Comparison

PDF Reader vs PDF Scanner

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PDF Reader

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
Read full description

KDAN PDF, formerly KDAN PDF Reader, is a mobile PDF editor and reader for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Edit text directly on your device. Then scan, organize, convert, sign, and share your PDFs in one simple and powerful app. Trusted by millions, KDAN PDF connects your workflow across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, making it easy to review, annotate, and finalize documents anywhere. Who Recommends Us? - Featured as “10 Essentials” in Utility on iTunes - Featured in “10 Best PDF Reader Apps For iPhone & iPad 2019” by FOSSBYTES - Featured as “Best Utility App” in App Store Rewind KEY FEATURES PDF EDITOR • Edit and correct any typos directly on PDFs • Merge multiple files into one PDF • Split a large PDF into several small PDFs • Rotate, delete, add, and rearrange pages • Extract pages or images from PDFs • Change PDF background color PDF CONVERTER • Online & Offline PDF converter • Convert PDF to Word, Excel, PPT & image conversions (docx, xlsx, pptx, jpg, png, gif & bmp). • Save webpages and images as PDFs OCR (Optical Character Recognition) • Recognize and extract text from scans • Export OCR results as text or searchable PDFs • Support 50+ languages SIGN, FORM FILLING, SHARE • Fill out & edit PDF forms • Sign on PDFs • Customize and manage signatures SHARE FILES • Get files from KDAN Cloud, iCloud Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, Evernote, FTP, or WebDAV client • Compress PDFs • Share flatten PDFs • Send faxes directly from within the app PDF SECURITY • Add passwords to lock PDFs • Remove passwords & restrictions from PDFs • Add & remove PDF watermarks • Validate certificates & signatures in PDF documents VIEW FILES • Supports all mainstream file formats, including Vitrium* PDF format (Like University of Phoenix Ebooks) • Text Reflow & Auto Flow • Present a PDF as a slideshow • View multiple PDFs as tabs • Dark mode supported (only for iOS13 & macOS Mojave and later) • Convert text to spoken audio (text-to-speech) ANNOTATE & REVIEW PDF • Annotate PDFs with highlights, underlines, strikeout text, shapes, sticky notes & text boxes • Add pre-designed stamps, including Approved, Sign Here, Confidential, and more • Add custom stamps with time and date information • Insert hyperlinks to external websites, target pages, and email address • Attach audio notes & insert images to PDFs • Turn handwriting into text with Scribble (Available for iPad) • Add handwritten notes to PDFs MANAGE ANNOTATIONS • Save annotations in XFDF format • Remove all annotations in one tap - Recommended by Techradar, Techworm & Softsonic UPGRADE OPTIONS DOCUMENT 365 • Try for $0.00 for 7 days • Access KDAN PDF on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and other platforms. • Annual plan: billed at USD 59.99/year after the 7-day free trial ends • Quarterly plan: billed at USD 19.99/quarter after 3-day free trial ends • Monthly plan: billed at USD 9.99/month after 3-day free trial ends Subscriptions will be charged to your Apple account upon purchase and will auto-renew 24 hours before the current period ends at the same price and duration. Cancellation during the active period is not allowed. Manage your trial and subscription in your Apple account. Terms of service: https://pdf-reader.kdandoc.com/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://pdf-reader.kdandoc.com/privacy-policy Got a question? Contact us at helpdesk@kdanmobile.com or check out https://support.kdanmobile.com

About

PDF Scanner

This app transforms your mobile device into a powerful scanner, allowing you to capture documents, receipts, and notes. It offers features like OCR to extract text, smart enhancement for clarity, and easy sharing of scanned files as PDFs.

Highlights
  • Scan documents to image/PDF
  • OCR image to text
  • Optimize scan quality
  • Share PDFs
  • Print documents
  • Continuous scroll mode
Features
Read full description

PDF Scanner – Scan, Edit & Sign Scan paper documents with automatic edge detection and convert them to clean PDFs. Import PDF, images (JPG/PNG/HEIC), Word, Excel, TXT and RTF – all auto-converted to PDF. Write text and save as PDF. SCAN & IMPORT • Camera scan with auto edge detection • Import PDF, JPG, PNG, HEIC, Word, Excel, TXT, RTF • Real PDF thumbnails • Write text documents and save as PDF ORGANIZE • Folders (up to 4 free, unlimited Pro) • Favorites, tags, full-text search • iCloud sync (Pro) OCR & SEARCH • On-device OCR – 10 languages (Apple Vision) • Full-text search across your library • Export searchable PDF SIGN & ANNOTATE • Draw and save wet signatures • Sign any PDF from the iOS share sheet • Annotate and edit PDF pages EXPORT & SHARE • Plain PDF, JPEG/PNG, searchable PDF, plain text Terms of Use: https://sites.google.com/view/termofuse-scanner/home

Screenshots

PDF Reader4 screens
PDF Scanner4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: PDF Reader at none against PDF Scanner's shown. PDF Reader also leads on ratings volume (3.8K vs 19) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). PDF Scanner's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (100% vs 81%). On price, update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PDF Reader sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and PDF Scanner sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PDF Scanner holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Reader has 3.8K ratings behind it against 19, 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 100% of PDF Scanner's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, PDF Scanner every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
PDF Reader versus PDF Scanner: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF ReaderPDF Scanner
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (3.8K ratings)4.9 (19 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3.8K — better19
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size190 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKdan Mobile Software LTDLIMBIC APPS YAZILIM LIMITED SIRKETI

Customer experience

PDF Reader

All ratings3,542 ratings
Positive89.2%
Neutral2.7%
Negative8.2%
Written reviews2,196 reviews
Positive80.8%
Neutral4.8%
Negative14.4%

PDF Scanner

All ratings19 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

PDF Reader

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

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

PDF Scanner

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

PDF Reader

Subscriptions9
  • KDAN Cloud$2.991 Month
  • Deluxe Business Pack$5.991 Month
  • Creativity 3653 Days trial$9.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • Document 365 (Month)3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Deluxe PDF Pack for iPhone$12.993 Months
  • Creativity 365 - 3 Months3 Days trial$19.993 Months
  • Document 365 (Quarter)3 Days trial$19.993 Months
  • Deluxe PDF Pack for iPhone$39.991 Year
  • Document 3657 Days trial$59.991 Year
One-time1
  • Upgrade to Premium$2.99
2 purchases

PDF Scanner

Subscriptions2
  • Scanner Monthly Pro$3.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription7 Days trial$12.991 Year

Questions

Is PDF Reader free?
PDF Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PDF Scanner free?
PDF Scanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PDF Reader or PDF Scanner?
PDF Scanner is rated higher. PDF Reader averages 4.5 out of 5 from 3.8K ratings, while PDF Scanner averages 4.9 from 19 ratings.
Do PDF Reader or PDF Scanner have ads?
PDF Scanner shows ads; PDF Reader does not.
Which is updated more often, PDF Reader or PDF Scanner?
PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, and PDF Scanner every 3 months. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on November 7, 2026 and PDF Scanner on November 3, 2026.

Other comparisons