# DrawnStrips vs PDF Reader

The clearest difference is rating: PDF Reader at 5.0 against DrawnStrips's 4.3. DrawnStrips's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DrawnStrips sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and PDF Reader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PDF Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 2 respectively.

DrawnStrips ships an update every 3 weeks, PDF Reader monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DrawnStrips | PDF Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drawnstrips-comic-reader/id473092872/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-magicpdf/id6743257879/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 47.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 24 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.0** | 18.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fabrice Leyne](https://appshunter.io/developer/473092875) | [Logical Magic Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1703399815) |

## What reviewers say

### DrawnStrips

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drawnstrips-comic-reader/id473092872)

Experience comics and manga with a fast, elegant reader designed for immersive and customizable reading on iPhone and iPad. Supports a wide range of formats and offers flexible navigation and live image enhancements.

**Highlights:** Universal format support (CBR, CBZ, PDF, EPUB, etc.), OPDS server access, Smooth iOS performance with native gestures, Flexible navigation for various reading styles, Live image enhancements, Built-in conversion tools, Customizable shortcuts and themes

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $7.99 | per year |
| Lifetime License | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and clean interface
- 👍 Good for reading comics/manga
- 👍 Supports various formats (CBZ, PDF)
- 👍 Good integration with Apple APIs
- 👍 Polished, minimalistic feel

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😞 Subscription required for basic use
- 😞 App closes if subscription not selected
- 😞 Paywall for settings
- 😞 Crashes frequently
- 😞 Slow performance

**Reported bugs**

- App closes if subscription not selected
- Paywall for settings
- App crashes immediately upon opening
- Cannot download or install on Mac Sequoia
- Incapable of opening some CBR files without crashing

**Requested features**

- Add Apple Vision Pro support
- Continuous vertical scrolling support
- Remember last window size and position
- Left mouse click to forward, right click to backward
- Integration with iBooks


### PDF Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-magicpdf/id6743257879)

This app helps you track your reading progress for PDF documents. It allows you to sync your PDFs and reading status across multiple devices for a seamless experience. Customize your reading environment for optimal comfort.

**Highlights:** Track reading progress, Sync PDFs and progress across devices, Configurable reading experience, Document reader functionality

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Pro Yearly | $24.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Pro | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DrawnStrips free?

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

### Is PDF Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, DrawnStrips or PDF Reader?

PDF Reader is rated higher. DrawnStrips averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while PDF Reader averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do DrawnStrips or PDF Reader have ads?

PDF Reader shows ads; DrawnStrips does not.

### Which is updated more often, DrawnStrips or PDF Reader?

DrawnStrips ships an update every 3 weeks, and PDF Reader monthly. Most recently, DrawnStrips was updated on September 19, 2026 and PDF Reader on September 11, 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.*