Comparison

Acrobat Reader vs PDF Editor

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Acrobat Reader

This app is a powerful PDF tool for viewing, editing, annotating, and signing documents. It offers AI-powered features for summarizing and interacting with PDFs, along with robust conversion and security options. Collaborate on files and access your documents from anywhere.

Highlights
  • View, edit, and annotate PDFs
  • Sign and fill PDF forms
  • Convert files to and from PDF
  • AI-powered document summarization
  • Collaborate in PDF Spaces
  • Compress and secure PDFs
  • Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
Features
Read full description

Major new updates: Collaborate and share your files in PDF Spaces, and turn your document summaries into podcast-style audio in Acrobat Studio. The world’s most trusted PDF reader, PDF editor, and PDF maker with more than 635 million installs. View, share, annotate, add comments, and sign documents - all in one app. You can store your files online and read documents anywhere. Get your 7-day free trial and try all the features of Acrobat Reader. Paid features: Adobe Acrobat AI Assistant • Work across multiple files in one place with PDF Spaces. Collaborate, store, and use AI Assistant across files • Use voice or text prompts with AI Assistant chatbot • Ask questions and get cited answers about details in your document, including charts, graphs, and tables with Figures Q&A • Easily share the responses you get • Try voice support to ask queries and have answers read aloud. • Use new Hands-free to keep the conversation flowing with voice only • Instantly generate summaries from your PDFs with Generative AI Summaries • Get content for emails, text, study notes, blogs, and more [Adobe Acrobat AI Assistant is a paid feature*, free for a limited time] Edit PDFs • With our PDF editor, edit text and images directly in your PDF (mobile only) • Fix typos or add paragraphs with the PDF editor • Easily add, delete, or rotate any image • Use this PDF signer and PDF viewer to get your docs just right Recognize text • Optical Character Recognition (OCR) turns scanned PDFs into searchable, editable text to use in other formats Merge & organize PDFs with PDF Converter • Split or combine multiple files into one PDF with PDF converter • Use the PDF editor to insert, delete, rotate, crop & reorder pages in your PDF file Create, convert & export PDFs • Easily convert to PDF from any file type including Microsoft, Google Docs, and images • Export and convert PDFs to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or various image files • Convert web pages to PDFs Compress & highly secure PDFs • Compress PDF files for easy saving and sharing • Password Protect PDF documents Have your PDF read aloud • Listen to your PDFs on the go, great for reading support • Choose free voices or upgrade for high-quality options Subscribe now to access all these features and use Acrobat across mobile and web platforms. Free-to-use features: PDF signer: Fill & Sign Adobe Fill & Sign is free & available in Acrobat Reader. A form filler and PDF signer that lets you fill, sign, and send Liquid mode in the optimal PDF viewer • Get the best PDF reading experience with this PDF viewer • Search, navigate & adjust font size or spacing to fit your screen Annotate PDFs • Add sticky notes, comments, and highlight text Store & manage files • Link online storage accounts like Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, or Google Drive • Star files to quickly open important documents Connect the PDF viewer and reader to Google Drive • A PDF creator that lets you edit, compress, and export Google Drive files with a subscription Work with scanned documents • Access scanned PDFs from Adobe Scan in Acrobat to fill, sign, and share The Acrobat Reader mobile app is designed to work with customers who have Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) enabled. *An Adobe Acrobat AI Assistant add-on plan is available to Acrobat Individual customers. iOS 16 or above required. Terms & Conditions: Your use of this application is governed by the Adobe General Terms of Use http://www.adobe.com/go/terms_linkfree_en and the Adobe Privacy Policy http://www.adobe.com/go/privacy_policy_linkfree_en Do not sell or share my personal information www.adobe.com/go/ca-rights-linkfree

About

PDF Editor

Edit text, images, and layout in PDF files without altering formatting. Convert PDFs to various formats, merge documents, and secure them with passwords. Offers cloud integration and user-friendly navigation for efficient document management.

Highlights
  • Edit text and images
  • Convert to multiple formats (Word, PPT, JPG, PNG)
  • Resize PDFs
  • Merge PDF files
  • Secure with password encryption
  • Add watermarks, headers, footers
  • Cloud integration
Features
Read full description

Edit a PDF and get back the file you expected. Many PDF editors move your fonts, your spacing and your layout. PDF Editor is built to keep them where they are. Open a PDF, change the text, the images and the pages, export it, and the document still looks like the original. If a file ever does not come out right, message us from inside the app: we reply within one business day and fix import, editing and font problems as a priority, keeping you posted until it is done. Built in Australia. Your documents stay yours. What you can do • Edit PDF text: change words, font, size and color directly on the page. • Edit PDF images: replace, crop, resize or delete any image. • Sign PDF: draw or type your signature once and place it on any document. • Fill PDF forms: complete a form, save it and send it. • Merge PDF: combine several PDF files into one. • Split PDF: separate one PDF into smaller files. • Compress PDF: reduce the file size for email and upload. • Convert PDF to JPG or PNG: turn any page into an image. • Turn images into a PDF: combine photos or scans into one document. • Open Word, PowerPoint and Illustrator files: edit them as a PDF and export. • Organize pages: reorder, rotate, duplicate, delete, crop and number pages. • Annotate PDF: highlight and underline what matters. • Redact PDF: black out text that must not be shared. • Scan to text (OCR): turn a scanned page into text you can edit. • Unlock PDF: remove a password you own. • Watermark PDF: add a watermark, a header or a footer. • Resize PDF: change the page format without losing quality. Read and annotate any PDF Open any PDF file, read it and highlight what matters. Large files stay sharp when you zoom. Edit PDF text properly Tap a paragraph and type. PDF Editor keeps the font, the line breaks and the spacing you already have, so you do not have to rebuild the page after every change. Sign and fill without printing Draw or type a signature, place it, save it. Fill in a contract, an invoice or an application form and send it back the same day. No printer needed. Merge, split and compress Combine a set of files into one report. Pull three pages out of a long contract. Compress a large PDF so it fits an email limit. All from your phone. Convert and export Save as PDF for print or for web. Export a page as JPG or PNG for a message or a slide. Turn a set of photos into one PDF. Open a Word, PowerPoint or Illustrator file and work on it as a PDF. Start from a template Do not start from an empty page. Open a ready-made invoice, report, proposal, contract, letter, resume, flyer or business card, then change the parts you need. Every template is editable and exports as a PDF. Phone, tablet and web Your documents sync, so you can start on a phone and finish on a laptop. What is free and what is paid Every month a free account includes 5 PDF edits and 20 PDF tool operations such as merge, split, compress or rotate. Subscriptions raise these allowances and more: monthly AI credits and extra storage are included. Common questions Can I change text in a file someone else made? Yes. Open it and tap the text. Can I put two files together? Yes, use Merge. Can I make a file smaller? Yes, use Compress. Can I turn a scan into text? Yes, use Scan to text. Do I need an account? Merge, split, compress, rotate and the other page tools work without one. Editing text, signing, filling forms and watermarks need a free account. Does it work offline? Merge, split, compress, sign, fill forms and the other page tools run on your device and work offline. Editing PDF text in the full editor, scan to text and the AI tools need an internet connection. Something did not import or export correctly. What now? Send it to us from Settings → Feedback & Support. We reply within one business day. Download PDF Editor and fix the PDF properly, the first time.

Screenshots

Acrobat Reader4 screens
PDF Editor4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Acrobat Reader at none against PDF Editor's shown. Acrobat Reader also leads on review sentiment (49% vs 22%) and ratings volume (654K vs 330). PDF Editor's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 9 days) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.3). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Acrobat Reader sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and PDF Editor sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Acrobat Reader against 4.6 for PDF Editor. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Acrobat Reader has 654K ratings behind it against 330, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 49% of Acrobat Reader's written reviews are positive against 22% of PDF Editor's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Acrobat Reader ships an update every 9 days, PDF Editor every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Acrobat Reader versus PDF Editor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAcrobat ReaderPDF Editor
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (654K ratings)4.6 (330 ratings)
Positive reviews49.2% of reviews — better22.3% of reviews
Number of ratings654K — better330
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#2 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.315.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size522 MB191 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAdobe Inc.Desygner Pty Ltd

Customer experience

Acrobat Reader

All ratings654,141 ratings
Positive91.4%
Neutral2.4%
Negative6.2%
Written reviews3,096 reviews
Positive49.2%
Neutral4.4%
Negative46.4%

PDF Editor

All ratings330 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral0.3%
Negative8.2%
Written reviews139 reviews
Positive22.3%
Neutral2.9%
Negative74.8%

User reviews

Acrobat Reader

From 654K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and efficient
  • 🔒 Secure document storage
  • 👍 Convenient for reading and annotating PDFs
  • 👍 Useful for students and professionals

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
  • 🔒 Overly intrusive login requirements
  • 💰 Expensive subscription model
  • 👎 Counterintuitive user interface changes
  • 🔍 Poor search and organization features

PDF Editor

From 330 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✏️ Comprehensive PDF editing capabilities
  • 🎨 Advanced image editing features (logos, backgrounds, signatures)
  • ⚡ Fast processing speed for document editing
  • 👍 User-friendly interface for most users
  • 🔧 Multiple editing tools and options available

Room to improve

  • 💰 Expensive subscription pricing ($7-99/month)
  • 🚫 Limited free trial (3 days, not 7 as advertised)
  • 📏 Output files are extremely small and illegible after export
  • 🐢 Very slow file uploads and processing
  • ❌ Text editing features unavailable in trial version

Bugs and requests

Acrobat Reader

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Frequent crashes and freezes
  • Inconsistent behavior when editing PDFs
  • Inability to open or save certain file types
  • Sync issues between mobile and desktop versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add erase tool for annotations
  • Improve palm rejection for Apple Pencil
  • Allow direct text editing in PDFs
  • Provide better cloud integration and sync
  • Offer more customization options

PDF Editor

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • App crashes when importing PDFs
  • Exported PDFs render at extremely small, unreadable sizes
  • Text editing causes font changes and formatting loss
  • Duplicate function creates multiple unwanted copies or deletes originals
  • App won't open or gets stuck on logo screen
Show 9 more
  • Email verification not sending or sending to wrong address
  • Zoom functionality resets when attempting edits
  • Saved documents disappear from app after restart
  • File upload fails or gets stuck indefinitely
  • Black and white checkered screen replacing PDF content
  • Large chunks of text deleted when leaving text editor open
  • Pages display as blank after export
  • Subscription information not displaying correctly
  • App crashes when clicking add/import button

Requested features

8 requests
  • Better zoom functionality without distorting document sections
  • Ability to edit files across multiple devices with same account
  • Improved text editing capabilities
  • Document rotation (not just flip) functionality
  • Better font compatibility and handling
Show 3 more
  • Offline editing capability
  • Improved file saving and persistence
  • Cross-device synchronization

In-app purchases

16 purchases

Acrobat Reader

Subscriptions16
  • Acrobat Premium - Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Adobe Acrobat Premium$4.991 Month
  • AI Assistant for Acrobat$6.991 Month
Show 13 more
  • Acrobat Premium$7.497 Days
  • Acrobat Premium - Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Acrobat Premium - Weekly$9.997 Days
  • PDF Pack - Doc Creator$9.991 Month
  • Premium - Edit & Create PDF$9.991 Month
  • PDF Edit and Convert Monthly7 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Acrobat Premium - Monthly$12.991 Month
  • Acrobat Premium - Monthly$14.991 Month
  • Acrobat Reader Plus - Yearly$19.991 Year
  • Adobe ExportPDF$23.991 Year
  • Adobe Acrobat Pro$24.991 Month
  • Acrobat Premium - Yearly7 Days trial$48.991 Year
  • Acrobat Premium - Yearly7 Days trial2 variants$69.991 Year
13 purchases

PDF Editor

Subscriptions9
  • Weekly$2.997 Days
  • Pro+ Weekly Subscription 2$4.997 Days
  • Pro+ Weekly Subscription7 Days trial$6.997 Days
Show 6 more
  • Pro+ Monthly Subscription$9.951 Month
  • Monthly3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Pro+ Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Pro+ Annual Subscription 2$83.991 Year
  • Annual3 Days trial$89.991 Year
  • Pro+ Annual Subscription$99.991 Year
One-time4
  • Credit pack: 5 credits$4.99
  • Credit pack: 10 credits$7.99
  • Special credit pack$7.99
Show 1 more
  • Credit pack: 30 credits$19.99

Questions

Is Acrobat Reader free?
Acrobat Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PDF Editor free?
PDF Editor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Acrobat Reader or PDF Editor?
Acrobat Reader and PDF Editor are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 654K and 330 ratings respectively.
Do Acrobat Reader or PDF Editor have ads?
PDF Editor shows ads; Acrobat Reader does not.
Which is updated more often, Acrobat Reader or PDF Editor?
Acrobat Reader ships an update every 9 days, and PDF Editor every 3 days. Most recently, Acrobat Reader was updated on September 24, 2026 and PDF Editor on September 21, 2026.

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