PaperDesk - PDF Reader & AI
PaperDesk is an iPad-only PDF reader with a real-book two-page spread and instant AI translation or explanation of selected text. No ads, no account required. Your library is stored on your device.
Highlights
Two-page spread
Automatically switches to a two-page view in landscape, with smart binding-direction detection for both LTR and RTL books.
Select to translate or explain
Select any text for instant AI translation or explanation. Choose Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude, or an on-device local model.
No login, stored on device
Start reading without creating an account; your books and notes stay on your device.
Features
Two-page spread
Read like a real book, with automatic binding-direction detection.
AI translate & explain
Translate or explain selected text. Switch between sentence mode and dictionary (word) mode.
Annotations
Highlights (5 colors), bookmarks, and page notes, with browsing and export.
Files & cloud
Import through the iOS Files app from iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox, and more. WebDAV is also supported.
OCR & full-text search
Recognize text in scanned PDFs and search across the document.
Archive support
Read PDFs directly inside ZIP and RAR archives.
Library management
Organize with tags and folders, sort, and customize covers.
Comfortable reading
Vertical / horizontal scroll modes, reading history (back/forward), brightness control, and more.
Privacy
- No advertising networks or tracking.
- Books, bookmarks, and notes are stored on your device.
- AI API keys and WebDAV credentials are stored in the iOS Keychain.
- Selected text is sent to your chosen provider only when you use an AI feature.
Requirements
- iPad only (iOS 17 or later).
- On-device local AI models require an iPad with 8GB or more of RAM.
Who it's for
- Readers who want to read PDFs and scanned books like a real book in two-page spread.
- Readers of foreign-language documents who want instant translation and explanation while reading.
- Anyone who wants to focus on reading without ads or logins.
FAQ
Do I need an account to use AI features?
No account is needed for the app itself. To use AI features, enter an API key for Gemini, OpenAI, or Anthropic in settings, or use a local model.
Can I read books from Google Drive or Dropbox?
Yes. If the Google Drive or Dropbox app is enabled in the iOS Files app, you can pick their PDFs via 'Import from Files'.
What's the difference between sentence and word translation?
Sentence mode translates the selected text as-is. Word mode returns a concise, dictionary-style translation of the selected term.
Can I read PDFs inside ZIP or RAR files?
Yes. Import a ZIP or RAR archive and read the PDFs inside it directly.
Support
For questions, bug reports, or App Store inquiries, contact [email protected].