# PDF Reader vs Word Count

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PDF Reader at 81% against Word Count's 42%. PDF Reader also leads on ratings volume (3.8K vs 48) and rating (4.5 vs 4.3). Word Count's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDF Reader sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Word Count sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PDF Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Reader has 3.8K ratings behind it against 48, 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 42% of Word Count's.

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, Word Count every 9 days. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Reader | Word Count |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (3.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-editor-and-viewer/id368377690/reviews)** | [4.3 (48 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-count-advanced-counter/id997814012/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.8K** | 48 |
| Positive reviews | **80.8% of reviews** | 42.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 190 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kdan Mobile Software LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/318936474) | [Sadah Software Solutions, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/460047429) |

## 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


### Word Count

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-count-advanced-counter/id997814012)

This utility app provides instant word, character, and line counts as you type. It offers detailed statistics including character count with and without spaces, word count, paragraph count, and total lines. Designed for simplicity, it focuses on core counting functionalities without unnecessary features.

**Highlights:** Real-time character count (with/without spaces), Word count, Paragraph count, Total lines count, Simple and easy to use interface

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Version | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Reader free?

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

### Is Word Count free?

Word Count is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PDF Reader or Word Count?

PDF Reader is rated higher. PDF Reader averages 4.5 out of 5 from 3.8K ratings, while Word Count averages 4.3 from 48 ratings.

### Do PDF Reader or Word Count have ads?

Neither PDF Reader nor Word Count shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PDF Reader or Word Count?

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, and Word Count every 9 days. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on October 21, 2026 and Word Count on October 21, 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.*