# Smallpdf vs Subrate

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Smallpdf at 68% against Subrate's 0%. Smallpdf also leads on rating (4.8 vs 1.0) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 months). Subrate's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Smallpdf sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Subrate asks for nothing beyond the download.

Smallpdf holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Smallpdf has 6.9K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Smallpdf's written reviews are positive against 0% of Subrate's.

Smallpdf ships an update every 9 days, Subrate every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Smallpdf | Subrate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (6.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smallpdf-scanner-and-pdf-editor/id1485259500/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subrate/id6739504432/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6.9K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **68.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 159 MB | 70 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Smallpdf](https://appshunter.io/developer/1485259499) | [PROJECX BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS LLC. - OPC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1673681573) |

## What reviewers say

### Smallpdf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smallpdf-scanner-and-pdf-editor/id1485259500)

This app offers a comprehensive suite of tools to manage PDF documents. Easily convert, edit, compress, sign, merge, and scan PDFs using your mobile device. It also features OCR technology to convert scanned documents into editable text.

**Highlights:** Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, PPT, JPG, PNG, Edit PDFs with text, images, and annotations, Compress PDFs to reduce file size, Sign PDFs electronically, Merge multiple PDF files, Scan documents to PDF with OCR, Fill out PDF forms

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $7.99 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $11.99 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $14.99 | per month |
| Yearly Plan | $49.99 | per year |
| Yearly Plan | $59.99 | per year |
| Yearly Plan | $107.99 | per year |
| Yearly Plan | $107.99 | per year |
| Yearly Plan | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 💡 Useful features
- 🔒 Secure
- 🆓 Free to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and crashes
- 💰 Paid version required for full functionality
- 🤔 Confusing account management
- 🤯 Missing key features
- 🤖 Poor customer support

**Reported bugs**

- Files not saving properly
- Conversion issues with larger documents
- Unexpected crashes and freezes
- Compatibility problems with older devices
- Incorrect file content after compression

**Requested features**

- Add more color options for annotations
- Improve search functionality for saved documents
- Enhance iPad compatibility
- Allow inserting images into PDFs
- Provide better file management and organization


### Subrate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subrate/id6739504432)

Acquire new skills and get rewarded for achieving your learning objectives. This platform helps users develop expertise and offers incentives for progress.

**Highlights:** Learn new skills, Earn rewards, Complete skill goals, Skill development platform

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Smallpdf free?

Smallpdf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Subrate free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Smallpdf or Subrate?

Smallpdf is rated higher. Smallpdf averages 4.8 out of 5 from 6.9K ratings, while Subrate averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Smallpdf or Subrate have ads?

Neither Smallpdf nor Subrate shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Smallpdf or Subrate?

Smallpdf ships an update every 9 days, and Subrate every 3 months. Most recently, Smallpdf was updated on September 24, 2026 and Subrate on September 13, 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.*