# PDF Secure vs Clean Links

The clearest difference is update cadence: Clean Links at every 2 weeks against PDF Secure's every 9 months. PDF Secure's advantage is ratings volume (383 vs 85) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for PDF Secure against 4.9 for Clean Links. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 383 and 85 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 99% of PDF Secure's written reviews are positive against 93% of Clean Links's.

PDF Secure ships an update every 9 months, Clean Links every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Secure | Clean Links |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (383 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-secure/id1515466852/reviews) | **[4.9 (85 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clean-links-url-cleaner/id6747395062/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **383** | 85 |
| Positive reviews | **98.8% of reviews** | 92.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 1 MB | 90 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [iSolid apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1215383083) | [Numen Technologies Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1683507194) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Secure

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-secure/id1515466852)

Secure your PDF documents by adding password protection, ensuring they cannot be opened without authorization. You can also easily remove existing password protection from your files. This app offers a straightforward process for safeguarding your sensitive information.

**Highlights:** Password protect PDF documents, Remove PDF password protection, Cross-platform compatibility, Export to various locations, Dark mode support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Clean Links

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clean-links-url-cleaner/id6747395062)

This utility app removes tracking parameters from URLs, reveals the true destination of QR codes before opening, and allows you to send cleaned links between your devices. It prioritizes user privacy with no accounts, subscriptions, or ads.

**Highlights:** Strips tracking parameters from URLs, Reveals QR code destinations before opening, Sends cleaned links between Apple devices, Unshortens shortened URLs, Generates QR codes, Safari extension for one-tap cleaning, Shortcuts and widget integration

**Features:** Safari Extension

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Secure free?

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

### Is Clean Links free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PDF Secure or Clean Links?

Clean Links is rated higher. PDF Secure averages 4.8 out of 5 from 383 ratings, while Clean Links averages 4.9 from 85 ratings.

### Do PDF Secure or Clean Links have ads?

Neither PDF Secure nor Clean Links shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PDF Secure or Clean Links?

PDF Secure ships an update every 9 months, and Clean Links every 2 weeks. Most recently, PDF Secure was updated on October 29, 2026 and Clean Links on October 30, 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.*