# PDF Reader vs PDF Doc Scanner

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PDF Reader at 81% against PDF Doc Scanner's 0%. PDF Reader also leads on rating (4.5 vs 2.9) and ratings volume (3.5K vs 238). PDF Doc Scanner's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDF Reader sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and PDF Doc Scanner sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PDF Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Reader has 3.5K ratings behind it against 238, 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 0% of PDF Doc Scanner's.

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, PDF Doc Scanner every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Reader | PDF Doc Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (3.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-editor-and-viewer/id368377690/reviews)** | [2.9 (238 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-doc-scanner-scan-cloud/id1510253938/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.5K** | 238 |
| Positive reviews | **80.8% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 190 MB | 62 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kdan Mobile Software LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/318936474) | [SHARE YAZILIM LIMITED SIRKETI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1513600012) |

## 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


### PDF Doc Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-doc-scanner-scan-cloud/id1510253938)

Transform your device into a powerful scanner to capture documents, receipts, and notes. Save them as PDFs or JPGs, organize them in the cloud, and even add your signature. Optimize scans and share them easily.

**Highlights:** Scan documents, receipts, and notes, Save as PDF or JPG, Cloud storage and organization, Automatic border detection, Add digital signatures, Share via email, PIN and Face ID protection

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| Trial Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium | $24.99 | per year |
| Trial Yearly | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Misleading advertisements
- 💸 Expensive subscription costs
- 🚫 App functionality not as advertised
- ⏳ Unskippable ads/paywalls
- 📉 Poor user experience

**Reported bugs**

- App logo flashing and not loading
- Cannot access app without paying
- Missing measurement features
- Rubik's cube solving feature not present

**Requested features**

- Make app free
- Fix app to work as advertised
- Remove subscription requirement
- Provide actual Rubik's cube solving functionality
- Implement accurate measurement features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Reader free?

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

### Is PDF Doc Scanner free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PDF Reader or PDF Doc Scanner?

PDF Reader is rated higher. PDF Reader averages 4.5 out of 5 from 3.5K ratings, while PDF Doc Scanner averages 2.9 from 238 ratings.

### Do PDF Reader or PDF Doc Scanner have ads?

Neither PDF Reader nor PDF Doc Scanner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PDF Reader or PDF Doc Scanner?

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, and PDF Doc Scanner every 3 months. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on October 15, 2026 and PDF Doc Scanner on October 6, 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.*