Readdle
Readdle is a Ukrainian software development company. It produces a range of productivity software, including calendar, email, and document management applications, primarily built for the Apple ecosystem available through the App Store. As of 2024, the company's software has garnered more than 200 million downloads worldwide.
 | |
| Industry | Software development |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2007[1][2] |
| Headquarters | Odesa, Ukraine (HQ) 795 Folsom Street 1st floor, San Francisco, California (Remote) [3] |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Igor Zhadanov (CEO) Denys Zhadanov (VP) Alex Tyagulsky (CPO) |
| Products | Scanner Pro, PDF Expert, Fluix, Spark, Documents, PDF Office, Printer Pro, PDF Converter |
Number of employees | 310 [4] |
| Website | readdle.com |
Readdle is a Ukrainian software development company. It produces a range of productivity software, including calendar, email, and document management applications, primarily built for the Apple ecosystem available through the App Store.[5] As of 2024, the company's software has garnered more than 200 million downloads worldwide.[6]
History
[edit]Readdle was founded in 2007, in Odesa, Ukraine, by former college roommates Igor Zhadanov, Alex Tyagulsky, Andrian Budantsov, and Dmitry Protserov.[7] The company is considered a global pioneer in iOS software development, having produced its inaugural web-based application to address file management on the iPhone prior to the launch of Apple's App Store.[8]
In July 2014, the company opened its first physical office in San Francisco, California.[8]
Following the 2014 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Readdle took steps to protect the viability of its operations, such as moving its data online, which has allowed the company to continue to operate throughout the conflict.[8] Despite regular attacks on Odesa by Russian forces, Readdle maintains to keep its headquarters in its founding-city.[9]
In 2022, Readdle removed access to its applications from the Russian App store in response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.[10]
Products
[edit]Documents
[edit]| Documents | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Readdle Technologies Limited |
| Initial release | 2008[11] |
| Operating system | iOS, iPadOS, macOS |
| Website | https://readdle.com/documents |
Documents (previously ReaddleDocs) is a file management application.[12] The app was Readdle's first product, and was developed because co-founders Alex Tyagulsky and Andrian Budantsov wished to be able to read books on their iPhones.[7] It was initially released as a Safari-based web service in 2007.[13] Later, Apple asked Readdle to submit the app (then called ReaddleDocs) to become one of the 500 apps available on the App Store when it launched on July 10, 2008.[14] After Wall Street Journal writer Walt Mossberg endorsed the app, sales increased ninefold, netting the company $500–1000 a week.[7] In 2013, the app rebranded as Documents.[15]
PDF Expert
[edit]| PDF Expert | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | Readdle |
| Operating system | macOS, iOS |
| Type | PDF editor |
| Website | pdfexpert.com |
PDF Expert is a PDF editing app for iPhone, iPad and Mac.[16][17] The app allows a user to read, annotate and edit PDFs, change text and images, fill in forms and sign contracts.[18]
PDF Expert was initially launched for iOS in 2010 for the first iPad and is now supported on the iPad, iPhone, and Mac.[19]
Spark
[edit]| Spark | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||
| Developer | Readdle | ||||||
| Initial release | May 29, 2015 | ||||||
| Stable release |
| ||||||
| Operating system | Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, watchOS | ||||||
| Platform | Android Nougat and later, MacOS High Sierra and later, iOS 13.4 and later | ||||||
| Size | 67.06 MB (Android), 175 MB (iOS), 58.6 MB (macOS) | ||||||
| Type | Email client | ||||||
| License | Freeware | ||||||
| Website | sparkmailapp.com | ||||||
Spark is an email application for Windows, iOS, macOS, and Android devices.[21][22][23][24] Lifehacker wrote that Spark was the best alternative for Mailbox users when that service went offline.[25] It was released on April 2, 2019, and was Readdle's first app released on Android.[26]
Spark +AI
[edit]In 2023, Spark introduced artificial intelligence features for premium users. Dubbed 'Spark +AI', the service first launched by utilising Microsoft Azure OpenAI software to draft, rewrite, and contour emails on behalf of users.[27] In 2024, Spark +AI continued to enhance its service by rolling out a new feature which supports AI content generation in the style of the end-user, allowing for more human-like/natural email construction.[28]
References
[edit]- ^ Stokel-Walker, Chris (16 April 2014). "Getting rich on apps in the heart of Ukraine". The Verge. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ "Looking back at Readdle's journey from zero to hero". TechCrunch. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ Heath, Alex. "This Ukrainian app maker hired an Apple veteran to reinvent email". Business Insider.
- ^ Titcomb, James (7 October 2023). "Russia tried to kill my business – but we fought back". The Telegraph.
- ^ Sawers, Paul (29 May 2015). "40M downloads on, Readdle adds a slick email client to its suite of iOS productivity apps". VentureBeat.
- ^ "Readdle's Journey from Single Idea to App Store Leader". www.globalthoughtleaders.org. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ a b c Stokel-Walker, Chris (16 April 2014). "Getting rich on apps in the heart of Ukraine". The Verge. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ a b c "An App Maker Hangs On Amid War in Ukraine". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ Titcomb, James (7 October 2023). "Russia tried to kill my business – but we fought back". The Telegraph.
- ^ published, Luke Filipowicz (2 March 2022). "Readdle removes apps from Russian App Store, pledges support for Ukraine". iMore. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ^ Stokel-Walker, Chris (16 April 2014). "Getting rich on apps in the heart of Ukraine". The Verge. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ Perez, Sarah (25 May 2017). "Readdle adds a clever drag-and-drop feature for moving files between its iPad productivity apps". TechCrunch. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ "10 years of Documents: From a document reader to a super app for file action". Readdle. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "10 years of Documents: From a document reader to a super app for file action". Readdle. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "ReaddleDocs Relaunches As Documents". 16 January 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ "KELLNER: Travels with my istuff". The Washington Times.
- ^ Deorukhkar, Preshit (24 August 2016). "PDF Expert 2 — The Powerful PDF Editor for Mac". Beautiful Pixels.
- ^ "How to Unlock a PDF that is Password Protected". 30 November 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ Viticci, Federico (November 2010). "PDF Expert: PDF Reader and Annotation Tool That Fits In My Workflow". MacStories.
- ^ "Spark Email – Connect Gmail, Yahoo & Outlook mail - Apps on Google Play". Google Play. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ Seifert, Dan (29 May 2015). "Spark for iPhone is a fast, smart way to manage your email". The Verge.
- ^ Biggs, John (2 June 2015). "Spark Is An Email Client That Shows You What's Important, Lets You Delete What Isn't". TechCrunch.
- ^ Bryant, Martin (29 May 2015). "Spark: a new iOS email app for power users, with clever ideas". The Next Web.
- ^ Bell, Karissa (26 February 2016). "Mailbox is shutting down, so here are 5 email apps to use instead". Mashable.
- ^ Klosowski, Thorin (26 February 2016). "Mailbox Is Shutting Down, Try These Free Alternatives". Lifehacker.
- ^ Gartenberg, Chaim (2 April 2019). "Spark for Android is here to fill the Google Inbox-shaped hole in your heart". The Verge.
- ^ Potuck, Michael (24 May 2023). "Spark email gets +AI to 'write better emails faster' while keeping control of your inbox". 9to5Mac. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- ^ "Spark Mail Gets 'My Writing Style' AI Email Assistant". MacRumors. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2025.