# PDF Editor vs PDF Reader

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PDF Reader at 100% against PDF Editor's 49%. PDF Reader also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.4) and monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). PDF Editor's advantage is ratings volume (35 vs 9). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PDF Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 35 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 49% of PDF Editor's written reviews are positive against 100% of PDF Reader's.

PDF Editor ships an update every 6 weeks, PDF Reader every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

## 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) | **[5.0 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-fill-editsign-pdf/id6744753421/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **35** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 49.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 93 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AHAD DURRANI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1666830783) | [T & A Artisan LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1210692481) |

## 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-fill-editsign-pdf/id6744753421)

This comprehensive tool allows you to scan, edit, convert, merge, and secure PDF documents. Easily fill forms, organize pages, add watermarks, and sign digitally. It's designed for efficient and professional PDF management on the go.

**Highlights:** Scan to PDF, Edit text and elements, Fill and sign forms, Convert files to PDF, Merge and split PDFs, Secure with passwords, OCR image scanning

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PDF Editor Premium – Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| PDF Editor Premium – Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| PDF Editor Premium – Yearly | $9.99 | per year |


## 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 Reader is rated higher. PDF Editor averages 4.4 out of 5 from 35 ratings, while PDF Reader averages 5.0 from 9 ratings.

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

Neither PDF Editor nor PDF Reader shows ads.

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

PDF Editor ships an update every 6 weeks, and PDF Reader every 2 months. Most recently, PDF Editor was updated on September 23, 2026 and PDF Reader on September 13, 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.*