Auri vs PDF Pals (2026): Pricing, Features & Which to Choose

Who comes out ahead

Based only on the facts in our directory. The right pick still depends on the job you need done.

Lower starting price
Not comparable
Not comparable: Auri does not list a price
Free plan
Auri
Only Auri has one
Higher rating
PDF Pals
3.5 against 4.0
Same job?
Yes
Both are Productivity tools

Side by side

Compared on	Auri	PDF Pals
Our rating	3.5	4.0Better
Starts at	Free	$29/mo
Free plan	YesBetter	No
Category	Productivity	Productivity
Plans	Free	From $29/mo
Key features	AI keyboard working inside any app System-wide voice dictation on iOS and Mac Text improvement in place Chat and smart notes Apple Watch support	Local document storage with no file upload to vendor servers Bring-your-own API key support for OpenAI, Azure, and OpenRouter OCR engine for scanned PDFs and complex forms Multi-PDF chat across several documents at once API key storage secured through the Apple Keychain
Pros	Works where you already type rather than in a separate app Covers Mac and mobile, so dictation and editing stay connected Apple Watch support is rare in this category	Local-first design addresses real privacy concerns around uploading sensitive PDFs One-time purchase avoids the recurring cost of subscription competitors Bring-your-own-key model lets users control their own AI spending
Cons	Apple only - nothing for Android, Windows or the web A keyboard extension sees everything typed through it Full features require a subscription	Mac-only, with no Windows or web version for cross-platform teams Requires a separate OpenAI, Azure, or OpenRouter account and API key to function One-time price includes only one year of updates before further cost
Company	Auri	Podzim LLC, founded 2023

Prices come from each vendor's pricing page, last checked 20260901. Check the vendor before you buy.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is Auri better than PDF Pals?

In our reviews Auri scores 3.5 and PDF Pals scores 4.0. The better pick depends on the job. Auri: AI keyboard and system-wide dictation for Apple devices - improve text in any app, on iPhone, iPad, Watch and Mac. PDF Pals: Native Mac app for chatting with PDFs locally using your own OpenAI or Azure API key.

Which is cheaper, Auri or PDF Pals?

Auri: free. PDF Pals: from $29/mo.

Do Auri and PDF Pals have free plans?

Only Auri has a free plan.

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