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, sign, and convert PDF documents directly from your mobile device. Scan physical papers into editable PDFs, annotate text, and fill out forms on the go. All your documents are stored locally for privacy and can be easily shared.

Highlights
  • Edit PDF files
  • Sign documents
  • Convert scanned papers to PDF
  • Annotate PDFs
  • Fill out PDF forms
  • Local document storage
  • Share documents
Features
Read full description

Use PDF Editor app when you want to edit or sign your documents on the go from your iPhone or iPad. Import PDF files to the app, then read, comment on, edit, and share. Scan your papers and convert them into PDF files with just few taps. Perform all basic PDF tasks: - Quickly open and view PDF files - Search, scroll, and zoom in and out Scan paper documents to PDF: - Turn you camera into advanced document scanner - Perspective document transformation - Color adjustions - Automatic crop tools Anotate PDF files: - Comment on PDFs using sticky notes and drawing tools - Highlight and mark up text with annotation tools - View and respond to annotations in the comments list - Use Apple Pencil with iPad Pro to improve your precision Sign important documents: - Quickly fill out PDF forms by typing text into fields - Use your finger or Apple Pencil to e-sign any PDF document All documents are stored locally on your device, they are not available to us, nor to third parties. You can easily share documents using the export option. Privacy Policy: https://pdfeditor7.com/en/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://pdfeditor7.com/en/terms-of-usage For any questions or requests, please use our customer support form at: https://www.team2swift.com/

Screenshots

Acrobat Reader4 screens
PDF Editor ®4 screens

Verdict

The call

Acrobat Reader and PDF Editor ® both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 49% of Acrobat Reader's written reviews are positive against 25% of PDF Editor ®'s. Acrobat Reader also leads on ratings volume (654K vs 28K) and chart position (#2 vs #46). PDF Editor ®'s advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.3). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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 10 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 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 4.5 for PDF Editor ®. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Acrobat Reader has 654K ratings behind it against 28K, 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 25% of PDF Editor ®'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 9 days. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Acrobat Reader versus PDF Editor ®: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAcrobat ReaderPDF Editor ®
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (654K ratings) — better4.5 (28K ratings)
Positive reviews49.2% of reviews — better25.2% of reviews
Number of ratings654K — better28K
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#2 — better#46
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS18.316.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size522 MB280 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAdobe Inc.SMM service, s.r.o.

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 ratings28,335 ratings
Positive88.1%
Neutral2.7%
Negative9.1%
Written reviews1,302 reviews
Positive25.2%
Neutral3.5%
Negative71.4%

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 28K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 User-friendly
  • 💡 Useful for editing PDFs on the go
  • 🚀 Easy to navigate

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
  • 💰 Expensive subscription model
  • 🔒 Concerns about data privacy
  • 🔍 Limited functionality in free 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

3 issues
  • Inability to save edited documents
  • Corrupted PDF files after editing
  • Unexpected charges during free trial

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to edit text within PDFs
  • Option to save edited files to cloud storage
  • Improved organization and folder management

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
10 purchases

PDF Editor ®

Subscriptions10
  • 1 Week Plan - 7 Days$6.997 Days
  • 1 Week Plan3 Days trial$6.997 Days
  • 1 Week Starter$6.997 Days
Show 7 more
  • 1 Week Plan - 23 Days trial$6.997 Days
  • 1 Month Promo$7.991 Month
  • 1 Month Plan2 variants$12.991 Month
  • 1 Month Special1 Month trial$12.991 Month
  • 1 Year Plan - 7 Days7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • 1 Year Plan$59.991 Year
  • 1 Year Plan3 Days trial$69.991 Year

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 is rated higher. Acrobat Reader averages 4.6 out of 5 from 654K ratings, while PDF Editor ® averages 4.5 from 28K ratings.
Do Acrobat Reader or PDF Editor ® have ads?
Neither Acrobat Reader nor PDF Editor ® shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Acrobat Reader or PDF Editor ®?
Acrobat Reader ships an update every 9 days, and PDF Editor ® every 9 days. Most recently, Acrobat Reader was updated on September 24, 2026 and PDF Editor ® on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, Acrobat Reader or PDF Editor ®?
Acrobat Reader currently peaks at #2 in the App Store charts, and PDF Editor ® at #46. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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