# PDF Reader vs Sign PDF

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PDF Reader at 81% against Sign PDF's 7%. PDF Reader also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 69 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). Sign PDF's advantage is monetization model (free vs freemium). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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 Sign PDF sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, Sign PDF every 69 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Reader | Sign PDF |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (3.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-editor-and-viewer/id368377690/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **3.8K** | — |
| Positive reviews | **80.8% of reviews** | 7.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 69 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 190 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kdan Mobile Software LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/318936474) | [Matteo Morelli](https://appshunter.io/developer/520803077) |

## 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


### Sign PDF

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sign-pdf-scan-and-fill-docs/id979534235)

Easily add your signature to PDF documents using your device. Create signatures by taking a photo, using special fonts, drawing on screen, or importing an image. Export signed documents as PDFs or JPEGs, and print or share them directly.

**Highlights:** Apply signature to PDF, Export as PDF, PDF to JPEG conversion, Print from device, Share via email, Multiple signature creation modes

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Firma Pro Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Firma Pro Yearly | $22.99 | per year |
| Firma Pro Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Reader free?

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

### Is Sign PDF free?

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

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

Neither PDF Reader nor Sign PDF shows ads.

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

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, and Sign PDF every 69 months. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on October 30, 2026 and Sign PDF on October 24, 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.*