# PDF Reader vs Simple PDF

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Reader | Simple PDF |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-pdf-pdf-reader/id6746363157/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **3** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 114 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 8 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aishvarya Sadasivam](https://appshunter.io/developer/1062048241) | [Chang Keun Jung](https://appshunter.io/developer/1813307401) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-for-books/id1084659168)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Simple PDF

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-pdf-pdf-reader/id6746363157)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Reader free?

PDF Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Simple PDF free?

Simple PDF is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do PDF Reader or Simple PDF have ads?

PDF Reader shows ads; Simple PDF does not.

### Which is updated more often, PDF Reader or Simple PDF?

PDF Reader ships an update every 114 months, and Simple PDF every 3 weeks. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on October 10, 2026 and Simple PDF on October 6, 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.*