Comparison

PDF Reader vs PDF Highlighter

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PDF Reader

This app offers a superior PDF reading experience with its innovative Liquid Mode, which optimizes documents for mobile screens. It also provides robust tools for annotating, signing, managing, and sharing your PDF files, catering to both work and study needs.

Highlights
  • Liquid Mode for optimized mobile reading
  • Annotation tools (pencil, text, highlighting)
  • Handwritten signature insertion
  • File management (move, merge, copy, delete)
  • Cloud service integration (Wondershare, iCloud)
  • Create blank PDFs and folders
Features
Read full description

PDFelement - PDF Reader is a PDF reader using the latest technology. The newly connected Liquid Mode function allows you to enjoy the best reading experience. In addition, there are various annotation tools, file management, signature, Various functions such as cloud services can meet your PDF needs in work and study. PDF VIEWER • Liquid Mode gives you the best PDF reading experience • Star files to find them quickly • Easily locate recently accessed files in the "Recent" list. • Enter the page number to navigate to the desired page for viewing LIQUID MODE • Get the best PDF Reading experience with Liquid Mode • PDF document fully fits the mobile phone screen, no need to zoom in and out repeatedly. • Easily adjust brightness, font size,style, and spacing. ANNOTATE • Using Pencil to annotate like writing on the paper • Add text annotations, freely modify the text and background, border colors, choose the appropriate font and font size. • Supports many annotating tools like highlighting, underlining, squiggly lines, or strikethroughs. MANAGE • Move, merge, copy or delete files SIGNATURE • Enables handwritten signatures to be inserted anywhere within the document, while also offering the ability to zoom in and out for greater flexibility. • Built-in commonly used stamps CREATE • Quickly create completely blank PDF documents • Creat blank folders. SHARE • Sharing document content with others is just a click away with capture feature. • Select sentence(s) or pragraph(s) to share CLOUD SERVICE • PDF Reader supports uploading or downloading docs via computer, Wondershare document cloud and iCloud. Please note that this app only supports editing native PDF files. It does not support editing scanned or raster PDF. If you find you cannot edit text in PDF, please check if it is scanned PDF. Thank you! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Need HELP? Please contact us! We'll feedback to you ASAP. Email: pdfelement@wondershare.com Support Center: http://support.wondershare.com Forum: http://forum.pdf.wondershare.com Official Website: https://pdf.wondershare.com If you think this App helps you, your positive review in the App Store would be much appreciated.

About

PDF Highlighter

Easily edit and highlight text, photos, and documents directly on your phone. This app provides realistic highlighting tools and drawing functions to mark important sections of PDFs and images, allowing you to save and share your annotated files.

Highlights
  • Edit and highlight PDF files and photos
  • Use realistic highlighter pen tool
  • Freehand drawing with pen, line, arrow, rectangle, and circle tools
  • Change drawing tool colors and sizes
  • Zoom in/out PDF pages
  • Export highlighted PDFs and photos
  • Add, delete, or edit PDF pages
Features
Read full description

PDF Highlighter, Now easy to highlight important text, add notes, and annotate PDFs with ease. Customize documents using text, signatures, arrows, circles, lines, and colorful markup tools. Draw, edit, and organize your files with professional annotation features designed for work, study, and everyday productivity. Turn any PDF into an interactive and editable document in just a few taps. Easy to read & convert all image formats into PDF files with password security. The complete PDF toolkit for reading, editing, scanning, converting, and managing documents on your iPhone and iPad. Whether you're reviewing contracts, studying notes, filling forms, highlighting important sections, or creating PDFs from photos, PDF Highlighter - Read & Edit gives you everything you need in one powerful and easy-to-use app. Designed for students, professionals, teachers, business users, and anyone who works with documents every day. Now here you can edit PDF files and highlight the important and hide confidential text in PDF files easily. This will help you for protecting your privacy and ensuring confidential information stays hidden. Whether you need to redact personal details from a PDF files or colorise important information in PDF files. ** Key Features - Powerful PDF Editor • Edit and annotate existing PDF documents • Add images to PDF pages or scan to generate PDF files • Save changes as a new copy or replace the original file • Create professional documents on the go - Advanced PDF Highlighter & Annotation Tools • Highlight important text with multiple colors • Add notes and comments • Draw directly on PDF pages • Add custom text anywhere in the document • Insert signatures and initials • Undo and redo changes instantly - Smart PDF Reader • Open and read PDF files quickly • Smooth scrolling and fast page navigation • Search text inside PDFs • Jump directly to any page • Zoom in and out with ease • Recent files for quick access • Open PDF files from other apps • List and Grid view modes • Organize files by folders - Professional Markup Tools • Pen and freehand drawing tools • Multiple pen styles and colors • Adjustable font styles and sizes • Arrow tool • Line tool • Circle and filled circle tools • Shape drawing support • Precision editing with zoom controls • Blur or hide important text information - Scan to PDF • Scan documents using your camera • Create high-quality PDFs from images • Automatic document detection • Save scans in portrait or landscape mode • Perfect for receipts, notes, contracts, invoices, and forms - Image to PDF Converter • Convert photos into PDF documents • Combine multiple images into a single PDF • Rearrange pages before creating PDF • Create professional PDF files in seconds - PDF Conversion Tools • PDF to Word • Word to PDF • Image to PDF • Scan to PDF • PDF to ZIP • Fast and reliable document conversion - PDF Management Tools • Merge multiple PDF files • Compress PDF files to reduce size • Batch compress multiple PDFs • Organize and manage documents easily • Rename, move, and share files - Privacy & Security • Lock PDF files with passwords • Protect sensitive documents • Secure file management • Keep your important files private - Save & Share Anywhere • Export and share PDFs instantly • Share files via email, messaging apps, and more • Print PDF documents directly from your device - Why Choose PDF Highlighter - Read & Edit? • Fast and lightweight • Professional PDF editing tools • Powerful highlighter and annotation features • Complete document management solution • Easy-to-use interface • Perfect for work, study, business, and personal use Download now and take full control of your PDF documents anytime, anywhere. Privacy Policy: https://shadowphotovideoeditorzoneappspolicy.blogspot.com/2024/02/shadow-photo-video-editor-zone-privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

PDF Reader4 screens
PDF Highlighter4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PDF Reader at 77% against PDF Highlighter's 0%. PDF Reader also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). On price, ads, monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PDF Highlighter sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. PDF Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PDF Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Reader has 3.9K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of PDF Reader's written reviews are positive against 0% of PDF Highlighter's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, PDF Highlighter every 95 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
PDF Reader versus PDF Highlighter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF ReaderPDF Highlighter
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (3.9K ratings) — better3.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews76.7% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings3.9K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 95 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size173 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWondershare Technology (Hunan) Co.,Ltd.Jaydeep Dhameliya

Customer experience

PDF Reader

All ratings3,923 ratings
Positive83.1%
Neutral3.2%
Negative13.7%
Written reviews1,582 reviews
Positive76.7%
Neutral6.1%
Negative17.2%

PDF Highlighter

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative75.0%

Bugs and requests

PDF Reader

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Text boxes appearing randomly
  • Inability to select/edit text in some PDFs
  • Scrolling issues and page loading delays
  • Incompatibility with certain PDF formats

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to edit text formatting (font, size, color)
  • Support for multiple open documents
  • Improved Apple Pencil integration
  • Bookmark/favorite feature for frequently used PDFs
  • Expanded cloud storage integration (OneDrive, Google Drive, etc.)

PDF Highlighter

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

PDF Reader

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

PDF Highlighter

Subscriptions3
  • PDF Highlighter Purchase Week$2.997 Days
  • PDF Highlighter Purchase Month$9.991 Month
  • PDF Highlighter Purchase Year$110.991 Year

Questions

Is PDF Reader free?
PDF Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PDF Highlighter free?
PDF Highlighter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PDF Reader or PDF Highlighter?
PDF Reader is rated higher. PDF Reader averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3.9K ratings, while PDF Highlighter averages 3.0 from 1 ratings.
Do PDF Reader or PDF Highlighter have ads?
Neither PDF Reader nor PDF Highlighter shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PDF Reader or PDF Highlighter?
PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, and PDF Highlighter every 95 months. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on October 21, 2026 and PDF Highlighter on October 2, 2026.

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