# PDF Reader vs QR Scanner

The clearest difference is ads: PDF Reader at none against QR Scanner's shown. PDF Reader also leads on ratings volume (3.5K vs 116) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). QR Scanner's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 81%) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). 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 QR Scanner sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

QR Scanner holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Reader has 3.5K ratings behind it against 116, 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 QR Scanner's.

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, QR Scanner monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Reader | QR Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (3.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-editor-and-viewer/id368377690/reviews) | **[4.7 (116 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-scanner-pdf-and-code-reader/id6469589045/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.5K** | 116 |
| Positive reviews | 80.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 190 MB | 132 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kdan Mobile Software LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/318936474) | [Magic Snail](https://appshunter.io/developer/1758662275) |

## 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


### QR Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-scanner-pdf-and-code-reader/id6469589045)

Easily scan and generate QR codes with customizable designs and templates. Also includes powerful tools to scan documents and convert images into high-quality PDFs for seamless sharing and management.

**Highlights:** AI-generated QR codes, QR code scanning (URLs, contacts, Wi-Fi), QR code generation (links, text, phone), Stylish QR code templates, Business card QR codes, Scan history, PDF scanning and conversion

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| QR Scanner Pro | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| QR Scanner PRO 1 Week | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| QR Scanner PRO 1 Week | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| QR Scanner PRO 1 Week | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| QR Scanner PRO 1 Week | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| QR Scanner PRO | $12.99 | per 7 days |
| QR Scanner PRO | $14.99 | per 7 days |
| QR Scanner PRO | $29.99 | per year |
| QR Scanner PRO 1 Year | $34.99 | per year |
| QR Scanner PRO 1 Year | $39.99 | per year |
| QR Scanner PRO | $59.99 | per year |
| QR Scanner Pro | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Reader free?

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

### Is QR Scanner free?

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

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

QR Scanner is rated higher. PDF Reader averages 4.5 out of 5 from 3.5K ratings, while QR Scanner averages 4.7 from 116 ratings.

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

QR Scanner shows ads; PDF Reader does not.

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

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, and QR Scanner monthly. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on September 27, 2026 and QR Scanner on September 23, 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.*