# PDF Reader vs PDF Reader Pro for Document

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PDF Reader at none against PDF Reader Pro for Document's 2. PDF Reader also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (3.9K vs 367). PDF Reader Pro for Document's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDF Reader Pro for Document sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. PDF Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

PDF Reader Pro for Document holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Reader has 3.9K ratings behind it against 367, 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 85% of PDF Reader Pro for Document's.

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, PDF Reader Pro for Document every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Reader | PDF Reader Pro for Document |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (3.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-pdfelement/id1150215996/reviews) | **[4.7 (367 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-pro-for-document/id1548604990/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.9K** | 367 |
| Positive reviews | 76.7% of reviews | **84.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 173 MB | 73 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Wondershare Technology (Hunan) Co.,Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1721309409) | [Fan Technology Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1503499100) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-pdfelement/id1150215996)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient PDF editing
- 💡 Useful annotation tools
- 🚀 Convenient for students/professionals
- 👍 Great value for free app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and glitches
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with account requirement
- 👎 Unintuitive user interface
- 🐛 Unreliable saving/syncing
- 👎 Limited functionality compared to paid version

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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 Reader Pro for Document

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-pro-for-document/id1548604990)

This app provides a fast and secure way to view PDF documents on your mobile device. It allows you to open and read PDFs, access scanned documents, and share files in various formats like PDF and Word.

**Highlights:** View PDF documents, Access scanned PDFs, Share as PDF/Word, Reading mode, Upload documents

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PDF Reader Pro Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| PDF Reader Pro Yearly | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
- 💰 Completely free with no hidden costs or subscriptions
- 🚀 Fast and reliable performance
- 📄 Handles large files and catalogs well
- ✨ No bloatware or unnecessary features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes frequently
- ❌ Cannot open or read PDF files in some cases
- 🚫 Cannot delete files easily
- 📱 No landscape mode support
- 🎨 Barebones UI with limited customization

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes during use
- Cannot open downloaded PDF files
- File deletion not working properly
- Does not save last opened page
- Poor performance on small phone screens

**Requested features**

- Add landscape mode orientation
- Implement font size adjustment options
- Add page number search functionality
- Save last opened page position
- Add PDF editing capabilities


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Reader free?

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

### Is PDF Reader Pro for Document free?

PDF Reader Pro for Document is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PDF Reader or PDF Reader Pro for Document?

PDF Reader Pro for Document is rated higher. PDF Reader averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3.9K ratings, while PDF Reader Pro for Document averages 4.7 from 367 ratings.

### Do PDF Reader or PDF Reader Pro for Document have ads?

PDF Reader Pro for Document shows ads; PDF Reader does not.

### Which is updated more often, PDF Reader or PDF Reader Pro for Document?

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, and PDF Reader Pro for Document every 3 weeks. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on September 23, 2026 and PDF Reader Pro for Document on September 22, 2026.

---

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