# CamScanner vs PDF Reader

The clearest difference is rating: CamScanner at 4.8 against PDF Reader's 3.7. CamScanner also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (1.9M vs 13). PDF Reader's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CamScanner sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and PDF Reader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

CamScanner holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CamScanner has 1.9M ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two.

CamScanner ships an update weekly, PDF Reader every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CamScanner | PDF Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.9M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/camscanner-pdf-scanner-app/id388627783/reviews)** | [3.7 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-all-pdf-viewer/id6448699108/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.9M** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | 61.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#7** | — |
| Size | 383 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [INTSIG Information Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/344077850) | [Sagar Rudani](https://appshunter.io/developer/1663592356) |

## What reviewers say

### CamScanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/camscanner-pdf-scanner-app/id388627783)

**Currently charting:** #7 Top Grossing · Productivity, #24 Top Free · Productivity, #166 Top Grossing (US App Store)

Transform your mobile device into a powerful portable scanner. Instantly scan, edit, and share documents in various formats like PDF, JPG, Word, and TXT. Features include OCR, e-signatures, and secure file management.

**Highlights:** Mobile document scanning, Text recognition (OCR), PDF conversion, E-signature creation, Secure file management, Cloud storage integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Account | $4.99 | per month |
| CamScanner Premium(1 week) | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| CamScanner Premium | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Account(1 Month) | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium Account (1 month) | $9.99 | per month |
| CamScanner Premium(1 week) | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| CamScanner Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| CamScanner Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Premium Account (1 year) | $59.99 | per year |
| Premium Account(1 year) | $59.99 | per year |
| Premium Account(1 year) | $69.99 | per year |
| CamScanner Premium | $69.99 | per year |
| One-page Fax | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient scanning and document management
- 📁 Convenient cloud storage and backup
- 🔍 Powerful OCR and document enhancement features
- 🔧 Customizable scanning and editing options
- 🏫 Useful for school and work applications

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Concerns about data privacy and security
- 🤖 Inconsistent OCR and text recognition accuracy
- 💰 Aggressive upselling and subscription model
- 🔌 App crashes and performance issues
- 📤 Difficulties with sharing and exporting files

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes during scanning and editing
- Syncing and backup issues causing data loss
- Compatibility problems with newer devices
- Unexpected charges and subscription renewals
- Unreliable performance and frequent updates

**Requested features**

- Improved OCR and text recognition accuracy
- More flexible export and sharing options
- Customizable storage and backup settings
- Enhanced security and privacy controls
- Streamlined subscription and pricing model


### PDF Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-all-pdf-viewer/id6448699108)

Easily view and manage all your PDF files on your mobile device. This app offers offline access, dark mode, and convenient file management features for efficient document handling.

**Highlights:** Offline PDF viewing, Dark mode support, File management, Bookmark pages, Search and copy text, Share files easily

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly   1 Week | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly   1 Month | $2.99 | per month |
| Remove Ads for 1 year | $14.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CamScanner free?

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

### Is PDF Reader free?

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

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

CamScanner is rated higher. CamScanner averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.9M ratings, while PDF Reader averages 3.7 from 13 ratings.

### Do CamScanner or PDF Reader have ads?

CamScanner shows ads; PDF Reader does not.

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

CamScanner ships an update weekly, and PDF Reader every 5 months. Most recently, CamScanner was updated on September 25, 2026 and PDF Reader on August 26, 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.*