Comparison

PDFelement vs Forma

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

Head to head
About

PDFelement

This application offers comprehensive PDF management, including advanced editing, AI-powered summarization and translation, and efficient scanning with OCR. It helps organize, convert, and secure documents for work, study, and personal use.

Highlights
  • AI Chat with PDF
  • Scan and OCR
  • PDF to Office Conversion
  • Edit PDF like Word
  • Password Protection
  • Compress PDF
Features
Read full description

AI PDF Editor, PDF Reader, PDF Scanner, PDF Converter, PDF Signer. One app for work, study, and everyday life. What's New Customize Your Toolbar Arrange your PDF tools the way you work. Reorder, show, or hide toolbar items to keep your favorite actions within easy reach and create a cleaner, faster, and more efficient workspace. AI PDF • Chat with PDF: Ask questions and get instant, accurate answers from your PDFs. • AI Summarize PDF: Turn lengthy contracts, reports, and documents into concise key points. • AI Translate: Translate selected text instantly across 60+ languages. • Generate Mind Map: Transform PDF content into clear visual mind maps. • AI Record: Record, transcribe, and convert voice notes into editable text for efficient note-taking. Edit PDF Like Word • Edit PDF: Edit PDF text, images, links, and watermarks with ease. • Font Editing: Keep the original font, erase content, and adjust font size, spacing, and formatting effortlessly. Professional PDF Reader • Liquid Mode: Optimize PDFs for comfortable reading on any screen. • Bookmarks: Save and jump to important pages instantly. • Read Aloud: Listen to PDFs with your preferred voice and playback speed. Scan & OCR • PDF Scanner: Scan receipts, invoices, contracts, IDs, and certificates into high-quality PDFs. • OCR: Extract editable text from scanned documents and images. • Multi-Page Scan: Combine multiple scans into a single PDF. PDF Converter • PDF to Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Images: Convert PDFs into editable Office files or JPG, PNG, and more. • Create PDF: Convert Microsoft Office documents and images into PDFs. Annotate PDF • Markup & Notes: Highlight, underline, draw, and add sticky notes. • Comments: Review documents with professional commenting tools. • Measure: Measure distance, perimeter, and area directly inside PDFs. Create PDF • Blank PDF: Start with customizable paper templates. • Image to PDF: Create PDFs from photos or camera scans. Manage PDF • Compress PDF: Reduce file size while maintaining quality. • Merge PDF: Combine multiple PDFs into one document. • Organize Pages: Add, delete, rotate, extract, split, and rearrange PDF pages. Fill & Sign • Fill PDF Forms: Complete interactive PDF forms quickly and accurately. • E-Sign PDF: Add typed or handwritten signatures. • Custom Stamps: Create reusable stamps with text, drawings, or images. Store & Share PDF • PDFelement Cloud: Access your PDFs anytime, anywhere across your devices. • Protect PDF: Secure sensitive files with passwords and encryption. • Share PDF: Share documents via links, email, AirDrop, or social apps. PDF Templates • Professional Templates: Browse resumes, invoices, planners, contracts, invitations, and more. • Easy Customization: Personalize colors, fonts, and layouts in seconds. • Business & Education Ready: Create polished documents for work, school, and everyday use. MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account upon confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. You can manage or cancel your subscription anytime in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use: https://www.wondershare.com/company/terms_conditions.html Privacy Policy: https://www.wondershare.com/privacy.html

About

Forma

This AI-powered app allows users to edit, fill, sign, scan, and convert PDF documents. It offers features like text editing, form filling, e-signatures, OCR scanning, and file conversion. An AI assistant can summarize, rewrite, or generate content, and users can create invoices and resumes.

Highlights
  • AI-powered PDF editing
  • Fill and e-sign forms
  • Built-in OCR scanner
  • Convert PDFs to various formats
  • AI assistant for content generation
  • Create and send invoices
  • Resume builder
Features
Read full description

Meet Forma—your AI-powered PDF editor that lets you fill, sign, scan, and edit documents. Contracts to sign, forms to fill, files to convert—and no laptop in sight. With Forma, all you need is your phone: edit text, fill out forms, add your signature, scan paper, and convert between formats without disrupting the layout. When a document needs more than editing—a summary, a rewrite, a draft from scratch—the built-in AI assistant will take care of that too. From the creators of iScanner, trusted by 145M+ users. With Forma, you get: • A clean interface that keeps PDF work intuitive. • A built-in scanner with OCR that turns paper into searchable, editable files. • An AI assistant that summarizes, catches mistakes, and generates content. • Secure cloud storage synced across iPhone, iPad, and web. Here's what that looks like: EDIT PDFs WITHOUT LOSING THE LAYOUT Need to update a figure in a proposal or fix a heading before a deadline? Tap any text to edit it—Forma auto-matches fonts so the document looks untouched. You can also highlight sections, add notes, insert images, and split or merge files. VIBE EDIT PDFs WITH A TEXT OR VOICE PROMPT Instead of manually editing PDFs, let the app do the work. Tell Vibe Edit what you want to change by typing a message or recording a voice command, and get your updated PDF right away. FILL & SIGN FORMS WITHOUT PRINTING Tax form, lease, job application—complete any form right in the app. With autofill, you can speed through repetitive fields. Draw or type your electronic signature once, save it, and apply it whenever you need. TURN PAPER DOCS INTO FILES Not every document starts digital. Unlike most PDF editors, Forma has a full scanner built in—point your camera at an agreement, a receipt, or a note, and it becomes a clean, searchable PDF with OCR. CONVERT FILES BETWEEN FORMATS Client needs your PDF as a Word document? Professor wants the assignment in a different format? Convert seamlessly between PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, JPG, and TXT in both directions. LET AI DO THE HEAVY LIFTING Long contract before a meeting? Email that needs a different tone? Summarize lengthy documents, rewrite and polish text, or catch grammar and logic mistakes. Plus, generate cover letters, emails, and more with ready-made templates. CREATE AND SEND INVOICES ON THE GO Project done, time to get paid. Add line items, taxes, and terms, then share with a link or export as a PDF—built for freelancers and remote workers who invoice on the go. BUILD A RESUME THAT STANDS OUT Enter your details and career goals—the AI handles layout, formatting, and design. Whether you're a student entering the job market or making a career move, the result is a professional CV ready to send in minutes. KEEP YOUR FILES SAFE AND SYNCED Store documents securely in the cloud and access them across every Apple device. Blur confidential information before sharing, add watermarks to protect your work, and lock folders with a PIN for added peace of mind. Edit, sign, fill, scan, and convert—Forma is the PDF editor that turns your phone into a document workspace. Download it today. FAQ Q: Can I use Forma offline? A: Yes. Editing, form filling, and signing all work without a connection. Cloud sync and AI features require an internet connection. Q: Who can see my documents? A: Only you. Files are encrypted in cloud storage and never shared with third parties. Q: Can I use Forma on both iPhone and iPad? A: Yes. Your files sync automatically between devices through secure cloud storage. Forma PRO – Subscribe to get Pro access to all features. You will be charged after the purchase confirmation. – Subscriptions auto-renew 24 hours before the expiration date. You can manage them in your Account Settings on the App Store. Privacy Policy: http://bpmob.com/forma/privacy/en/ Terms of Use: http://bpmob.com/forma/terms/en/ For any questions or inquiries about Forma, our PDF reader, contact us at http://bpmob.com/forma/support.

Screenshots

PDFelement4 screens
Forma4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: PDFelement at every 10 days against Forma's monthly. PDFelement also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). Forma's advantage is chart position (#102 vs unranked) and ratings volume (26K vs 7.6K). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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. PDFelement sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Forma sells 17 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 PDFelement against 4.7 for Forma. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7.6K and 26K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of PDFelement's written reviews are positive against 69% of Forma's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDFelement ships an update every 10 days, Forma monthly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
PDFelement versus Forma: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDFelementForma
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (7.6K ratings)4.7 (26K ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.9% of reviews — better69.1% of reviews
Number of ratings7.6K26K — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterMonthly
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
Best chart rank#102 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size200 MB201 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperWondershare Technology Group Co.,LTDBPMobile

Customer experience

PDFelement

All ratings7,566 ratings
Positive90.7%
Neutral2.4%
Negative6.9%
Written reviews826 reviews
Positive75.9%
Neutral3.6%
Negative20.5%

Forma

All ratings25,863 ratings
Positive92.1%
Neutral1.8%
Negative6.1%
Written reviews560 reviews
Positive69.1%
Neutral1.6%
Negative29.3%

User reviews

PDFelement

From 7.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Efficient PDF editing
  • 💡 Comprehensive feature set
  • 🔒 Secure document handling
  • 👍 Intuitive interface

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or glitches
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 🔒 Mandatory account required
  • 🔒 Unclear licensing and subscription model
  • 🐛 Syncing issues between devices

Forma

From 26K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and efficient
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 💡 Useful features like autofill and cloud sync
  • 🚀 Seamless document management

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and glitches
  • 💰 Expensive subscription
  • 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
  • 🚫 Limited editing capabilities

Bugs and requests

PDFelement

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login issues and inability to restore purchases
  • Corrupted scanned files or loss of progress
  • Inconsistent behavior when editing PDF text
  • Compatibility problems with older devices or OS versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add dark mode option
  • Improve cloud integration and file management
  • Enhance OCR accuracy and capabilities
  • Introduce multi-tab support for better workflow
  • Add more customization options for toolbars and UI

Forma

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Incorrect document formatting after editing
  • Inability to load or edit pre-existing documents
  • Unexpected charges and billing issues

Requested features

4 requests
  • Undo/redo functionality
  • Ability to edit existing text in documents
  • Support for more file formats
  • Stylus support for precise editing

In-app purchases

18 purchases

PDFelement

Subscriptions16
  • Monthly Subscription (AI)$3.991 Month
  • PDF Editor& Converter& Scanner$6.991 Month
  • PDF Editor & Scanner Pro(iOS)$6.991 Month
Show 13 more
  • Weekly Subscription (iOS)$6.997 Days
  • Quarterly Subscription (iOS)$9.993 Months
  • Weekly Subscription (iOS)7 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • Weekly Subscription (iOS)$9.997 Days
  • Monthly Subscription (All)$19.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription (iOS)$24.991 Year
  • PDF Editor & Scanner Pro7 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Annual Subscription (iOS)2 variants$29.991 Year
  • Annual Subscription (iOS)3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Quarterly Subscription (All)$39.993 Months
  • Annual Subscription (iOS+Win)$99.991 Year
  • Annual Subscription (iOS+Mac)$99.991 Year
  • Annual Subscription (All)$109.991 Year
One-time2
  • PDF Editor & Scanner Pro$39.99
  • iOS$39.99
17 purchases

Forma

Subscriptions17
  • Forma Pro3 Days trial$3.997 Days
  • Forma Pro$4.997 Days
  • Forma Pro3 Days trial2 variants$4.997 Days
Show 14 more
  • Forma Pro$5.997 Days
  • Forma Pro3 Days trial$5.997 Days
  • Forma Pro$6.997 Days
  • Forma Pro3 Days trial2 variants$6.997 Days
  • Forma Pro3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • 1 month Pro 100Gb storage3 Days trial$10.991 Month
  • 1 year Pro 10Gb storage$19.991 Year
  • Forma Pro$20.991 Year
  • 1 year Pro 100Gb storage$24.991 Year
  • Forma Pro$24.991 Year
  • Forma Pro$29.991 Year
  • Forma Pro$39.991 Year
  • Forma Pro3 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Forma Pro3 Days trial$59.991 Year

Questions

Is PDFelement free?
PDFelement is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Forma free?
Forma is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PDFelement or Forma?
Forma is rated higher. PDFelement averages 4.6 out of 5 from 7.6K ratings, while Forma averages 4.7 from 26K ratings.
Do PDFelement or Forma have ads?
Both PDFelement and Forma show ads.
Which is updated more often, PDFelement or Forma?
PDFelement ships an update every 10 days, and Forma monthly. Most recently, PDFelement was updated on September 24, 2026 and Forma on September 24, 2026.

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