Comparison

PDF Reader vs PDF Photos ‧

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 Photos ‧

This app is a comprehensive tool for creating and editing PDFs. It allows you to convert various file types, including images and documents, into PDFs and vice versa. Features include signing, annotating, and converting PDFs to images.

Highlights
  • Convert documents to PDF
  • Convert PDF to images (PNG, JPEG, etc.)
  • Sign and annotate PDFs
  • Scan documents with camera
  • Extract text from PDFs
  • Convert photos to PDF
Features
Read full description

PDF Photos is a simple and powerful PDF converter, scanner, and PDF editor designed to help you create, convert, edit, sign, and manage documents in one place. Convert photos, images, and documents to PDF in seconds. Scan documents with your camera, create professional PDF files, edit existing PDFs, add signatures, and easily convert PDF files into images. PHOTO TO PDF Turn your photos and images into high-quality PDF documents with just a few taps. Select multiple photos, arrange your pages, choose your preferred layout and orientation, and create a PDF that is ready to save, share, or print. PDF CONVERTER Convert your documents and files into PDF quickly and easily. PDF Photos helps you create PDFs from images and supported document formats while keeping your files organized and easy to access. WORD TO PDF Convert Word documents into PDF files for easy sharing, viewing, and printing. Create professional PDF documents without complicated steps. SCAN TO PDF Use your camera to scan documents and turn them into PDF files. Capture important paperwork, receipts, notes, and other documents and keep everything organized digitally. PDF EDITOR Edit and annotate your PDF documents with useful tools. Add text, highlights, drawings, notes, stamps, and other annotations to make your documents easier to review and update. SIGN PDF DOCUMENTS Add your signature directly to PDF documents. Sign forms, agreements, contracts, and other important files quickly and prepare them for sharing. PDF TO IMAGE Convert PDF pages into popular image formats such as PNG, JPEG, GIF, TIFF, ICO, and WEBP. Choose the format that works best for your needs. EASY FILE MANAGEMENT Import files from your device, Files, and supported cloud storage. Keep your documents organized and quickly find the PDF files you need. CREATE AND MANAGE PDFs Whether you need to convert a photo to PDF, scan a document, edit a PDF, sign a file, or convert PDF pages into images, PDF Photos gives you the essential tools in one convenient app. KEY FEATURES • Photo to PDF conversion • Image to PDF conversion • Document to PDF conversion • Word to PDF conversion • Scan documents to PDF • PDF editing and annotation • Add signatures to PDF documents • Add stamps and annotations • PDF to image conversion • Convert PDF to PNG, JPEG, GIF, TIFF, ICO, and WEBP • Customize PDF layout and orientation • Import files from Files, Gallery, and supported cloud storage • Organize and manage your documents • Share your PDF files easily PDF Photos makes everyday document tasks faster and easier. Create PDFs from photos, convert documents, scan paperwork, edit files, sign documents, and manage your PDFs — all from one app.

Screenshots

PDF Reader4 screens
PDF Photos ‧4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PDF Photos ‧ at none against PDF Reader's 10. PDF Photos ‧ also leads on review sentiment (97% vs 81%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). PDF Reader's advantage is ratings volume (3.8K vs 145). On price, rating, ads and device support 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 Photos ‧ asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for PDF Reader against 4.7 for PDF Photos ‧. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Reader has 3.8K ratings behind it against 145, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 81% of PDF Reader's written reviews are positive against 97% of PDF Photos ‧'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, PDF Photos ‧ every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
PDF Reader versus PDF Photos ‧: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF ReaderPDF Photos ‧
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (3.8K ratings)4.7 (145 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.8% of reviews97.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3.8K — better145
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size190 MB77 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKdan Mobile Software LTDTechgear Inc

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 Photos ‧

All ratings144 ratings
Positive91.0%
Neutral4.2%
Negative4.9%
Written reviews68 reviews
Positive97.1%
Neutral1.5%
Negative1.5%

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 Photos ‧

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 Photos ‧

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PDF Reader free?
PDF Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PDF Photos ‧ free?
PDF Photos ‧ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PDF Reader or PDF Photos ‧?
PDF Photos ‧ is rated higher. PDF Reader averages 4.5 out of 5 from 3.8K ratings, while PDF Photos ‧ averages 4.7 from 145 ratings.
Do PDF Reader or PDF Photos ‧ have ads?
Neither PDF Reader nor PDF Photos ‧ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PDF Reader or PDF Photos ‧?
PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, and PDF Photos ‧ every 3 weeks. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on October 29, 2026 and PDF Photos ‧ on October 27, 2026.

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