Comparison

PDF Reader vs PDF Reader Light & Simple

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 Reader Light & Simple

Easily read PDF files with this lightweight and fast application. It offers optimized performance for iPhones and iPads, along with bookmark management and quick navigation features. Enjoy a seamless reading experience without any advertisements.

Highlights
  • Lightweight and fast performance
  • Optimized for iPhone and iPad
  • Bookmark management
  • Fast and easy navigation
  • Ad-free experience
Features
Read full description

Read your PDF files easily with our lightweight reader ! - Optimized for both iPhones and iPad - Lightweight and super fast - Bookmark management - Fast & easy navigation - Ad free!

Screenshots

PDF Reader4 screens
PDF Reader Light & Simple3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PDF Reader Light & Simple at 5.0 against PDF Reader's 4.5. PDF Reader Light & Simple also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and review sentiment (100% vs 81%). PDF Reader's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 19 months) and ratings volume (3.5K vs 1). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. PDF Reader Light & Simple asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PDF Reader Light & Simple holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Reader has 3.5K ratings behind it against 1, 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 Reader Light & Simple's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, PDF Reader Light & Simple every 19 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
PDF Reader versus PDF Reader Light & Simple: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF ReaderPDF Reader Light & Simple
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (3.5K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3.5K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 19 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size190 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKdan Mobile Software LTDAdaptive Channel

Customer experience

PDF Reader

All ratings3,542 ratings
Positive89.2%
Neutral2.7%
Negative8.2%
Written reviews2,195 reviews
Positive80.9%
Neutral4.8%
Negative14.4%

PDF Reader Light & Simple

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 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 Reader Light & Simple

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
None

PDF Reader Light & Simple

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PDF Reader free?
PDF Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PDF Reader Light & Simple free?
PDF Reader Light & Simple is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PDF Reader or PDF Reader Light & Simple?
PDF Reader Light & Simple is rated higher. PDF Reader averages 4.5 out of 5 from 3.5K ratings, while PDF Reader Light & Simple averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do PDF Reader or PDF Reader Light & Simple have ads?
Neither PDF Reader nor PDF Reader Light & Simple shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PDF Reader or PDF Reader Light & Simple?
PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, and PDF Reader Light & Simple every 19 months. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on October 13, 2026 and PDF Reader Light & Simple on September 23, 2026.

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