# TextEdit vs PDF Viewer by Nutrient

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PDF Viewer by Nutrient at 74% against TextEdit's 18%. PDF Viewer by Nutrient also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.7) and ratings volume (9.1K vs 376). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TextEdit sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and PDF Viewer by Nutrient sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 3 months. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PDF Viewer by Nutrient holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Viewer by Nutrient has 9.1K ratings behind it against 376, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of TextEdit's written reviews are positive against 74% of PDF Viewer by Nutrient's.

TextEdit ships an update every 3 weeks, PDF Viewer by Nutrient monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TextEdit | PDF Viewer by Nutrient |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (376 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textedit-text-editor/id1070883678/reviews) | **[4.6 (9.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-viewer-by-nutrient/id1120099014/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 376 | **9.1K** |
| Positive reviews | 18.1% of reviews | **73.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 480 MB | 112 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kairoos Solutions SL](https://appshunter.io/developer/978066434) | [PSPDFKit GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/966931428) |

## What reviewers say

### TextEdit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textedit-text-editor/id1070883678)

A fast and versatile text editor for mobile devices, offering compatibility with various file formats and editors. It provides a distraction-free writing experience with advanced formatting, organization, and sharing features.

**Highlights:** Supports TXT, RTF, Markdown, TeX, and PDF formats, Cross-device and computer syncing via iCloud/Files, Distraction-free writing interface, Customizable keyboard extension for faster typing, Visual rich text formatting and one-tap options, Syntax highlighting for Markdown and TeX, Instant statistics and counters

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TextEdit+ Unlock AI Assistant | $4.99 | per month |
| TextEdit+ Unlock AI Assistant | $29.99 | per year |
| TextEdit+ Full Unlock | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📝 Simple and clean text editor
- 🔗 Integrates well with iCloud
- 👍 Useful for basic document editing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Requires subscription for full functionality
- 🔒 Locks users out of previously purchased content
- 🚫 Prevents access to app without subscription
- 🤖 Forced AI integration that users don't want

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when opening certain file types
- Formatting issues when copying/pasting text
- Inconsistent behavior across devices

**Requested features**

- Allow users to choose iCloud directory
- Offer one-time purchase option instead of subscription
- Restore previous paid versions without AI


### PDF Viewer by Nutrient

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-viewer-by-nutrient/id1120099014)

Easily view, search, and annotate PDF documents on your iPhone and iPad. Import files from cloud services, fill out forms, add signatures, and organize your documents. Advanced features like redaction and combining documents are available with a Pro subscription.

**Highlights:** View and search PDFs, Annotate with highlights and notes, Sign documents digitally, Fill out PDF forms, Organize and share documents, Import from cloud services

**Features:** Family Sharing, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PDF Viewer Pro 3 Months | $6.99 | per 3 months |
| PDF Viewer Pro Yearly | $19.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Seamless integration with iCloud and Files app
- 👍 Intuitive annotation tools with Apple Pencil
- 🎨 Versatile highlighting and drawing options
- 💾 Saves annotations to original PDF files
- 🔍 Powerful search and navigation features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and performance issues
- 🤔 Confusing UI and steep learning curve
- 🔀 Difficulty managing and organizing PDF files
- 🔍 Inconsistent text selection and highlighting
- 🔒 Privacy concerns around data collection

**Reported bugs**

- Annotations randomly disappearing or not saving
- Incompatibility issues with certain PDF files
- Scrolling and panning problems on large PDFs
- Unexpected crashes after iOS updates

**Requested features**

- Add a rubber/eraser tool for annotations
- Implement a side-by-side PDF view mode
- Improve palm rejection and gesture support
- Allow customization of toolbar and shortcuts
- Provide better options for PDF file management


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TextEdit free?

TextEdit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is PDF Viewer by Nutrient free?

PDF Viewer by Nutrient is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, TextEdit or PDF Viewer by Nutrient?

PDF Viewer by Nutrient is rated higher. TextEdit averages 3.7 out of 5 from 376 ratings, while PDF Viewer by Nutrient averages 4.6 from 9.1K ratings.

### Do TextEdit or PDF Viewer by Nutrient have ads?

Neither TextEdit nor PDF Viewer by Nutrient shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TextEdit or PDF Viewer by Nutrient?

TextEdit ships an update every 3 weeks, and PDF Viewer by Nutrient monthly. Most recently, TextEdit was updated on September 21, 2026 and PDF Viewer by Nutrient on September 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*