# PDF Reader vs Simple PDF

The clearest difference is rating: PDF Reader at 4.5 against Simple PDF's 3.7. PDF Reader also leads on ratings volume (3.5K vs 3) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.6). Simple PDF's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads 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. Simple PDF asks for nothing beyond the download.

PDF Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.7. 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.

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, Simple PDF every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Reader | Simple PDF |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (3.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-editor-and-viewer/id368377690/reviews)** | [3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-pdf-pdf-reader/id6746363157/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.5K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 80.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 190 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kdan Mobile Software LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/318936474) | [Chang Keun Jung](https://appshunter.io/developer/1813307401) |

## 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


### Simple PDF

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-pdf-pdf-reader/id6746363157)

This application allows users to view, annotate, and edit PDF documents with ease. Features include document management, OCR capabilities, and a built-in scanner. It's designed for students and professionals to stay productive on the go.

**Highlights:** View, annotate, and edit PDFs, Full-text search and navigation, Free-draw and text box annotation, Page reordering and PDF merging, Scan documents with built-in camera, OCR for text extraction, Home screen widget for quick access

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Reader free?

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

### Is Simple PDF free?

Simple PDF is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PDF Reader or Simple PDF?

PDF Reader is rated higher. PDF Reader averages 4.5 out of 5 from 3.5K ratings, while Simple PDF averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do PDF Reader or Simple PDF have ads?

Neither PDF Reader nor Simple PDF shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PDF Reader or Simple PDF?

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, and Simple PDF every 3 weeks. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on September 25, 2026 and Simple PDF on September 19, 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.*