# Simple PDF Editor vs PDF Reader

Simple PDF Editor and PDF Reader both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 50% of PDF Reader's written reviews are positive against 8% of Simple PDF Editor's. PDF Reader also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 8) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Simple PDF Editor sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. PDF Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Simple PDF Editor against 4.7 for PDF Reader. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 59 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 8% of Simple PDF Editor's written reviews are positive against 50% of PDF Reader's.

Simple PDF Editor ships an update every 2 weeks, PDF Reader every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simple PDF Editor | PDF Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-pdf-editor/id1560227399/reviews) | **[4.7 (59 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-viewer/id6746119431/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 16 | **59** |
| Positive reviews | 8.3% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 7 MB | 116 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Kei Suefuji](https://appshunter.io/developer/1388335881) | [All About Housing LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1773925650) |

## What reviewers say

### Simple PDF Editor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-pdf-editor/id1560227399)

Easily edit PDF documents by deleting, rotating, sorting, extracting, or combining pages. Secure your files with password protection and unlock them. The free version lets you preview edits before purchasing tools or the professional version for full access.

**Highlights:** Delete PDF pages, Rotate PDF pages, Sort PDF pages, Extract PDF pages, Combine PDF pages, Password protect PDFs, Unlock password-protected PDFs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Delete Pages | $4.99 | one-time |
| Rotate Pages | $4.99 | one-time |
| Sort Pages | $4.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Password | $4.99 | one-time |
| Extract Pages | $4.99 | one-time |
| Password Protect | $4.99 | one-time |
| Combine PDF | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pro (All Tools) | $19.99 | one-time |


### PDF Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-viewer/id6746119431)

This app provides a privacy-focused way to view, organize, and manage PDF files on your device. It offers tools for merging, splitting, securing documents, and converting images to PDF, all processed locally for enhanced data safety.

**Highlights:** View and organize PDF files, Merge and split PDFs, Secure documents with passwords, Convert images to PDF, Built-in document scanner, Local data processing for privacy

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simple PDF Editor free?

Simple PDF Editor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is PDF Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Simple PDF Editor or PDF Reader?

PDF Reader is rated higher. Simple PDF Editor averages 4.6 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while PDF Reader averages 4.7 from 59 ratings.

### Do Simple PDF Editor or PDF Reader have ads?

Both Simple PDF Editor and PDF Reader show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Simple PDF Editor or PDF Reader?

Simple PDF Editor ships an update every 2 weeks, and PDF Reader every 5 days. Most recently, Simple PDF Editor was updated on September 23, 2026 and PDF Reader on September 15, 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.*