The LiquidText Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about LiquidText in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
LiquidText
The Insider’s Guide
Document review workspace that links excerpts to notes
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from LiquidText’s own pages.
Made by LiquidText Inc. · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from LiquidText’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on LiquidText’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 12 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade
LiquidText is a document review app for iPad, Mac and Windows that places source documents and a notes workspace side by side. Excerpts dragged out of a document stay linked to where they came from, a pinch gesture pulls distant pages or search results together, and notes can be connected into a mind map. The Basic version is free; multi-document projects, inking and cloud sync need a paid version.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about LiquidText, taken from its own pages and our grades.
The gestures are its own, so there's a bit to pick up, and choosing between a one-time Pro, three LIVE tiers and Enterprise takes thought.
- 1
Best for picking long documents apart
LiquidText is a reading tool for long documents more than a notebook: drag a passage out of a contract or a paper and it stays linked to its page, and a pinch brings two distant pages together.
- 2
Paid plans start at $8.99 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $8.99 per month, paid annually (LIVE).
- 3
There is a free plan
Basic: free PDF reading, annotation, excerpts linked to notes, pinch search and highlight view, mind maps and notes export. Multi-document projects, inking and tagging need Pro.
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
iOS, macOS and Windows.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
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.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 12 of 147
That is against the other note-taking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace LiquidText you would be making a library of papers and sources to search. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
LiquidText at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $8.99 per month, paid annually (LIVE)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- One-week free trial on any LiquidText LIVE subscription
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, iOS
- Made by
- LiquidText Inc.
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
- Store rating
- 4.6 on the App Store, 6,376 ratings
The report card
Best for picking long documents apart
LiquidText is a reading tool for long documents more than a notebook: drag a passage out of a contract or a paper and it stays linked to its page, and a pinch brings two distant pages together. The free version keeps you to one document per project with no inking, tagging or OCR, sync costs $8.99 a month paid annually for 1 GB, and the one-time Pro covers a single platform. There's no iPhone, Android or web app.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D | LIVE is $8.99 a month paid annually, or $10.99 monthly, where notes apps here sit at $6 in the middle and $8.25 in the dearer quarter, and that buys 1 GB of storage and one colleague. The one-time route, Pro 2023 at $89.99, covers a single platform and doesn't sync. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Basic is free with PDF annotation, excerpts linked back to the page, pinch search, mind maps and notes export. The caps come quickly, though, since projects with several documents, inking, tagging and OCR all need a paid version. |
| Features | C | Excerpts stay tied to their source, a pinch collapses a document so far-apart pages sit together, Pro projects hold any number of documents with up to 3 side by side, and Zotero and Mendeley plug in. It does document review fully, and that's a narrower job than note-taking. |
| Ease of use | B | 4.62 from about 6,400 App Store ratings, just shy of the 4.7 an A asks for. The gestures are its own, so there's a bit to pick up, and choosing between a one-time Pro, three LIVE tiers and Enterprise takes thought. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | iPad, Mac and Windows, with Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, iCloud, iManage, Zotero and Mendeley hooked up. No iPhone, no Android and no web version, and working across platforms needs LIVE, since Pro 2023 is licensed for one. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who LiquidText is for
- Fits if you're a lawyer or analyst working through long documents on an iPad, Mac or Windows PC
- Works for comparing passages across several papers and jumping back to the source
Who it is not for
- Pricey if you want sync, at $8.99 a month paid annually with 1 GB of storage and one colleague
- Tight if you're staying free, because several documents in one project, inking, tagging and OCR need a paid version
- Skip it if you just want somewhere to jot notes, as it's built around reading documents
- Not for you if you use an iPhone, Android or a browser, since the apps cover iPad, Mac and Windows only
- Watch out: the $89.99 Pro 2023 covers one platform with no sync, Enterprise has no published price, and the trial is one week
Good to know
Good for
- Lawyers and analysts reviewing long documents
- Researchers comparing passages across several papers
- Pen-and-tablet users who want notes tied back to their sources
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$8.99
A month to start. There is a free plan too
LiquidText has a free plan. Paid plans start at $8.99 per month, paid annually (LIVE).
Basic is free with PDF annotation, excerpts linked back to the page, pinch search, mind maps and notes export.
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 Edition
Custom
Quoted on request, with a license management console, single sign-on, password-based file encryption and an on-premises server option.
The free plan
Basic: free PDF reading, annotation, excerpts linked to notes, pinch search and highlight view, mind maps and notes export. Multi-document projects, inking and tagging need Pro.
Trying it first
One-week free trial on any LiquidText LIVE subscription
Read from liquidtext.net on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on liquidtext.netEducation
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.
Stated on liquidtext.netLifetime 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.
Stated on liquidtext.netBy country
Lower LIVE price shown to buyers in India
On October 9, 2026 the pricing page showed LIVE at $4.99 a month, paid annually, to a reader in India, against $8.99 in its US price data. Pro 2023 was higher there: $99.99 against $89.99.
Stated on liquidtext.net
How its prices have moved
- Dec 21, 2022Pro 2023: Pro, $29.99 one-time purchase, one platform → Pro 2023, $29.99 one-time purchase, one platformThe archived copy of 21 December 2022 calls the one-time local licence Pro 2023; the copy before it, of 25 June 2022, still called it Pro. The price stayed at $29.99 paid once.
- Jun 25, 2022LIVE Unlimited: LIVE Enhanced, $9.99 per month, paid annually → LIVE Unlimited, $9.99 per month, paid annuallyThe archived copy of 25 June 2022 names the top subscription LIVE Unlimited; the copy of 26 January 2022 still called it LIVE Enhanced. The price stayed at $9.99 a month paid annually.
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “LiquidText Live, Monthly”, against $10.90 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | Rp 99ribu | $5.54 | 49% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 349.00 | $5.56 | 49% less |
| India | ₹ 549 | $5.68 | 48% less |
| South Africa | R99.99 | $6.05 | 45% less |
| Australia | $17.90 | $12.50 | 15% more |
| Mexico | $229.00 | $12.58 | 15% more |
| United Kingdom | £9.90 | $13.09 | 20% more |
| Germany | 11,90 € | $13.34 | 22% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and iOS
Document review workspace that links excerpts to notes. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, real-time collaboration, notes, research, mind mapping, highlights.
It does document review fully, and that's a narrower job than note-taking.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
What it works with
- Zotero
- Mendeley
- Dropbox
- Box
- OneDrive
- iCloud
- iManage
LiquidText is made by LiquidText Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
12/147
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
LiquidText's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 12 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 9.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (B, above 86 of 147) and worst on value for money (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $8.99 a month, against a middle price of $5.83 for the category: 57 of the 66 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 24 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 148 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. LiquidText’s own letter is outlined.
- DValue for moneyAbove 0 of 147
- CFree plan and trialAbove 7 of 147
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 147
- BEase of useAbove 47 of 147
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 86 of 147
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 note-taking apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. LiquidText is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace LiquidText you would be making a library of papers and sources to search. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 126 of the 147 other note-taking apps grade higher. It costs $107.88 a year.
What you could make
- Notes, highlights and mind mapping: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A library of papers and sources to search.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
- It plugs into other products, Zotero, Mendeley and Dropbox among them.
What this rests on. LiquidText’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
MarginNote, Flexcil, Goodnotes, Notability and DEVONthink
The 5 tools LiquidText is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
MarginNote
Free trial · from $12.99 one-time
Study reader that turns highlights into mind maps and cards.
- LiquidText has a free plan. MarginNote does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only LiquidText lists a Windows app.
- LiquidText also covers research.
- 2.2GPA
Flexcil
Free plan · from $8.99
PDF reader and handwriting notebook built around pen gestures.
- Only LiquidText lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Only Flexcil lists an Android app.
- LiquidText can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.6GPA
Goodnotes
Free plan · from $11.99/yr
Handwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant.
- Only Goodnotes lists a web app.
- Only Goodnotes lists an Android app.
- LiquidText also covers research, mind mapping and highlights.
- 3.4GPA
Notability
Free plan · from $14.99/yr
Handwritten notes with synced audio, transcripts and AI study tools.
- Only Notability lists a web app.
- Only Notability lists an Android app.
- LiquidText also covers research, mind mapping and highlights.
- 2.4GPA
DEVONthink
Free trial · from $99 one-time
Document and information manager for Mac, iPhone and iPad.
- LiquidText has a free plan. DEVONthink does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only LiquidText lists a Windows app.
- Only DEVONthink lists a web app.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
16
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is LiquidText free?
LiquidText has a free plan. Basic: free PDF reading, annotation, excerpts linked to notes, pinch search and highlight view, mind maps and notes export.
How much does LiquidText cost?
LiquidText lists 6 plans. Basic: $0.
What platforms does LiquidText work on?
LiquidText is available on iOS, macOS and Windows.
Does LiquidText offer any discounts?
LiquidText publicly lists the following: Lower monthly rate when paid annually; Student pricing through in-app purchase; Pro 2023 as a one-time purchase; Lower LIVE price shown to buyers in India.
How is LiquidText rated?
LiquidText's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.6 out of 5 from 6,376 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Does LiquidText have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. LiquidText is listed for iOS, macOS and Windows.
Does LiquidText have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. LiquidText is listed for iOS, macOS and Windows.
Is LiquidText open source?
LiquidText is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
What does LiquidText integrate with?
LiquidText's listing names Zotero, Mendeley, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, iCloud and iManage.
Does LiquidText have a student discount?
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.
Does LiquidText have a free trial?
Yes. One-week free trial on any LiquidText LIVE subscription.
Who makes LiquidText?
LiquidText is made by LiquidText Inc.
What are the alternatives to LiquidText?
The closest alternatives to LiquidText in our directory are MarginNote, Flexcil, Goodnotes, Notability and DEVONthink.
How does LiquidText compare with other note-taking apps?
LiquidText's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 12 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 9.
Is LiquidText good value for money?
ToolGPA grades LiquidText D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $8.99 a month, against a middle price of $5.83 for the category: 57 of the 66 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of LiquidText?
To replace LiquidText you would be making a library of papers and sources to search.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from LiquidText’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from LiquidText's own pages on 6 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-05-14.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by LiquidText Inc. Prices change, so check liquidtext.net before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- LiquidText, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/liquidtext
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "LiquidText: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/liquidtext
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/liquidtext/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after LiquidText, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Note-Taking Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 148 note-taking apps we grade, compared
- Microsoft OneNote Insider's GuideMicrosoft's free digital notebook for typed, inked and audio notes3.8 GPA
- Goodnotes Insider's GuideHandwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant3.6 GPA
- Joplin Insider's GuideOpen source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose3.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what LiquidText’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. LiquidText is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by LiquidText Inc. Prices and plans change: check liquidtext.net before you buy.