# PDF Editor vs PDF Reader

The clearest difference is monetization model: PDF Reader at free with in-app purchases against PDF Editor's subscription. PDF Reader also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (129 vs 35). PDF Editor's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDF Editor sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and PDF Reader sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $14.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for PDF Editor against 4.4 for PDF Reader. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 35 and 129 respectively.

PDF Editor ships an update every 6 weeks, PDF Reader every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Editor | PDF Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (35 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-editor-fill-editsign-pdf/id1672899598/reviews) | [4.4 (129 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-scanner-app/id6739529347/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 35 | **129** |
| Positive reviews | 49.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 93 MB | 81 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AHAD DURRANI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1666830783) | [Tech Nest](https://appshunter.io/developer/1703040252) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Editor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-editor-fill-editsign-pdf/id1672899598)

Edit, annotate, and convert PDF files with advanced tools. This app allows for text and image modification, form creation and filling, and secure document management. It also includes OCR technology for scanned documents and AI assistance for smarter interactions.

**Highlights:** Edit existing PDF content, Modify text and images, Smart annotations, Scan and convert documents, OCR technology, E-signature support, Merge and split PDFs

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium AI Assistant | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly Offer | $19.99 | per year |
| Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium AI Assistant | $49.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium | $89.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use for some
- 👍 Fulfills basic PDF needs
- 👍 Good for editing and signing
- 👍 Useful for converting files
- 👍 Handy for scanning documents

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 Not intuitive or user-friendly
- 👎 Poorly designed
- 👎 Limited features on Mac
- 👎 Difficult to navigate
- 👎 Strips formatting from PDFs

**Reported bugs**

- PDF reader not working
- Cannot open PDF files
- Cannot edit PDF files
- App crashes constantly
- Unable to fill PDF forms by typing

**Requested features**

- Allow typing in PDF forms
- Improve Mac compatibility and usability
- Provide clear instructions or tutorials
- Offer better customer support
- Fix subscription charging issues


### PDF Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-scanner-app/id6739529347)

Scan, convert, and manage documents on your mobile device. Easily transform images into PDFs, extract text with OCR, and share or print your files. Streamline your document workflow with this all-in-one scanner and editor.

**Highlights:** Image to PDF conversion, Document scanning, Text extraction (OCR), Email document sharing, Print from device, PDF editing, Add/manage pages

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PDF Rader Pro Experience | $14.99 | per 7 days |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Editor free?

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

### Is PDF Reader free?

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

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

PDF Editor and PDF Reader are both rated 4.4 out of 5 on the App Store, from 35 and 129 ratings respectively.

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

PDF Reader shows ads; PDF Editor does not.

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

PDF Editor ships an update every 6 weeks, and PDF Reader every 2 weeks. Most recently, PDF Editor was updated on September 23, 2026 and PDF Reader on September 23, 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.*