# CamScanner vs PDF Reader PDF Viewer

The clearest difference is rating: CamScanner at 4.8 against PDF Reader PDF Viewer's 3.0. CamScanner also leads on ratings volume (1.9M vs 2) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). PDF Reader PDF Viewer's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). 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 PDF Viewer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

CamScanner holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CamScanner has 1.9M ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

CamScanner ships an update weekly, PDF Reader PDF Viewer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and June 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CamScanner | PDF Reader PDF Viewer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.9M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/camscanner-pdf-scanner-app/id388627783/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-pdf-viewer/id6470454445/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.9M** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 60.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#7** | — |
| Size | 383 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [INTSIG Information Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/344077850) | [Mohit Rudani](https://appshunter.io/developer/1673702969) |

## What reviewers say

### CamScanner

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

**Currently charting:** #7 Top Grossing · Productivity, #26 Top Free · Productivity, #140 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 PDF Viewer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-pdf-viewer/id6470454445)

Edit, sign, and share PDF documents on your iPhone. Import files from your gallery, convert them to PDF, and manage all your documents in one place. Offers a simple interface for reading, annotating, and creating PDFs.

**Highlights:** Edit and sign PDF documents, Import and convert to PDF, Read, comment, and annotate PDFs, Create new PDF files, Share documents as PDF, Offline PDF viewing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove ads for 1 Month | $0.99 | per month |
| Remove ads for 1 Year | $3.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CamScanner free?

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

### Is PDF Reader PDF Viewer free?

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

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

CamScanner is rated higher. CamScanner averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.9M ratings, while PDF Reader PDF Viewer averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do CamScanner or PDF Reader PDF Viewer have ads?

CamScanner shows ads; PDF Reader PDF Viewer does not.

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

CamScanner ships an update weekly, and PDF Reader PDF Viewer every 3 weeks. Most recently, CamScanner was updated on September 26, 2026 and PDF Reader PDF Viewer on June 3, 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.*