Comparison

SecureZIP Reader vs PDF Reader

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

Head to head
About

SecureZIP Reader

Access and view compressed and encrypted files from cloud storage and email. Securely extract sensitive data using passphrases or digital certificates on your mobile device.

Highlights
  • Extract and view ZIP files
  • Decrypt encrypted files
  • Integrates with cloud storage
  • Supports passphrases and digital certificates
  • Open files in other apps
  • Browse ZIP file contents
Read full description

Now you can extract and view your ZIP and encrypted/secured sensitive files from email, Dropbox, Box.Net or other cloud providers! SecureZIP Reader for iOS combines ZIP decompression and decryption to deliver a data-centric security solution that protects data as it moves from the desktop to the cloud to the mobile device. Ensure security using passphrases or x.509 digital certificates. PKWARE SecureZIP Reader Top Features: •Quickly and securely open and extract files or open with the included viewer, or 3rd party viewer of choice •Simple to use with DropBox, Box.Net, Sugarsync and any other cloud provider for securing content throughout the cloud •Browse and review the contents of your ZIP files •Open SecureZIP files with a passphrase or digital certificate •Open the contents of ZIP files in associated apps •Open ZIP files from Mail •Open ZIP files from the web or cloud •Support for .ZIP .ZIPX and SFX compression SecureZIP allows you to extract the following file types, and more: •Photo and video formats •Text file formats •Office file formats •PDFs and much more As the creator of the ZIP file format, PKZIP and SecureZIP; PKWARE is building on its reputation of continuous innovation with the release of SecureZIP Reader for both personal and enterprise/business use. For enterprise and business customers, the PKWARE SecureZIP Reader is one of the first enterprise apps for iOS that provides the ability to open compressed files (.zip .zipx and many other formats) that are secured using passphrase or certificate-based encryption (PKI, x.509 certificate). This allows you to easily receive enterprise sensitive data on your iPhone or iPad without concern. For personal use, SecureZIP Reader provides a free, fully functional, simple to use app to open and extract your files to use them, on your mobile device. Have a friend sending you sensitive files? The sender can password protect and encrypt them before sending to you, knowing you are able to open and view the files. SecureZIP Reader for iOS was created by PKWARE, a company with a 30-year track record of helping customers compress and secure their corporate data and personal information across mobile, desktop, server and mainframe computing platforms and in physical, virtual and cloud environments. For more information, visit us at www.pkware.com --------------- Keywords: file manager, password, passphrase, certificate, explorer, compress, archive, uncompress, zip, winzip, pkware, tar.gz, send, share, aes, encryption, encrypt, decrypt, decryption, pkzip, androzip, phil katz, zip file, securezip, reader, .509, x.509, .ZIP, zipx, .zipx, sfx, .sfx, digital certificates, file security, cloud security

About

PDF Reader

This app provides comprehensive PDF management, including reading, editing, and scanning. It uses AI for intelligent document recognition, summarization, and conversion to various formats. Securely store and access your files in the cloud or from popular services.

Highlights
  • AI-powered PDF editing and summarization
  • Intelligent document scanning with OCR
  • Convert between PDF and other file formats
  • Annotate, sign, and fill PDF forms
  • Cloud storage integration (Google Drive, OneDrive)
  • Merge, split, lock, and compress PDFs
Features
Read full description

Experience effortless PDF reading, intelligent scanning, and AI-powered editing with PDF Reader, a simple and intuitive app. It offers a centralized hub for scanning, reading, annotating, converting, and managing your documents. Instantly digitize paper files, receipts, notes, and business cards with advanced AI scanning, then edit, convert, and organize them all in one place. Add comments, insert signatures, fill out forms, and complete tasks effortlessly. You can also upload files to the app’s secure cloud, access PDFs from Google Drive and OneDrive, and convert between PDFs and other formats like Word, Excel, images, and more—all in one app available on iPhone and iPad. PDF Viewing and Management -Auto-Discovery: Instantly locates all PDF files on your device. -Seamless Reading: Open and view PDFs smoothly with adjustable modes. -Page Navigation: Jump to specific pages instantly. -Search Functionality: Find files or text in seconds. -AI Summary: Summarize key points quickly. -File to PDF: Convert documents, images, and web pages into PDFs. -PDF to File: Export PDFs to Word, Excel, and images. -Cloud Backup & Access: Upload, view, and edit files in Google Drive or OneDrive. -File Management: Rename, delete, organize, and share PDFs effortlessly. Smart Scanning and Recognition -AI Scan: Capture paper documents, receipts, notes, and books instantly with your camera. -Auto Edge Detection: Automatically detects document borders and adjusts angles precisely. -Image Enhancement: Brightens, sharpens, and removes shadows for perfect scans. -Batch Scan: Scan multiple pages continuously and combine them into one PDF. -OCR Recognition: Extract and copy text from scanned pages with one tap. -AI Classification: Organize scanned files intelligently by type or content. -Scan to PDF: Instantly convert scans into high-quality PDFs ready for sharing or editing. Practical Editing Features -Annotate PDFs: Highlight, underline, and strikethrough key content. -Handwritten Signatures: Sign digital documents easily using your finger or stylus. -Quick Snippet Copying: Extract and reuse content instantly. -Fill & Insert Text: Complete PDF forms directly without file conversion. Office Document Viewing -Word Viewer: Supports DOC and DOCX formats for fast reading. -Excel Viewer: Manage and view XLS and XLSX files easily. -PPT Viewer: View PowerPoint slides in portrait or landscape mode. PDF Conversion -File to PDF: Convert Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Markdown, text, and images into PDF with one tap. -PDF to File: Convert PDFs into Word, Excel, text, images, and PowerPoint formats instantly. Advanced PDF Tools -Merge PDFs: Combine multiple files into one. -Split PDFs: Divide large files into smaller, more manageable sections. -Lock PDFs: Add password protection for sensitive documents. -Compress PDFs: Reduce file size without losing quality. AI-Powered Features -AI Summary: Generate concise summaries for faster review. -AI Scan: Intelligent document scanning with auto recognition and correction. Cloud Backup and Management -Upload to Cloud: Save PDFs securely to cloud storage. -File Protection: Keep your files safe and prevent loss. -Google Drive and OneDrive Integration: Open, edit, and sync files seamlessly across platforms. Download our powerful office app and revolutionize your workflow. Whether you need a document scanner, PDF reader, eBook reader, PDF editor, converter, or manager, this free and lightweight app is built to maximize your productivity. Start your PDF management and scanning journey now—download and experience it today. Privacy Policy: https://getpdfreader.github.io/ipdfreader/privacypolicy.html Term of Use: https://getpdfreader.github.io/ipdfreader/termsofservices.html DO NOT hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Support Email: pdfreader.feedback@outlook.com

Screenshots

SecureZIP Reader4 screens
PDF Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PDF Reader at 4.7 against SecureZIP Reader's 3.0. PDF Reader also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 7 months) and ratings volume (665 vs 5). SecureZIP Reader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support 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. PDF Reader sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. SecureZIP Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PDF Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Reader has 665 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 69% of SecureZIP Reader's written reviews are positive against 37% of PDF Reader's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SecureZIP Reader ships an update every 7 months, PDF Reader every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 3, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
SecureZIP Reader versus PDF Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSecureZIP ReaderPDF Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (5 ratings)4.7 (665 ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.0% of reviews — better37.0% of reviews
Number of ratings5665 — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 8 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB118 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPKWARE, Inc.DAOWEI NETWORK TECHNOLOGY PTE.LTD.

Customer experience

SecureZIP Reader

All ratings5 ratings
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews29 reviews
Positive69.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative31.0%

PDF Reader

All ratings665 ratings
Positive91.9%
Neutral1.8%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive37.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative63.0%

In-app purchases

None

SecureZIP Reader

No in-app purchases

9 purchases

PDF Reader

Subscriptions8
  • One Week3 Days trial2 variants$3.997 Days
  • One Week$3.997 Days
  • One Week3 Days trial$7.997 Days
Show 5 more
  • One Week7 Days trial$7.997 Days
  • One Month$12.991 Month
  • One Year$49.991 Year
  • One Year$76.991 Year
  • One Year3 Days trial$76.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$99.99

Questions

Is SecureZIP Reader free?
SecureZIP Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PDF Reader free?
PDF Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SecureZIP Reader or PDF Reader?
PDF Reader is rated higher. SecureZIP Reader averages 3.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while PDF Reader averages 4.7 from 665 ratings.
Do SecureZIP Reader or PDF Reader have ads?
PDF Reader shows ads; SecureZIP Reader does not.
Which is updated more often, SecureZIP Reader or PDF Reader?
SecureZIP Reader ships an update every 7 months, and PDF Reader every 8 days. Most recently, SecureZIP Reader was updated on September 3, 2026 and PDF Reader on September 23, 2026.

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