# Acrobat Reader vs QR Code Reader & PDF Scanner

The clearest difference is ads: Acrobat Reader at none against QR Code Reader & PDF Scanner's shown. Acrobat Reader also leads on ratings volume (654K vs 2.5K) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). QR Code Reader & PDF Scanner's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.3). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Acrobat Reader sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and QR Code Reader & PDF Scanner sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Acrobat Reader against 4.7 for QR Code Reader & PDF Scanner. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Acrobat Reader has 654K ratings behind it against 2.5K, 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 55% of QR Code Reader & PDF Scanner's.

Acrobat Reader ships an update every 9 days, QR Code Reader & PDF Scanner every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Acrobat Reader | QR Code Reader & PDF Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (654K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/acrobat-reader-pdf-editor/id469337564/reviews) | **[4.7 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-and-pdf-scanner/id1601412419/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **654K** | 2.5K |
| Positive reviews | 49.1% of reviews | **55.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#2** | — |
| Size | 522 MB | 274 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.3 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Adobe Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/331646274) | [PrimeForm OU](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896300611) |

## What reviewers say

### Acrobat Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/acrobat-reader-pdf-editor/id469337564)

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Grossing · Business, #16 Top Free · Business, #80 Top Grossing (US App Store)

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:** iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Acrobat Premium - Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Adobe Acrobat Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| AI Assistant for Acrobat | $6.99 | per month |
| Acrobat Premium | $7.49 | per 7 days |
| Acrobat Premium - Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Acrobat Premium - Weekly | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| PDF Pack - Doc Creator | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium - Edit & Create PDF | $9.99 | per month |
| PDF Edit and Convert Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| Acrobat Premium - Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| Acrobat Premium - Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Acrobat Reader Plus - Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Adobe ExportPDF | $23.99 | per year |
| Adobe Acrobat Pro | $24.99 | per month |
| Acrobat Premium - Yearly | $48.99 | per year |
| Acrobat Premium - Yearly | $69.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


### QR Code Reader & PDF Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-and-pdf-scanner/id1601412419)

Transform your phone into a portable scanner to digitize documents, notes, and images. Convert paper to high-quality digital files with professional editing tools. Unlock advanced features like OCR and e-signatures with a subscription.

**Highlights:** Digitize documents, IDs, and passports, Import and organize scanned files, Professional editing tools (filter, crop, rotate), Text Recognition (OCR), E-Signature functionality, Advanced export options (Word, print)

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

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly subscription | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| PDF Scanner | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Weekly Subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| App pdf scanner neat scanner | $19.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| Monthly subscription | $24.99 | per month |
| Annual subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Annual subscription | $34.99 | per year |
| Annual subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| Annual Subscription | $59.99 | per year |
| Annual Subscription | $59.99 | per year |
| Annual subscription | $59.99 | per year |
| Lifetime subscription | $49.99 | one-time |
| One-Time Payment | $199.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Quick and efficient scanning
- 💯 Reliable and accurate scans
- 📁 Convenient document organization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Restrictive subscription model
- 💰 Expensive subscription fees
- ⛔ Lack of free features
- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable performance

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing and crashing issues
- Inability to delete scanned documents
- Poor image quality in scanned documents
- Subscription issues and unexpected charges

**Requested features**

- Support for additional languages
- Improved subscription management
- Ability to cancel subscription easily
- Free trial period for all features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Acrobat Reader free?

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

### Is QR Code Reader & PDF Scanner free?

QR Code Reader & PDF Scanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Acrobat Reader or QR Code Reader & PDF Scanner?

QR Code Reader & PDF Scanner is rated higher. Acrobat Reader averages 4.6 out of 5 from 654K ratings, while QR Code Reader & PDF Scanner averages 4.7 from 2.5K ratings.

### Do Acrobat Reader or QR Code Reader & PDF Scanner have ads?

QR Code Reader & PDF Scanner shows ads; Acrobat Reader does not.

### Which is updated more often, Acrobat Reader or QR Code Reader & PDF Scanner?

Acrobat Reader ships an update every 9 days, and QR Code Reader & PDF Scanner every 3 weeks. Most recently, Acrobat Reader was updated on October 6, 2026 and QR Code Reader & PDF Scanner on October 6, 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.*