# PDF Reader vs PDF Scan Document

The clearest difference is rating: PDF Reader at 4.5 against PDF Scan Document's 4.0. PDF Reader also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (3.5K vs 3). PDF Scan Document's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 81%). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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 Scan Document sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 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 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Reader has 3.5K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 81% of PDF Reader's written reviews are positive against 100% of PDF Scan Document's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, PDF Scan Document every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Reader | PDF Scan Document |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (3.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-editor-and-viewer/id368377690/reviews)** | [4.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-scan-document-scanner-app/id6464469337/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.5K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 80.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 8 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 190 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kdan Mobile Software LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/318936474) | [Dao Thang](https://appshunter.io/developer/949747058) |

## 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 Scan Document

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-scan-document-scanner-app/id6464469337)

Transform your device into a powerful mobile scanner. Quickly capture, edit, and share documents, receipts, and notes as PDFs or JPGs. Features include live text scanning, OCR, and signature addition.

**Highlights:** Live text scanning with AI, OCR for text extraction, Document editing and reordering, Signature addition, Convert various file types to PDF/JPG, Import from Photos and Files

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A Week All Feature & No Limits | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| A Month All Feature, No Limits | $5.99 | per month |
| A Year All Feature & No Limits | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Reader free?

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

### Is PDF Scan Document free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PDF Reader or PDF Scan Document?

PDF Reader is rated higher. PDF Reader averages 4.5 out of 5 from 3.5K ratings, while PDF Scan Document averages 4.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do PDF Reader or PDF Scan Document have ads?

PDF Scan Document shows ads; PDF Reader does not.

### Which is updated more often, PDF Reader or PDF Scan Document?

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, and PDF Scan Document every 8 months. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on October 2, 2026 and PDF Scan Document on June 1, 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.*