Best PDF Notes Taker Apps

249+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

3.7 avg rating
16 free apps
Updated September 2026

The best pdf notes taker apps on iPhone average 3.7★ across 249+ titles — we've ranked them by what real users actually keep on their phones. Updated September 2026.

Compare top PDF Notes Taker Apps (September 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1UltraNotes - Note Taking & PDFUltraNotes - Note Taking & PDFFree4.5★ (163)NoYesSep 2026
2PDF Note Pro - Note TakerPDF Note Pro - Note TakerFree2.0★ (1)NoYesSep 2026
3TurboPDF - AI Note TakerTurboPDF - AI Note TakerFreeNoYesMay 2026
4OpenNotes: Notes & PDF MarkupOpenNotes: Notes & PDF MarkupFree4.3★ (16)NoNoSep 2026
5Note Taker HDNote Taker HD$4.994.0★ (139)NoNoAug 2026
6Noty AI: Smart Note TakerNoty AI: Smart Note TakerFreeNoYesMay 2026
7Mach Note - iCloud PDF EditorMach Note - iCloud PDF EditorFree3.0★ (2)NoYesSep 2026
8PDF NotesPDF Notes$2.99NoNoSep 2026

Top Picks for PDF Notes Taker

UltraNotes - Note Taking & PDF#1

UltraNotes - Note Taking & PDF by Skyjos Co., Ltd.

Notes, Writing & Annotate PDF
Editor's Choice
📊 Productivity
4.5😊(163 ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
UltraNotes - Note Taking & PDF screenshot 1
UltraNotes - Note Taking & PDF screenshot 2
UltraNotes - Note Taking & PDF screenshot 3
UltraNotes - Note Taking & PDF screenshot 4
UltraNotes - Note Taking & PDF screenshot 5
UltraNotes - Note Taking & PDF screenshot 6

This app combines powerful note-taking, handwriting, and PDF annotation features. Create rich text notes, sketch with various tools, and mark up documents. Organize, search, and sync your notes across devices.

What We Love

  • ✍️ Excellent handwriting and pen experience
  • 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
  • 🎨 Variety of pen styles and drawing tools
  • 💰 One-time purchase with no subscription
  • 🔒 Strong privacy policy
  • 📱 Works seamlessly on iOS and Mac
  • ⚡ Fast and responsive performance
  • ♿ Highly accessible for blind users
  • 📝 Good text recognition and handwriting transcription
  • 🎯 Effective for note-taking and journaling
  • 🔄 iCloud synchronization available
  • 📂 Easy categorization and organization of notes

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Writing/drawing input not registering properly
  • 🐛 Frequent page scrolling when attempting to write
  • 🔄 Slow or unreliable iCloud sync
  • 📤 Export functionality issues
  • 🔍 Search feature crashes the app
  • 📊 Poor PDF export quality
  • 🎨 Limited color options for pens and brushes
  • 🔧 Text box resizing limitations
  • 📱 App crashes and data loss
  • 🌙 No dark/light theme toggle while writing
  • 🗂️ Cumbersome folder navigation
  • 🎯 Cannot nest list items properly
  • 🔐 No individual note password protection
  • 🎨 Pen stroke quality degrades when zoomed in
PDF Note Pro - Note Taker#2

PDF Note Pro - Note Taker by Mach Software Design

And M4A Audio Recorder
Strong Contender
📚 Education
2.0(1 ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
PDF Note Pro - Note Taker screenshot 1
PDF Note Pro - Note Taker screenshot 2
PDF Note Pro - Note Taker screenshot 3
PDF Note Pro - Note Taker screenshot 4
PDF Note Pro - Note Taker screenshot 5

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.

More PDF Notes Taker apps to explore

FAQ about PDF Notes Taker

What are the best pdf notes taker apps for iPhone?
UltraNotes - Note Taking & PDF tops our pdf notes taker apps ranking as of September 2026, with a 4.5-star average from 163 App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 16 of the top pdf notes taker apps we rank are free to download, including UltraNotes - Note Taking & PDF and PDF Note Pro - Note Taker.
UltraNotes - Note Taking & PDF has no ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of September 2026.
We track 249+ pdf notes taker apps on the iOS App Store as of September 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.
UltraNotes allows you to create handwritten notes with various pens and brushes, type rich text notes with extensive formatting options, and annotate PDFs. You can also organize your notes into folders, search across all your content, and sync them across your Apple devices.
The handwriting feature supports Apple Pencil for a natural writing experience. You can choose from over 10 different pens and brushes, adjust thickness and color, draw shapes, and even convert scribbled handwriting to text instantly. You can also add text boxes, stickers, and images to your handwritten notes.