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 allows you to view, edit, sign, and convert PDF documents. It offers free tools for reading and annotating PDFs, with premium features for advanced editing, creation, and conversion. An AI assistant is also available for summarizing and extracting information from documents.

Highlights
  • View, read, and annotate PDFs
  • Fill and sign PDF forms
  • Create PDFs from photos and files
  • Edit text and images in PDFs
  • Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, PowerPoint
  • AI Assistant for document summarization and Q&A
  • Password-protect PDFs
Features
Read full description

Adobe Acrobat Reader is the free PDF reader for opening, reading, filling in, signing and commenting on PDFs on your iPhone or iPad. It’s the world’s most trusted PDF reader, PDF editor and PDF maker, with more than 635 million installs and an App Store Editors’ Choice award. You also don’t need a subscription to read, fill in or sign PDFs. Need to do more? With Acrobat Premium, you can create PDFs from photos and files, edit text, convert PDFs to Word, Excel or PowerPoint, combine PDFs into one file and reorder pages. Free in Acrobat Reader: PDF viewer and PDF signer • Open and read any PDF, and use Liquid Mode to fit the text to your screen • Highlight text and add comments and sticky notes to your PDF • Fill in PDF forms and sign them with your finger using Fill & Sign • Share PDFs straight from the app • Open files and PDFs from your iPhone, email, Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox • Store and manage files, and star important docs for quick access • Open scans from the free Adobe Scan app to fill in, sign and share • Listen to PDFs read aloud with free voices With Acrobat Premium: PDF editor and PDF converter Start with a 7-day free trial. • Create a PDF from photos, Microsoft Office files, Google Docs or web pages • Edit text and images, fix typos and add paragraphs • Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, PowerPoint or image files, keeping fonts and formatting • Merge or combine PDFs into one file, like a resume and cover letter for a job application • Make a PDF smaller so it fits an email or upload limit • Insert, reorder, rotate, delete, extract or crop pages, or split a PDF into several files • Turn scanned docs into searchable, editable text with OCR • Password-protect PDFs • Edit, compress and export files and PDFs from Google Drive • Listen with higher-quality read-aloud voices Who Acrobat Reader is made for: • Students: merge notes into one file, highlight and comment on PDFs, listen to notes, and chat with AI Assistant • Mobile pros: open contracts and forms from email, fill and sign them, and send them back • Small businesses: create PDF invoices, sign contracts, convert PDFs to Word files, create PDF Spaces for projects • iPhone and iPad users: open PDFs from Files, Mail or your browser, set Acrobat Reader as your default PDF app, and go beyond viewing with comments and more • Get PDFs read aloud through Apple CarPlay for hands-free listening on the road Adobe Acrobat AI Assistant: Paid feature*, free for a limited time. • 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 and have answers read aloud • Ask questions and get cited answers about info in your PDF docs, including charts, graphs and tables • Use Hands-free to keep the conversation flowing with voice only • Instantly generate summaries from your PDFs • Get content for emails, text, study notes, blogs and more What’s new in Acrobat Reader: Collaborate and share your files in PDF Spaces, and turn your document summaries into podcast-style audio in Acrobat Studio. Frequently asked questions: Is Acrobat Reader free? Yes. You can open, read, fill in and sign PDFs for free. Do I need an Adobe account? No. You can read PDFs without one. Sign in with a free Adobe account to store files in Adobe Document Cloud storage, access them across devices and use more tools. Can I turn off AI features? Yes. AI Assistant features are optional, and you can turn them off in Preferences. The Acrobat Reader mobile app is designed to work with EMM enabled. *An Adobe Acrobat AI Assistant add-on plan is available to Acrobat Individual customers. iOS 18.316 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

This application provides a comprehensive suite of tools for managing PDF documents. It allows users to edit, read, scan, convert, annotate, and sign PDFs with ease. The app supports offline work and offers a free trial for its premium features.

Highlights
  • Edit and annotate PDF documents
  • Scan physical documents to PDF
  • Convert various file types to PDF
  • Convert PDF to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
  • Sign documents electronically
  • Collaborate on PDF files
  • Work offline
Features
Read full description

Edit, Read, Scan, Convert, Annotate & Sign Your PDF Documents With A1 PDF EDITOR! A1 PDF EDITOR is your all-in-one PDF converter, reader and editor app. It allows you to view, scan, edit, annotate, convert, draw and sign PDFs, allowing you to handle your important documents in an easy, breezy and safe way! KEY FEATURES: → PDF EDITOR: Edit & Annotate Documents Easily: • Edit PDF, write, annotate and leave comments easily on your doc with our customizable sticky notes and intuitive drawing tools. • Highlight key passages, add text boxes for in-depth comments, and respond to existing annotations. (Apple Pencil support on iPad Pro for enhanced precision). → PDF READER: View & Read PDF Documents: • Received a document you need to view and read? Our app lets you view any type of document which is easy to read with our high quality PDF opener app. → PDF SCANNER: Scan Physical Documents: • Scan your physical documents and convert them into universally readable documents using your phone’s camera. • Our advanced scanning technology ensures your scanned PDFs look professional with automatic perspective correction, color adjustments, and intelligent cropping tools. → PDF CONVERTER: Convert to PDF from different Documents: • Word Document → PDF • Excel Spreadsheets → PDF • Presentations → PDF • Images (JPG, PNG) → PDF • Plain Text (TXT) → PDF → PDF to FILES: Convert PDF to any document easily: • PDF → Word Document • PDF → Excel Spreadsheets • PDF → Presentations → PDF SIGNATURE: Sign Documents Without Hassle: • Fill out your forms and sign without any hassle using your finger or Apple pencil. • Our electronic signature system makes sure your original signatures look just as good and accurate on your PDF documents. → SHARE & EXPORT & COLLABORATE: • Invite colleagues or clients to collaborate by effortlessly sharing PDF files via email, link, or text message. • Set permission levels for recipients, allowing them to view, edit, or sign the PDF document according to your needs. • Print, fax, or convert any doc to PDF - Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats for maximum flexibility → MORE TOOLS: • Insert Images & Draw Effortlessly • Unleash your creative side by inserting images, editing images and using our multiple PDF tools to draw and beautify your documents. Why Should You Choose A1 PDF EDITOR? • Compatible With All Apple Devices - iPhone (iOS 15.0 or later), iPad (iPadOS 15.0 or later), Mac (macOS 12.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later) • All In One PDF App - No need to download multiple apps to scan, edit, convert, or annotate docs; this one app allows you to do it all effortlessly! • Work Offline - Fluctuating internet? No need to panic! Work offline and the changes will be synced as soon as you are back online :D • Free Premium Trial - Unlock the Full Potential with a Free Trial. Experience all the premium features of A1 PDF EDITOR free for 3 days! Choose a subscription plan that best suits your needs and cancel anytime without obligation. Please note: Subscriptions are charged through your App Store account. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage your subscription through your App Store account settings after purchase. What are you waiting for? No need to download multiple PDF apps. Make your life easier with the A1 PDF EDITOR today! Terms of use - https://blog.a1apps.co/terms-of-use-a1-pdf-editor/ Privacy Policy - https://a1office.co/ios-privacy-policy/

Screenshots

Acrobat Reader4 screens
PDF Editor4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Acrobat Reader at 669K against PDF Editor's 8.4K. Acrobat Reader also leads on chart position (#2 vs #37) and review sentiment (49% vs 37%). PDF Editor's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 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 9 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and PDF Editor sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. 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 4.7 for PDF Editor. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Acrobat Reader has 669K ratings behind it against 8.4K, 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 37% of PDF Editor's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Acrobat Reader ships an update every 10 days, PDF Editor fortnightly. Both last shipped on November 13, 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 (669K ratings)4.7 (8.4K ratings) — better
Positive reviews49.2% of reviews — better37.3% of reviews
Number of ratings669K — better8.4K
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#2 — better#37
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.315.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size556 MB206 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAdobe Inc.Rhophi Analytics LLP

Customer experience

Acrobat Reader

All ratings668,513 ratings
Positive91.2%
Neutral2.4%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews3,404 reviews
Positive49.2%
Neutral4.3%
Negative46.5%

PDF Editor

All ratings8,323 ratings
Positive91.3%
Neutral2.4%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews142 reviews
Positive37.3%
Neutral1.4%
Negative61.3%

User reviews

Acrobat Reader

From 669K 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 8.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use interface
  • 📚 Comprehensive PDF editing tools
  • 🚀 Reliable performance

Room to improve

  • 💰 Expensive subscription model
  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🙄 Intrusive ads and feedback popups
  • 📁 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
  • Unable to save or export PDFs
  • Editing tools not working as expected
  • Subscription issues and billing problems

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add option to delete pages
  • Improve save/export functionality
  • Introduce a one-time purchase option

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Acrobat Reader

Subscriptions9
  • AI Assistant for Acrobat$6.991 Month
  • Acrobat Premium - Weekly$9.997 Days
  • PDF Pack - Doc Creator$9.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • 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 Premium - Yearly7 Days trial$48.991 Year
  • Acrobat Premium - Yearly7 Days trial2 variants$69.991 Year
10 purchases

PDF Editor

Subscriptions10
  • Premium Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Premium Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Pro Weekly Plan3 Days trial$9.997 Days
Show 7 more
  • Pro Weekly Plan7 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • Premium Monthly3 Days trial$11.991 Month
  • Pro Weekly Plan3 Days trial$12.997 Days
  • Premium Monthly$12.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly3 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Pro Yearly3 Days trial$49.991 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?
PDF Editor is rated higher. Acrobat Reader averages 4.6 out of 5 from 669K ratings, while PDF Editor averages 4.7 from 8.4K 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 10 days, and PDF Editor fortnightly. Most recently, Acrobat Reader was updated on November 13, 2026 and PDF Editor on November 13, 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 #37. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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