Comparison

PDF Hero vs PDF Editor

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

Head to head
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

About

PDF Editor

Easily edit, sign, and annotate PDF documents directly on your mobile device. This comprehensive tool allows for quick text and image modifications, digital signatures, and offline file management.

Highlights
  • Edit PDF text and images
  • Sign PDF documents
  • Read and annotate PDFs
  • Draw or write on PDFs
  • Manage files from various sources
  • Work offline
  • Secure data on device
Features
Read full description

Edit, sign and read PDF files easily with PDF Editor. This all-in-one tool helps you manage and work with your documents anytime, anywhere. PDF Editor allows you to make changes to your PDF documents directly from your iPhone or iPad. Whether you need to sign a contract, highlight text, or fill out a form, everything is just a few taps away. Main Features Edit PDF text and images Make quick changes to text and images in your documents. Perfect for corrections or updates. Sign PDF documents Add your digital signature or initials quickly. No need to print or scan. Read and annotate PDFs Highlight text, add comments, and review documents directly on your device. Draw or write on PDFs Use your finger or stylus to write, draw, or make notes on any page. Manage your files easily Import documents from Files, Photos, iCloud, Google Drive and other sources. Work offline and keep your data secure Your files stay private on your device. No internet connection is required to use core features. Who should use this app Students who need to review or mark up lecture notes Freelancers and professionals who need to sign or edit documents quickly Anyone who wants a simple and reliable PDF tool on their phone PDF Editor is the fastest and easiest way to handle PDF documents on mobile. No desktop or laptop required. Legal Terms of Service: https://sites.google.com/view/lilyterms Privacy Policy: https://lilylabsapp.github.io/lilylabs

Screenshots

PDF Hero4 screens
PDF Editor4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: PDF Hero at none against PDF Editor's shown. PDF Hero also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (10K vs 4). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Hero sells 20 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and PDF Editor sells 3 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

PDF Hero holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Hero has 10K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDF Hero ships an update every 3 weeks, PDF Editor monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
PDF Hero versus PDF Editor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF HeroPDF Editor
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (10K ratings) — better4.3 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews17.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings10K — better4
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.014.0
Further details — not scored
Size536 MB49 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMosaic S.r.l.Nguyen Thi My

Customer experience

PDF Hero

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

PDF Editor

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

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

PDF Editor

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

20 purchases

PDF Hero

Subscriptions20
  • Weekly Premium with Free Trial7 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • Weekly Premium$2.997 Days
  • Weekly with free trial7 Days trial$3.997 Days
Show 17 more
  • Weekly Subscription$3.997 Days
  • Weekly Premium$5.997 Days
  • Weekly Premium with Free Trial7 Days trial$5.997 Days
  • Weekly Sub with Free Trial7 Days trial$7.997 Days
  • Weekly Subscription$7.997 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
  • Yearly with Free Trial7 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription$69.991 Year
  • PDF Hero Premium 1 Year3 Days trial$89.991 Year
  • Yearly Bundle$99.991 Year
  • Yearly Bundle with Free Trial7 Days trial$99.991 Year
  • PDF Hero Premium 1 Year3 Days trial$99.991 Year
3 purchases

PDF Editor

Subscriptions3
  • PDF Expert Basic$3.997 Days
  • PDF Expert Premium$8.991 Month
  • PDF Expert Pro$29.991 Year

Questions

Is PDF Hero free?
PDF Hero is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PDF Editor free?
PDF Editor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PDF Hero or PDF Editor?
PDF Hero is rated higher. PDF Hero averages 4.6 out of 5 from 10K ratings, while PDF Editor averages 4.3 from 4 ratings.
Do PDF Hero or PDF Editor have ads?
PDF Editor shows ads; PDF Hero does not.
Which is updated more often, PDF Hero or PDF Editor?
PDF Hero ships an update every 3 weeks, and PDF Editor monthly. Most recently, PDF Hero was updated on October 30, 2026 and PDF Editor on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons