# PDF Reader Pro Edition® vs Smart PDF Editor

The clearest difference is rating: PDF Reader Pro Edition® at 4.4 against Smart PDF Editor's 3.8. PDF Reader Pro Edition® also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (54% vs 21%). Smart PDF Editor's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs paid). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

PDF Reader Pro Edition® holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Reader Pro Edition® has 1.7K ratings behind it against 109, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of PDF Reader Pro Edition®'s written reviews are positive against 21% of Smart PDF Editor's.

PDF Reader Pro Edition® ships an update every 4 months, Smart PDF Editor every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Reader Pro Edition® | Smart PDF Editor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-pro-edition/id364502063/reviews)** | [3.8 (109 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-pdf-editor/id1184081486/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.7K** | 109 |
| Positive reviews | **54.3% of reviews** | 20.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#147** | — |
| Size | 66 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [iTECH DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/298779208) | [Qrayon, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/354980265) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Reader Pro Edition®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-pro-edition/id364502063)

**Currently charting:** #147 Top Paid · Business (US App Store)

This powerful application allows users to read, manage, edit, and annotate PDF files on iOS devices. It offers real-time online collaboration, form filling, and advanced annotation tools. Create, organize, and secure your PDF documents with ease.

**Highlights:** Real-time online collaboration and chat, Fillable PDF forms, Extensive annotation tools (highlight, notes, signature), EasyReview mode for text markup, Create new PDF files, Secure Vault folder, Built-in scanner

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and easy to use
- 📁 Good file organization and management
- ✍️ Useful annotation and highlighting tools
- 🔒 Secure document storage

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔍 Poor search functionality
- 📤 Difficulty sharing/exporting annotated files
- 🤔 Unintuitive user interface

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when opening certain PDF files
- Annotations disappear or fail to save
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Slow performance on older iPad models

**Requested features**

- Add support for password-protected PDFs
- Improve annotation tools with better undo/redo
- Implement cloud storage integration (Dropbox, iCloud, etc.)
- Add ability to insert, delete, and rearrange PDF pages


### Smart PDF Editor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-pdf-editor/id1184081486)

This app is a PDF editor designed for efficient ink annotations, especially with a stylus. It helps professionals sign and share documents, and students take notes on study materials. Organize your files with a built-in manager.

**Highlights:** Ink annotation optimized, Digital signature tool, Document review and sharing, Note-taking on documents, Built-in file manager, Color-coded categories

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Reader Pro Edition® free?

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

### Is Smart PDF Editor free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PDF Reader Pro Edition® or Smart PDF Editor?

PDF Reader Pro Edition® is rated higher. PDF Reader Pro Edition® averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Smart PDF Editor averages 3.8 from 109 ratings.

### Do PDF Reader Pro Edition® or Smart PDF Editor have ads?

Smart PDF Editor shows ads; PDF Reader Pro Edition® does not.

### Which is updated more often, PDF Reader Pro Edition® or Smart PDF Editor?

PDF Reader Pro Edition® ships an update every 4 months, and Smart PDF Editor every 7 months. Most recently, PDF Reader Pro Edition® was updated on October 15, 2026 and Smart PDF Editor on October 12, 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.*