DEVONthink vs LiquidText

DEVONthink

• Researchers, lawyers and writers with large document archives on a Mac
• People who want their documents stored locally rather than on a vendor's servers
• Buyers who prefer a one-time license to a subscription

LiquidText

• Lawyers and analysts reviewing long documents
• Researchers comparing passages across several papers
• Pen-and-tablet users who want notes tied back to their sources

DEVONthink

• The desktop app is Mac only and requires macOS Ventura or later; the vendor develops solely for macOS and iOS.
• A license includes 1 year of updates. The app keeps working afterwards, but more updates cost $49 to $149 a year depending on the edition.
• The web interface is part of the $499 Server edition only, and generative AI, OCR and email archiving start at Pro.
• Standard does not include DEVONthink To Go, which needs a $2.99 monthly or $19 yearly subscription for full use.

LiquidText

• The apps cover iPadOS, macOS and Windows only.
• The free Basic version leaves out multi-document projects, inking, tagging and OCR.
• Pro 2023 is licensed for one platform; syncing between devices or working across operating systems needs a LIVE subscription.
• LIVE includes 1 GB of storage and sharing with one colleague; more of either needs an Unlimited tier.

DEVONthink

Document databases

Stores texts, PDFs, web pages, images, emails and spreadsheets in databases on your Mac, organized with groups, tags and smart groups.

Notes, annotations and links

Write notes as Markdown, plain text or rich text and attach annotations to documents. Cross-references and item links connect items into a personal wiki.

Built-in and generative AI

Built-in AI suggests related documents and filing locations. Pro and Server connect online or local chat models for summaries, tagging and chat.

Automation

Smart rules run actions on documents when their conditions are met, and AppleScript or JavaScript for Automation scripts can extend them.

Encrypted sync

Databases sync between Macs, iPhones and iPads over the local network or a cloud service of your choice, with the synced data encrypted.

Scanning, OCR and email archiving

Pro and Server make scanned documents searchable, archive email independently of the mail app and imprint PDFs with stamps or Bates numbers.

LiquidText

Unified workspace

Source documents and notes share one screen. Excerpts dragged out of a document stay linked to their original location and return to it with one tap.

Pinch to compare and search

A pinch gesture collapses a document so distant pages, search results or highlights sit together, with as much surrounding context as needed.

Ink links and freehand notes

Pro adds freehand inking anywhere and live links drawn as a line between any two objects, such as a page, an excerpt and a comment.

Multi-document projects

Pro projects hold any number of documents, show up to 3 in parallel (5 on PC) and search across all of them at once.

LIVE sync and collaboration

The LIVE subscription syncs projects across devices in real time, backs them up continuously and lets a colleague work in a shared project.

Export and reference managers

Notes and excerpts export to PDF and DOCX, and Pro integrates with the Zotero and Mendeley reference managers.

DEVONthink

• Standard$99

  one-time license with 2 Mac seats and 1 year of updates

  Importing, indexing, sync, encrypted databases, versioning, tagging, annotations, smart groups and rules, and scripting. Extra seats cost $49.

• Pro$199

  one-time license with 2 Mac seats and 1 year of updates

  Adds generative AI integration, OCR, email archiving, custom metadata and DEVONthink To Go with 5 mobile seats. Extra seats cost $99.

• Server$499

  one-time license with 2 Mac seats and 1 year of updates

  Adds a web interface and granular access management for teams, plus 25 mobile seats for DEVONthink To Go. Extra seats cost $99.

• DEVONthink To Go$2.99

  per month, or $19 per year, as an App Store subscription

  The iPhone and iPad app. It works with restrictions without a license and is included with Pro and Server licenses that still receive updates.

LiquidText

• Basic$0

  PDF reader with annotation, a unified workspace, excerpts linked back to the document, pinch search and notes export.

• Pro 2023$89.99

  one-time purchase, one platform

  Local app for a single platform: inking, multi-document projects, links across documents, tagging, OCR, and Zotero and Mendeley integration.

• LIVE$8.99

  per month, paid annually; $10.99 paid monthly

  Everything in Pro 2023 on all platforms, plus real-time sync, continuous backup, 1 GB of project storage and sharing with one colleague.

• LIVE Unlimited$15.99

  per month, paid annually; $18.99 paid monthly

  Adds unlimited storage, document replacement, enhanced search actions and priority support.

• LIVE Unlimited Plus$20.99

  per month, paid annually; $24.99 paid monthly

  Raises real-time collaboration from one colleague to nearly unlimited collaborators per project, with sharing and privacy controls.

• Enterprise EditionCustom

  Quoted on request, with a license management console, single sign-on, password-based file encryption and an on-premises server option.

DEVONthink

• Education

  20% off for students and educators

  Full-time students and teachers get 20% off new licenses, extra seats and update extensions once their status is approved in their customer account.

• Nonprofit

  20% off for volunteer-run charities

  Charities working in children's aid, human aid, ecology, wildlife protection or renewable energy get 20% off. Educational institutes and religious organizations are excluded.

• Other savings

  Lower price for extending updates early

  Extending before the update year ends costs $44, $89 or $134 for one more year instead of $49, $99 or $149, with two- and three-year options.

LiquidText

• Annual discount

  Lower monthly rate when paid annually

  LIVE is $8.99 a month paid annually against $10.99 paid monthly; LIVE Unlimited is $15.99 against $18.99, and Unlimited Plus $20.99 against $24.99.

• Education

  Student pricing through in-app purchase

  The pricing page says student discounts are available only as in-app purchases in a LiquidText app downloaded from the app store. It gives no rate.

• Lifetime license

  Pro 2023 as a one-time purchase

  LiquidText Pro 2023 is paid once at $89.99 for a single platform and can run on up to 5 personal devices on that platform.