PDF Reader vs Simple PDF
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PDF Reader
Easily open and view all your important files, including PDFs, documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and images, in one straightforward app. Designed for simplicity and speed, it's your reliable companion for accessing digital materials and eBooks quickly with a clean interface.
- Open PDFs and eBooks
- View Office files (.doc, .xls, .ppt)
- Access image files (.png, .jpg)
- Open .html web pages
- Clean and clear interface
- Fast and reliable file viewing
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PDF Reader-for Books is the straightforward and essential app for easily opening and viewing all your important files on your iPhone or iPad. Say goodbye to multiple apps—now you can access PDFs, documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and images all in one place. Designed for simplicity and speed, this app is your reliable companion for viewing all digital materials, including your favorite eBooks. Just tap to open your files and view them quickly with a clean, clear interface. Effortless File Access: • PDFs n eBooks: Open and read all your PDF documents and digital books. • Office Files: View popular Microsoft Office file types: .doc, .xls, and .ppt. • Images n Web: Easily open image files like .png and .jpg, plus .html web pages. Simple, Fast, and Reliable: PDF Reader-for Books is designed for maximum ease of use. No complicated features, just what you need to view your files quickly and reliably. Download today and simplify how you view all your documents and files!
Simple PDF
This application allows users to view, annotate, and edit PDF documents with ease. Features include document management, OCR capabilities, and a built-in scanner. It's designed for students and professionals to stay productive on the go.
- View, annotate, and edit PDFs
- Full-text search and navigation
- Free-draw and text box annotation
- Page reordering and PDF merging
- Scan documents with built-in camera
- OCR for text extraction
- Home screen widget for quick access
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Simple PDF Reader is a powerful, fast, and beautifully designed app for viewing, annotating, and editing your PDF documents — all in one place. Whether you're a student, professional, or just organizing paperwork, Simple PDF Reader keeps you productive on the go. Key Features: - Viewing & Navigation Smooth, fast PDF rendering with page thumbnail scrubber Table of contents (outline) and bookmarks for quick navigation Full-text search across the document Auto-scroll with adjustable speed for hands-free reading - Annotation & Drawing Free-draw with pen and highlighter tools Add text boxes anywhere on the page Insert and position signatures with drag & resize handles Eraser, undo, and redo support - Document Management Reorder and delete pages in the page editor Merge multiple PDFs into one - Scan paper documents with the built-in document camera Import PDFs from Files, iCloud, and other apps via share extension - OCR Extract text from scanned or image-based PDFs - Home Screen Widget Quick access to recently opened documents from your Home Screen - Dark Mode supported
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Simple PDF at none against PDF Reader's shown. Simple PDF also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 114 months) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). PDF Reader's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.6). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
PDF Reader ships an update every 114 months, Simple PDF every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PDF Reader | Simple PDF |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 3.7 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | — | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 114 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Aishvarya Sadasivam | Chang Keun Jung |
Customer experience
PDF Reader
Simple PDF
In-app purchases
PDF Reader
No in-app purchases
Simple PDF
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is PDF Reader free?
Is Simple PDF free?
Do PDF Reader or Simple PDF have ads?
Which is updated more often, PDF Reader or Simple PDF?
Other comparisons
