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Highlights: PDF Reader & Notes vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against Highlights: PDF Reader & Notes's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

Highlights: PDF Reader & Notes
This App
ElevenReader: Read Books Aloud
Nemesis
Speechy text to speech reader
Contender
GoodReader Pro PDF Editor
Contender
PDF Reader-All Document Viewer
Contender
MarginNote 3
Contender
PDF Highlighter : PDF & Photos
Peer
Web to PDF Converter Pro
Peer
Speech-Flow: Text to Speech
Peer
LiquidText Prepaid
Peer
Core Identity
DeveloperJonas Myren RibeElevenLabs, Inc.Arthur Eduardo Skaetta Alvarez Desenvolvimento de Software LTDA.Good.iWare, Inc.rora AppsBeijing Yunsi Software Technology Co., LtdJaydeep DhameliyaJavid MultaniNikita ChizhovLiquidText, Inc.
CategoryProductivityProductivityProductivityProductivityProductivityProductivityProductivityProductivityProductivityBusiness
PlatformiOSiOS, AndroidiOSiOSAndroidiOSiOSiOSiOSiOS
Store Metrics
Rating4.5 / 54.7 / 54.5 / 54.7 / 53.3 / 54.7 / 53.0 / 52.0 / 53.7 / 54.7 / 5
Ratings Count1,5619,019113267425,043119372
PriceFreeFreeFree$79.99FreeFreeFreeFreeFree$79.99
Release DateApr 10, 2020May 10, 2024Sep 16, 2021Mar 9, 2019Feb 6, 2026Aug 4, 2018Sep 12, 2018Aug 27, 2024Apr 30, 2021Sep 16, 2016
Last UpdatedApr 21, 2026May 13, 2026May 4, 2026Nov 29, 2025May 13, 2026Nov 29, 2025Sep 12, 2018Aug 28, 2024May 15, 2025Feb 28, 2024
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentimentmixedmixed-mixed-mixed---mixed
Score45/10035/100-55/100-55/100---45/100
Praises
  • Cross-device synchronization allows academic researchers to maintain consistent annotation workflows between mobile and desktop environments
  • Markdown export functionality provides significant value for organizing research notes and extracting data from documents
  • Natural voice inflection and expressive AI narration provide high-quality audio for long-form content
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  • Reliable PDF viewing and annotation tools provide consistent value for daily document management workflows
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  • Powerful mind mapping and annotation tools provide a unique foundation for academic knowledge management workflows
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  • Spatial workspace design allows users to map complex ideas across multiple documents simultaneously
Complaints
  • Subscription-only pricing model creates long-term financial friction for students and academics on fixed budgets
  • Frequent application freezes and crashes during document annotation sessions disrupt the reading workflow
  • Aggressive account flagging and suspension policies create significant friction for legitimate power users
-
  • Integration failures with cloud storage services disrupt file access and synchronization across mobile devices
-
  • OCR functionality fails to accurately recognize text in complex academic PDFs and non-Latin scripts
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  • Frequent application crashes and UI freezes disrupt the reading and annotation workflow
Requests
  • Native support for Apple Pencil handwriting and drawing tools to facilitate technical and mathematical note-taking
  • Advanced audio controls including multi-voice character assignment and better high-speed playback quality
-
  • Cross-platform synchronization for bookmarks and settings to maintain continuity across different device environments
-
  • Integration with cloud storage services like Dropbox and Google Drive for better file management
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  • Redo functionality is missing from the editing toolbar, causing significant data loss during mistakes
Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • Lightweight 10MB footprint enables faster launch times than complex study suites
  • Markdown-first export architecture integrates into modern research stacks
  • Proprietary ElevenLabs voice model provides superior audio quality
  • Iconic voice library creates a unique content moat
  • Text-highlighting features drive accessibility-based retention
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  • AES-256 encryption functions as a high-switching-cost security moat [Productivity Segment]
  • Offline-first architecture reduces dependency on unstable cloud connections [Core Utility]
  • Legacy brand trust sustains a dedicated power-user base [Market History]
-
  • Proprietary knowledge-structure format creates high switching costs
  • Automated flashcard generation enables unique active-recall study loops
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  • Spatial workspace UX creates high switching costs
  • Proprietary ink-link interaction model reinforces category authority
Weaknesses
  • Subscription-only pricing model creates financial friction for students
  • Lack of Apple Pencil handwriting tools prevents technical equation sketching
  • Application freezes during annotation sessions disrupt the reading workflow
  • Aggressive account-flagging triggers churn
  • Playback instability post-update disrupts daily habits
  • Billing friction during cancellation process
-
  • $79.99 upfront price exceeds category median [Pricing Strategy]
  • Persistent cloud-sync failures reported in user reviews [Sentiment Data]
  • Lack of a simple data-migration path from the classic version [User Experience]
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  • 0.7-star rating gap on complex OCR tasks
  • Lack of native cloud-sync integration
  • Frequent crash reports during split-view usage
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  • $79.99 upfront cost exceeds category median
  • Frequent UI freezes during note-taking
  • Lack of basic redo functionality
Pricingfreemiumfreemiumfreepaidfreefreemiumfreefreesubscriptionpaid
MomentumMaintenanceActive-Steady-Zombie---Zombie
Update Cadence1 versions, 1 majors/6mo5 versions, 2 majors/6mo, ~13d avg-5 versions-1 versions---5 versions

Compare Highlights: PDF Reader & Notes head-to-head

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Highlights: PDF Reader & Notes, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

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