FileViewer XL for iPad vs WritePDF
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FileViewer XL for iPad
This application provides comprehensive file management for your iPad, enabling viewing, storage, transfer, printing, and emailing of various document and media types. It supports numerous file formats, including PDFs, Office documents, images, and audio/video files, with robust organizational and search features.
- View over 30 file types
- Robust PDF reader
- File transfer via Wi-Fi, USB, AirDrop, and email
- Folder creation and management
- Global search and filtering
- Create and unzip archives
- Print documents and images
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OVERVIEW • FileViewer XL is a file viewing, storage, transfer, printing, and email application for the iPad. It includes one of the best PDF viewers for the iPad and can also view many other file types. Files are transferred to FileViewer XL, via iTunes (Finder in Mac OS 10.15 Catalina or later), using a Wi-Fi or USB connection, or via email, AirDrop, the Files app, or connected devices such as thumb drives. FILE VIEWING • Supported file types for direct viewing or listening include portable document format (.pdf), Microsoft Word (.doc & .docx), rich text format (.rtf), plain text files (.txt), Microsoft Excel (.xls & .xlsx), Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt & .pptx), iWork files (.pages, .key, & .numbers), HTML documents (.html & .htm), web archives (.webarchive), image files (.jpg, .jpeg, .jp2, single & multipage .tif/.tiff, .gif, .bmp, & .png), audio files (.m4a - Apple Lossless & AAC formats, .mp3, .wav, and .aif), video files (.mp4, .m4v, .mov, and .3gp), and other file types (.h, .m, .c, .java, .js, .csv, & .log). • PDF reader is fast, handles large pdf files, and opens password-protected pdfs. A thumbnail scroll bar feature facilitates viewing of long documents. Pages can be bookmarked. • Photos from the Photos app on the iPad can be transferred to and viewed in FileViewer. • Images can be copied from this app to the iPad's camera roll. Images in a given folder can be viewed as a slide show. • Audio player which plays audio files in the background. • Video player with picture-in-picture feature. • Landscape mode as well as zooming and panning is supported for viewing documents and images. • Web browser allows for saving of files from the internet to FileViewer XL. FILE & FOLDER MANAGEMENT • Folders can be created to organize files. • Files and folders can be deleted and renamed as well as moved or copied from one folder to another. • Multiple files can be deleted or moved to a different folder at the same time. • FileViewer files can be opened in other apps on the iPad. • File and folder lists can easily be filtered by file type, folders, search phrase, and first letter of name. • Global search feature allows for searching of all directories for a given file or files. • Files and folders can be sorted by date, size, and modification date (ascending & descending). • Zip archives can be transferred to and unzipped in FileViewer, providing easy one-step transfer of groups of files and/or folders. Zip archives can be created from files and folders stored in FileViewer XL. • Capability to save most document types as a PDF. • Dragging and dropping of files into folders. AIRDROP • With AirDrop, users can share files between supported iOS devices, as well as between an iPadOS device and computer. SOCIAL MEDIA • Post images and web pages to Facebook and Twitter. EMAIL • Files ≤ 20 MB can be emailed as an attachment. • Email attachments can be transferred from the iPad's Mail app to FileViewer XL. PRINTING • Documents and images can be printed to AirPrint/ePrint compatible printers. CLOUD STORAGE • Connectivity to iCloud Drive, Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive. AIRPLAY & DISPLAYING FILES ON AN EXTERNAL DISPLAY • Using AirPlay, you can wirelessly stream iPad screen output, via an Apple TV, to an HDTV. • Audio can be wirelessly streamed using AirPlay, via an Apple TV, to an audio system. REQUIREMENTS • iPadOS 15 (or higher). • Files are transferred to FileViewer XL, via iTunes (Finder in Mac OS 10.15 Catalina or later), using a Wi-Fi or USB connection, or via email, AirDrop, the Files app, or connected devices such as thumb drives. SECURITY • Use your fingerprint (Face ID on select iPads) or a password to protect access to FileViewer XL. • Individual files are protected using iOS data protection. HELP • Help is available within the FileViewer XL application.
WritePDF
Edit, annotate, and convert PDFs and other documents on your iPad. This app offers advanced modification tools, cloud integration for secure access, and global search capabilities across all your files without needing to open them. It's designed for seamless compatibility with desktop PDF viewers.
- Modify PDFs with shapes, text, and images
- Fill PDF forms and add signatures
- Annotate PDFs with highlighting
- Global search across all files
- Cloud-based document access and editing
- Organize PDF pages
- Convert PDFs and other documents
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WritePDF is more than just a common annotation tool, it is a powerful PDF modification/printing tool that is usually reserved for computers. Move beyond ordinary PDF viewing, form filling, PDF modification & annotation. WritePDF is the first app that brings together both ease of use and the sophistication needed for managing PDFs, word files, spreadsheets and many other documents on the iPad. WritePDF is also the first app to be fully compatible with PDF readers on Mac & PC, any changes made to a PDF on an iPad will be reflected when opened on a computer and vice versa. With the most powerful PDF modification and viewing engine ever made, WritePDF stands heads and shoulders above the rest! One of the most powerful and security focused features of WritePDF is the ability to read, convert and annotate PDFs in the Cloud without having to download them first. This means that you can keep all of your documents and files in the Cloud and access them on demand in a very secure environment when away from the office. It also give organisations control on documents and files. WritePDF is created & bought to you by one of the top business app companies - with years of iOS app experience from 2008, EuroSmartz is unrivaled when it comes to apps for use in business. - "Being able to quickly highlight text ready for revision is awesome" - "The ability to search for a word or phrase over all of the PDFs & files I have without opening them is something I can't even do on my PC" - "Form filling is made so easy with WritePDF, I have just applied for a new bank account using my iPad" - "The ability to quickly access a document in the cloud and modify it is the #1 feature in my book" - "I can now edit my PDF and print it to my old printer that is not AirPrint enabled, just magic!" Main Features √ Modifying PDFs > Add arrows, circles, squares and other shapes to a PDF > Fill in PDF forms & add text > Use Highlighter to highlight single words or entire sections > Add web page links to words or sections of text > Transfer PDFs to & from other apps using "Open in.." > Fully compatible with most PC, Mac & iOS App PDF viewers, shows all changes > Insert pictures to a PDF > Quickly & seamlessly transfer PDFs or files from Pages, Numbers or Keynote using Open in √ Global Search > Search for keywords or phrases in ALL files stored within WPDF without opening them > Search results displayed as tapable links √ Cloud Services > Annotate, read and convert files & PDFs directly in the Cloud without downloading > Securely access documents and files and keep control of where they are stored > CloudMe, Sharefile, Box.net, Dropbox, Google Docs, iDisk, FTP, WebDAV all supported √ PDF Page Organization > Move, delete or add pages > Add, delete, rotate, copy/paste & rearrange pages > Add selected pages to an existing PDF from docs, spreadsheets or other files √ Form Filling > Easily fill in PDF forms, even with multiple fields and boxes > Save your signature in the app and reuse when needed > Email/print completed form right from within the app √ PDF Conversion & Merging View/Convert/Merge Microsoft Office files, Photos, PDFs, Contacts, Web Pages, Email & Email attachments as well as many more file formats > Create a single PDF from multiple files even if they are a different format (i.e. merge a Word file with a Pages document with an existing PDF etc) > Print or convert PDFs from other apps using Open in or other methods √ Full featured Printing > Print direct to most existing WiFi or shared printers, or use the free printer software for ALL printers. > Print from Pages, Numbers or Keynote extremely quickly & easily without the need for an AirPrint printer using Open in > Print remotely via 3G/EDGE or Google Cloud Print √ Reminders & Keywords > Set a reminder for a file, PDF or document > Add keywords to any file for easy searching
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: WritePDF at 80% against FileViewer XL for iPad's 61%. WritePDF also leads on price ($2.99 vs $3.99) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
FileViewer XL for iPad costs $3.99 and WritePDF $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
FileViewer XL for iPad ships an update every 4 months, WritePDF every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | FileViewer XL for iPad | WritePDF |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 | $2.99 — better |
| Rating | — | 4.3 (32 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 60.7% of reviews | 80.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 32 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 6 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 45 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Mitchell COHEN | EuroSmartz Ltd |
Customer experience
FileViewer XL for iPad
WritePDF
Bugs and requests
FileViewer XL for iPad
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
WritePDF
Reported bugs
3 issues- Crashes when editing PDFs
- Compatibility issues with older devices
- Saved files not opening properly
Requested features
4 requests- Add dark mode option
- Improve integration with cloud storage
- Enhance PDF editing tools
- Provide better user guide/documentation
In-app purchases
FileViewer XL for iPad
No in-app purchases
WritePDF
No in-app purchases





