# Preview vs Lite PDF

The clearest difference is rating: Lite PDF at 3.9 against Preview's 1.9. Lite PDF also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 26.0). Preview's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (1.9K vs 8). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Lite PDF holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Preview has 1.9K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 7% of Preview's written reviews are positive against 0% of Lite PDF's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Preview ships an update every 3 months, Lite PDF every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Preview | Lite PDF |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.9 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/preview/id536344167/reviews) | **[3.9 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lite-pdf-ocr-scan-edit/id6636539887/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.9K** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **7.4% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 7 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Apple](https://appshunter.io/developer/284417353) | [HAHA TECHNOLOGY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1763021941) |

## What reviewers say

### Preview

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/preview/id536344167)

Streamline your workflow with tools to create, edit, annotate, and export PDFs and images. Easily access files, scan documents, and make quick edits with Apple Pencil support. Export your work in various formats with customizable resolution and size options.

**Highlights:** Create and edit PDFs, Annotate and markup documents, Scan documents with camera, Edit images, Export in multiple formats, AutoFill PDF forms

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Built-in PDF viewer
- 🚀 Incremental improvements
- 💡 Comprehensive markup capabilities

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and glitches
- 🤔 Confusing user interface
- 🤷‍♀️ Redundant with existing apps
- 🔀 Disjointed experience with Files app

**Reported bugs**

- Black screen issues
- Inability to preview certain file types
- Inconsistent behavior when opening files

**Requested features**

- Integrate with Files app
- Add support for more file types
- Improve PDF editing capabilities


### Lite PDF

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lite-pdf-ocr-scan-edit/id6636539887)

Easily convert images and scans into professional PDF files. Edit and organize your documents with intuitive tools, then share them securely via various platforms. Streamline your document management on the go.

**Highlights:** Image to PDF conversion, PDF editing tools, Page organization, Seamless file sharing, Document archiving

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Preview free?

Preview is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Lite PDF free?

Lite PDF is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Preview or Lite PDF?

Lite PDF is rated higher. Preview averages 1.9 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while Lite PDF averages 3.9 from 8 ratings.

### Do Preview or Lite PDF have ads?

Lite PDF shows ads; Preview does not.

### Which is updated more often, Preview or Lite PDF?

Preview ships an update every 3 months, and Lite PDF every 5 weeks. Most recently, Preview was updated on September 25, 2026 and Lite PDF on September 25, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*