for various file types, ZIP file preview without unzipping, 8 handwriting tools, Cache manager for fast page turns

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $0.99 | per month |
| Yearly Plan | $9.99 | per year |


### BigPaper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bigpaper-mind-map-pdf-markup/id1633929939)

This app offers an infinite canvas for note-taking, PDF annotation, and mind mapping. Import various document formats and add text, handwriting, tables, and more. Efficiently organize and edit content without page limitations.

**Highlights:** Infinite canvas for freeform note-taking, Import and annotate PDFs and other documents, Mind mapping with element connections, Handwriting and drawing tools with Smart Shapes, Table creation and linking, Multi-format document import and export, Screenshot mode for quick content capture

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BigPaper - Full Version Unlock | $8.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Notes S free?

PDF Notes S is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is BigPaper free?

BigPaper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PDF Notes S or BigPaper?

PDF Notes S is rated higher. PDF Notes S averages 4.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while BigPaper averages 4.0 from 17 ratings.

### Do PDF Notes S or BigPaper have ads?

PDF Notes S shows ads; BigPaper does not.

### Which is updated more often, PDF Notes S or BigPaper?

PDF Notes S ships an update every 6 weeks, and BigPaper every 5 days. Most recently, PDF Notes S was updated on September 20, 2026 and BigPaper on September 29, 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.*