Comparison

PDF Editor vs PDF Hero

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

Head to head
About

PDF Editor

Edit text, images, and layout in PDF files without altering formatting. Convert PDFs to various formats, merge documents, and secure them with passwords. Offers cloud integration and user-friendly navigation for efficient document management.

Highlights
  • Edit text and images
  • Convert to multiple formats (Word, PPT, JPG, PNG)
  • Resize PDFs
  • Merge PDF files
  • Secure with password encryption
  • Add watermarks, headers, footers
  • Cloud integration
Features
Read full description

Edit a PDF and get back the file you expected. Many PDF editors move your fonts, your spacing and your layout. PDF Editor is built to keep them where they are. Open a PDF, change the text, the images and the pages, export it, and the document still looks like the original. If a file ever does not come out right, message us from inside the app: we reply within one business day and fix import, editing and font problems as a priority, keeping you posted until it is done. Built in Australia. Your documents stay yours. What you can do • Edit PDF text: change words, font, size and color directly on the page. • Edit PDF images: replace, crop, resize or delete any image. • Sign PDF: draw or type your signature once and place it on any document. • Fill PDF forms: complete a form, save it and send it. • Merge PDF: combine several PDF files into one. • Split PDF: separate one PDF into smaller files. • Compress PDF: reduce the file size for email and upload. • Convert PDF to JPG or PNG: turn any page into an image. • Turn images into a PDF: combine photos or scans into one document. • Open Word, PowerPoint and Illustrator files: edit them as a PDF and export. • Organize pages: reorder, rotate, duplicate, delete, crop and number pages. • Annotate PDF: highlight and underline what matters. • Redact PDF: black out text that must not be shared. • Scan to text (OCR): turn a scanned page into text you can edit. • Unlock PDF: remove a password you own. • Watermark PDF: add a watermark, a header or a footer. • Resize PDF: change the page format without losing quality. Read and annotate any PDF Open any PDF file, read it and highlight what matters. Large files stay sharp when you zoom. Edit PDF text properly Tap a paragraph and type. PDF Editor keeps the font, the line breaks and the spacing you already have, so you do not have to rebuild the page after every change. Sign and fill without printing Draw or type a signature, place it, save it. Fill in a contract, an invoice or an application form and send it back the same day. No printer needed. Merge, split and compress Combine a set of files into one report. Pull three pages out of a long contract. Compress a large PDF so it fits an email limit. All from your phone. Convert and export Save as PDF for print or for web. Export a page as JPG or PNG for a message or a slide. Turn a set of photos into one PDF. Open a Word, PowerPoint or Illustrator file and work on it as a PDF. Start from a template Do not start from an empty page. Open a ready-made invoice, report, proposal, contract, letter, resume, flyer or business card, then change the parts you need. Every template is editable and exports as a PDF. Phone, tablet and web Your documents sync, so you can start on a phone and finish on a laptop. What is free and what is paid Every month a free account includes 5 PDF edits and 20 PDF tool operations such as merge, split, compress or rotate. Subscriptions raise these allowances and more: monthly AI credits and extra storage are included. Common questions Can I change text in a file someone else made? Yes. Open it and tap the text. Can I put two files together? Yes, use Merge. Can I make a file smaller? Yes, use Compress. Can I turn a scan into text? Yes, use Scan to text. Do I need an account? Merge, split, compress, rotate and the other page tools work without one. Editing text, signing, filling forms and watermarks need a free account. Does it work offline? Merge, split, compress, sign, fill forms and the other page tools run on your device and work offline. Editing PDF text in the full editor, scan to text and the AI tools need an internet connection. Something did not import or export correctly. What now? Send it to us from Settings → Feedback & Support. We reply within one business day. Download PDF Editor and fix the PDF properly, the first time.

About

PDF Hero

Edit, create, and manage PDF documents on your mobile device. Annotate, fill forms, sign, and share files with ease. Offers advanced features like OCR and compression for enhanced document control.

Highlights
  • Create PDFs from scratch
  • Edit text and annotate documents
  • Fill and sign PDF forms
  • Convert images/documents to PDF
  • OCR for editable text
  • Compress and merge PDFs
  • Password-protect sensitive data
Features
Read full description

Looking for a convenient and easy-to-use PDF editor? View and edit PDF files on the go with PDF Hero! The app works on iPhone and iPad. PDF Hero helps you take control of your papers and run your business in the ever-changing digital world. Create and read PDFs, then annotate, edit, fill and sign forms, or share files. Manage paperwork hassle-free from anywhere – the office, remotely, or from home. There’s no need for printed copies when you can access and edit the docs you need, on the go – all in an app. Stay one step ahead when it comes to document management. CREATE & VIEW - Create PDFs from scratch. - Open and view any PDF file. - Zoom in and out while reading. - Search to find the necessary information using text search. - Read PDFs easier with Read Mode by creating bookmarks and navigating conveniently. EDIT & ANNOTATE - Edit text in your PDF files, fix typos, and correct paragraphs. - Add comments and annotations using text notes. - Write on PDFs with your finger or stylus. - Fill PDF forms. - Highlight key ideas and add shapes. - Insert images, crop, resize, or change the angle if necessary. MANAGE & STORE - Import files from your device or online storage services like iCloud and Dropbox. - Delete pages from a multi-page PDF document. - Share PDF files with or without annotations for further reading and commenting. - Print files right from your device. Level up with Premium features! PRO EDITING - Convert images and documents to PDF files. - Sign docs right on the screen of your device. - Add stamps to PDF documents. - Transform PDF files into editable text with OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology. PRO MANAGEMENT - Compress PDFs and share them as ZIP files. - Manage PDF pages: add pages, rotate, and reorder them. - Share selected pages of a multi-page PDF file. - Merge two or more PDF pages into a single document. - Password-protect sensitive data. *To digitize printed copies and transform them into editable PDF scans, try our Scan Hero app! Subscription payments will be charged to your App Store account at confirmation of your purchase. Subscriptions will automatically renew and you will be charged unless auto-renew is turned off or unless you cancel at least 24 hours prior to the end of the current subscription or trial period. Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when you purchase a premium subscription during the free trial period. The cost of renewal depends on the Subscription Plan you choose. Subscriptions and auto-renewal may be managed by going to Account Settings after purchase or by contacting Customer Support. Privacy Policy: https://support.bendingspoons.com/privacy.html?app=1512973255 Terms of Service: https://support.bendingspoons.com/tos.html?app=1512973255 Got questions or suggestions? Please don’t hesitate to email us at pdfhero@bendingspoons.com

Screenshots

PDF Editor4 screens
PDF Hero4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: PDF Hero at none against PDF Editor's shown. PDF Hero also leads on ratings volume (10K vs 330) and chart position (#197 vs unranked). PDF Editor's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases 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 Editor sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and PDF Hero sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for PDF Editor against 4.6 for PDF Hero. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Hero has 10K ratings behind it against 330, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 22% of PDF Editor's written reviews are positive against 18% of PDF Hero's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDF Editor ships an update every 3 days, PDF Hero every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
PDF Editor versus PDF Hero: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF EditorPDF Hero
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (330 ratings)4.6 (10K ratings)
Positive reviews22.3% of reviews — better17.8% of reviews
Number of ratings33010K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#197 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size191 MB536 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDesygner Pty LtdMosaic S.r.l.

Customer experience

PDF Editor

All ratings330 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral0.3%
Negative8.2%
Written reviews139 reviews
Positive22.3%
Neutral2.9%
Negative74.8%

PDF Hero

All ratings10,328 ratings
Positive90.4%
Neutral2.4%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews247 reviews
Positive17.8%
Neutral5.3%
Negative76.9%

User reviews

PDF Editor

From 330 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✏️ Comprehensive PDF editing capabilities
  • 🎨 Advanced image editing features (logos, backgrounds, signatures)
  • ⚡ Fast processing speed for document editing
  • 👍 User-friendly interface for most users
  • 🔧 Multiple editing tools and options available

Room to improve

  • 💰 Expensive subscription pricing ($7-99/month)
  • 🚫 Limited free trial (3 days, not 7 as advertised)
  • 📏 Output files are extremely small and illegible after export
  • 🐢 Very slow file uploads and processing
  • ❌ Text editing features unavailable in trial version

PDF Hero

From 10K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💡 Useful PDF editing features
  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 👍 Signature functionality

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and malfunctions
  • 🐛 Inconsistent behavior and glitches
  • 🔋 High subscription cost
  • 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
  • 👎 Poor text editing capabilities

Bugs and requests

PDF Editor

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • App crashes when importing PDFs
  • Exported PDFs render at extremely small, unreadable sizes
  • Text editing causes font changes and formatting loss
  • Duplicate function creates multiple unwanted copies or deletes originals
  • App won't open or gets stuck on logo screen
Show 9 more
  • Email verification not sending or sending to wrong address
  • Zoom functionality resets when attempting edits
  • Saved documents disappear from app after restart
  • File upload fails or gets stuck indefinitely
  • Black and white checkered screen replacing PDF content
  • Large chunks of text deleted when leaving text editor open
  • Pages display as blank after export
  • Subscription information not displaying correctly
  • App crashes when clicking add/import button

Requested features

8 requests
  • Better zoom functionality without distorting document sections
  • Ability to edit files across multiple devices with same account
  • Improved text editing capabilities
  • Document rotation (not just flip) functionality
  • Better font compatibility and handling
Show 3 more
  • Offline editing capability
  • Improved file saving and persistence
  • Cross-device synchronization

PDF Hero

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Text disappearing or jumping around during editing
  • Inability to save or transfer edited documents
  • App crashing or freezing during use
  • Incorrect rendering of PDF content

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved text editing and manipulation
  • Better file management and organization
  • Seamless integration with other apps
  • Clearer subscription and cancellation policies

In-app purchases

13 purchases

PDF Editor

Subscriptions9
  • Weekly$2.997 Days
  • Pro+ Weekly Subscription 2$4.997 Days
  • Pro+ Weekly Subscription7 Days trial$6.997 Days
Show 6 more
  • Pro+ Monthly Subscription$9.951 Month
  • Monthly3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Pro+ Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Pro+ Annual Subscription 2$83.991 Year
  • Annual3 Days trial$89.991 Year
  • Pro+ Annual Subscription$99.991 Year
One-time4
  • Credit pack: 5 credits$4.99
  • Credit pack: 10 credits$7.99
  • Special credit pack$7.99
Show 1 more
  • Credit pack: 30 credits$19.99
12 purchases

PDF Hero

Subscriptions12
  • Weekly with free trial7 Days trial$3.997 Days
  • Weekly Subscription$3.997 Days
  • Weekly Premium$5.997 Days
Show 9 more
  • Weekly Premium with Free Trial7 Days trial$5.997 Days
  • PDF Hero Premium 1 Month$9.991 Month
  • PDF Hero Premium 1 Month3 Days trial$10.991 Month
  • PDF Hero Premium 1 Month3 Days trial2 variants$11.991 Month
  • Convert & Merge PDF Documents3 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • PDF Hero Premium 3 Months3 Days trial$19.993 Months
  • PDF Hero Premium 1 Year3 Days trial$34.991 Year
  • PDF Hero Premium 1 Year3 Days trial$89.991 Year
  • PDF Hero Premium 1 Year3 Days trial$99.991 Year

Questions

Is PDF Editor free?
PDF Editor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PDF Hero free?
PDF Hero is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PDF Editor or PDF Hero?
PDF Editor and PDF Hero are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 330 and 10K ratings respectively.
Do PDF Editor or PDF Hero have ads?
PDF Editor shows ads; PDF Hero does not.
Which is updated more often, PDF Editor or PDF Hero?
PDF Editor ships an update every 3 days, and PDF Hero every 3 weeks. Most recently, PDF Editor was updated on September 21, 2026 and PDF Hero on September 24, 2026.

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