# PDF Reader vs DocScan

The clearest difference is ads: PDF Reader at none against DocScan's shown. PDF Reader also leads on review sentiment (81% vs 50%) and rating (4.5 vs 4.1). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDF Reader sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and DocScan sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PDF Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Reader has 3.5K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of PDF Reader's written reviews are positive against 50% of DocScan's.

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, DocScan monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Reader | DocScan |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (3.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-editor-and-viewer/id368377690/reviews)** | [4.1 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/docscan-pdf-scanning-app/id1461041969/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.5K** | 15 |
| Positive reviews | **80.8% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 190 MB | 76 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Kdan Mobile Software LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/318936474) | [xita apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1461041968) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-editor-and-viewer/id368377690)

Edit, convert, and manage PDF documents on your mobile device. This app allows you to directly edit text, scan documents, fill out forms, and secure your files with passwords and watermarks. It also supports OCR to extract text from scans and convert PDFs to various formats.

**Highlights:** Edit PDF text directly, Convert PDF to Word, Excel, PPT, images, OCR for text extraction from scans, Fill and sign PDF forms, Secure PDFs with passwords and watermarks, Annotate PDFs with highlights and notes, Merge and split PDF files

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| KDAN Cloud | $2.99 | per month |
| Deluxe Business Pack | $5.99 | per month |
| Creativity 365 | $9.99 | per month |
| Document 365 (Month) | $9.99 | per month |
| Deluxe PDF Pack for iPhone | $12.99 | per 3 months |
| Creativity 365 - 3 Months | $19.99 | per 3 months |
| Document 365 (Quarter) | $19.99 | per 3 months |
| Deluxe PDF Pack for iPhone | $39.99 | per year |
| Document 365 | $59.99 | per year |
| Upgrade to Premium | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good app
- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 📚 Useful for reading PDFs
- 🔒 Secure file storage
- 💡 Helpful features like highlighting and annotation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔐 Locked files behind paywall
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 📢 Intrusive ads
- 🤯 Confusing and unintuitive UI

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to open or access saved files
- Syncing and backup issues
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Improved file management and organization
- Better integration with cloud storage services
- More customization options
- Enhanced accessibility features


### DocScan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/docscan-pdf-scanning-app/id1461041969)

Transform your phone into a powerful document scanner. Quickly scan, edit, and convert documents to PDF with OCR capabilities. Manage and organize all your important files efficiently.

**Highlights:** Smart document scanning, Scan to PDF conversion, Multi-page document support, OCR text extraction, PDF editing tools, Form filling and signing, Secure document storage

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Document Scanner | $9.99 | per year |
| Remove All Ads | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Reader free?

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

### Is DocScan free?

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

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

PDF Reader is rated higher. PDF Reader averages 4.5 out of 5 from 3.5K ratings, while DocScan averages 4.1 from 15 ratings.

### Do PDF Reader or DocScan have ads?

DocScan shows ads; PDF Reader does not.

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

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, and DocScan monthly. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on October 18, 2026 and DocScan on September 30, 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.*