# PDF Note Pro vs Cortex

The clearest difference is update cadence: Cortex at weekly against PDF Note Pro's every 11 months. PDF Note Pro's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDF Note Pro sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Cortex sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PDF Note Pro ships an update every 11 months, Cortex weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Note Pro | Cortex |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-note-pro-note-taker/id983741766/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 18 MB | 87 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Mach Software Design](https://appshunter.io/developer/327826899) | [Rudrakshi Patel](https://appshunter.io/developer/6775265360) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Note Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-note-pro-note-taker/id983741766)

This application allows users to take freehand notes directly on PDF documents and record audio simultaneously. Notes are saved in native PDF and M4A formats, syncing across devices via iCloud for seamless access on mobile, desktop, and web. It offers powerful annotation tools and is available for free on iOS.

**Highlights:** Freehand PDF annotation, M4A audio recording, iCloud syncing across devices, Native PDF and M4A formats, Vector drawing tools, Text tool for typing, Image and web page insertion

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |


### Cortex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cortex-solve-clinical-cases/id6784620799)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cortex Monthly Subscription | $11.99 | per month |
| Cortex Yearly Subscription | $79.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Note Pro free?

PDF Note Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Cortex free?

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

### Do PDF Note Pro or Cortex have ads?

Neither PDF Note Pro nor Cortex shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PDF Note Pro or Cortex?

PDF Note Pro ships an update every 11 months, and Cortex weekly. Most recently, PDF Note Pro was updated on September 30, 2026 and Cortex on September 13, 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.*