ChatPDF vs Tome
A detailed side-by-side comparison to help you choose.
ChatPDF
Chat with any PDF document using AI — instantly extract insights, summaries, and answers from files
Tome
Discontinued AI presentation tool — shut down April 2025; team pivoted to Lightfield (tome.app no longer serves the product)
Our verdict
It's a close call
ChatPDF (7.5) and Tome (7.5) are virtually tied. Your best pick depends on your specific needs and budget.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ChatPDF | Tome |
|---|---|---|
| API Access | ||
| Plugins / Extensions | ||
| Image Generation | ||
| Code Execution | ||
| File Upload | ||
| Web Search | ||
| Max Context Window | 2000 pages | 32K tokens |
Pricing Comparison
| Tier | ChatPDF | Tome |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free 2 documents/day; core PDF chat & summaries; no sign-up needed | Free AI presentation product shut down April 2025; tome.app no longer serves the product (404 verified 2026-09-22). Team pivoted to Lightfield; brand acquired by AngelList. No new subscriptions. |
| Plus | $19.99 Unlimited document analysis, larger file sizes, advanced tools (AI Writer, Detector, Research); $239.88/yr equivalent | — |
Score Breakdown
| Dimension | ChatPDF | Tome |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Features | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Value for Money | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| Support | 6.0 | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 | 7.5 |
Pros & Cons
ChatPDF
Pros
- +Extremely simple to use — drag, drop, and chat
- +Accurately cites page numbers for all answers
- +Handles research papers, legal docs, and manuals well
- +API allows developers to embed PDF Q&A in their apps
Cons
- −Single-purpose tool with no broader AI capabilities
- −Free tier is very limited for professional use
- −Cannot handle scanned PDFs without OCR pre-processing
Tome
Pros
- +Generates full presentations from a text prompt in seconds
- +Beautiful cinematic design aesthetic out of the box
- +Interactive embeds for data, videos, and live content
- +AI writes narrative alongside visual layout automatically
Cons
- −Limited customization compared to PowerPoint or Google Slides
- −No offline mode — fully cloud-based
- −Export options are restricted on free plan