Comparison

PDF Export Pro 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

PDF Export Pro

This comprehensive application allows you to create, edit, convert, organize, and secure PDF files directly on your device. It offers a wide range of tools for document manipulation, including scanning, OCR, transcription, and even faxing, all without requiring an internet connection.

Highlights
  • Convert Word, Excel, JPG to PDF
  • Convert PDF to Word, Excel, PPT
  • Edit text and images in PDFs
  • Annotate and sign documents
  • Merge, split, and organize PDFs
  • Scan documents with OCR
  • Add watermarks and password protection
Features
Read full description

Tired of switching between multiple apps just to handle PDFs? PDF Export brings scanning, editing, converting, signing, compressing, chat exporting and 30+ PDF tools together in one simple app. Scan a document, edit a PDF, convert Office files, export WhatsApp chats, add signatures, protect files and much more — right from your iPhone or iPad. Pay once. No subscription. No monthly fee. # ANNOTATE & EDIT PDFs - Work directly inside your PDF. - Highlight important text, draw, add comments, annotate pages and edit PDF content without recreating the entire document. # SCAN ANY DOCUMENT - Turn your iPhone or iPad into a portable document scanner. - Scan receipts, contracts, notes, forms and multi-page documents in seconds. Automatic edge detection helps create clean, professional-looking PDFs without needing a separate scanner. # OCR — EXTRACT TEXT FROM IMAGES - Need text from a photo, scanned document or handwritten document? - OCR can recognize and extract text from images, scanned documents, handwritten documents and image-based PDFs. - Copy, search or work with the extracted text without typing everything again. # MERGE & SPLIT PDFs - Organize PDF pages exactly the way you need. - Combine multiple PDF files into a single document, or split a large PDF into smaller files. Great for reports, invoices, forms and document collections. # SIGN DOCUMENTS - Sign PDFs directly on your iPhone or iPad. - No printing, signing and scanning again. Simply open your document, add your signature and share the completed PDF. # CONVERT FILES TO PDF — OR BACK AGAIN - Quickly convert documents between popular formats: - Word to PDF - PDF to Word - Excel to PDF - PDF to Excel - PowerPoint to PDF - PDF to PowerPoint - JPG to PDF - PDF to JPG - Web Page to PDF - PDF to Text - PDF to HTML - PDF to RTF Keep your documents in the format you actually need. # COMPRESS PDFs - Large PDF taking too much space? - Reduce PDF file size to make documents easier to email, share, upload or store while maintaining useful document quality. # PROTECT, UNLOCK & WATERMARK PDFs - Keep sensitive documents protected. - Add password protection to PDFs, unlock files you have permission to access, and add watermarks to help protect your work. # CHAT TO PDF - Export WhatsApp chats as beautifully formatted PDFs or interactive HTML. - Choose from WhatsApp-style or clean document layouts, personalize with themes, search messages, jump between months, and view shared media easily. - Perfect for saving memories, keeping records, and archiving important conversations. # ROTATE & CROP PDF PAGES - Fix poorly oriented or badly cropped pages in seconds. - Rotate pages with a tap, remove unwanted margins, or crop multiple pages to create a cleaner document. # MORE PDF TOOLS - PDF Export includes many additional tools for everyday document work, including: - Blank PDF editor - Web to PDF - Clipboard to PDF - Add page numbers - Extract images - Repair PDFs - Transcribe content - Send fax And more TRY BEFORE YOU BUY See how the tools work before purchasing. Import your own file for a trial, or use the built-in sample document anytime to explore available features. # WHY PDF EXPORT? - 30+ PDF tools in one app - One-time purchase — no subscription - Scan, edit, sign and convert documents - Export WhatsApp chats to PDF or interactive HTML - Designed for iPhone and iPad - Many document tools work offline - Simple tools for everyday PDF tasks Whether you're scanning paperwork, signing a contract, converting an Office document, compressing a large PDF or preserving an important WhatsApp conversation, PDF Export gives you the tools to get it done in one place. Download PDF Export and make PDF and document management simpler.

About

PDF Reader

This app offers a superior PDF reading experience with its innovative Liquid Mode, which optimizes documents for mobile screens. It also provides robust tools for annotating, signing, managing, and sharing your PDF files, catering to both work and study needs.

Highlights
  • Liquid Mode for optimized mobile reading
  • Annotation tools (pencil, text, highlighting)
  • Handwritten signature insertion
  • File management (move, merge, copy, delete)
  • Cloud service integration (Wondershare, iCloud)
  • Create blank PDFs and folders
Features
Read full description

PDFelement - PDF Reader is a PDF reader using the latest technology. The newly connected Liquid Mode function allows you to enjoy the best reading experience. In addition, there are various annotation tools, file management, signature, Various functions such as cloud services can meet your PDF needs in work and study. PDF VIEWER • Liquid Mode gives you the best PDF reading experience • Star files to find them quickly • Easily locate recently accessed files in the "Recent" list. • Enter the page number to navigate to the desired page for viewing LIQUID MODE • Get the best PDF Reading experience with Liquid Mode • PDF document fully fits the mobile phone screen, no need to zoom in and out repeatedly. • Easily adjust brightness, font size,style, and spacing. ANNOTATE • Using Pencil to annotate like writing on the paper • Add text annotations, freely modify the text and background, border colors, choose the appropriate font and font size. • Supports many annotating tools like highlighting, underlining, squiggly lines, or strikethroughs. MANAGE • Move, merge, copy or delete files SIGNATURE • Enables handwritten signatures to be inserted anywhere within the document, while also offering the ability to zoom in and out for greater flexibility. • Built-in commonly used stamps CREATE • Quickly create completely blank PDF documents • Creat blank folders. SHARE • Sharing document content with others is just a click away with capture feature. • Select sentence(s) or pragraph(s) to share CLOUD SERVICE • PDF Reader supports uploading or downloading docs via computer, Wondershare document cloud and iCloud. Please note that this app only supports editing native PDF files. It does not support editing scanned or raster PDF. If you find you cannot edit text in PDF, please check if it is scanned PDF. Thank you! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Need HELP? Please contact us! We'll feedback to you ASAP. Email: pdfelement@wondershare.com Support Center: http://support.wondershare.com Forum: http://forum.pdf.wondershare.com Official Website: https://pdf.wondershare.com If you think this App helps you, your positive review in the App Store would be much appreciated.

Screenshots

PDF Export Pro4 screens
PDF Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PDF Reader at Free against PDF Export Pro's $12.99. PDF Reader also leads on review sentiment (77% vs 39%) and in-app purchases (none vs 10). PDF Export Pro's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.3) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

PDF Reader is free to download; PDF Export Pro costs $12.99 up front. PDF Export Pro sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. PDF Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PDF Export Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Reader has 3.9K ratings behind it against 217, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 39% of PDF Export Pro's written reviews are positive against 77% of PDF Reader's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDF Export Pro ships an update fortnightly, PDF Reader every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
PDF Export Pro versus PDF Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF Export ProPDF Reader
Price$12.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (217 ratings) — better4.3 (3.9K ratings)
Positive reviews39.4% of reviews76.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2173.9K — better
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size214 MB173 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLiveBird Technologies Private LimitedWondershare Technology (Hunan) Co.,Ltd.

Customer experience

PDF Export Pro

All ratings217 ratings
Positive89.9%
Neutral3.2%
Negative6.9%
Written reviews104 reviews
Positive39.4%
Neutral5.8%
Negative54.8%

PDF Reader

All ratings3,923 ratings
Positive83.1%
Neutral3.2%
Negative13.7%
Written reviews1,582 reviews
Positive76.7%
Neutral6.1%
Negative17.2%

Bugs and requests

PDF Export Pro

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

PDF Reader

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Text boxes appearing randomly
  • Inability to select/edit text in some PDFs
  • Scrolling issues and page loading delays
  • Incompatibility with certain PDF formats

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to edit text formatting (font, size, color)
  • Support for multiple open documents
  • Improved Apple Pencil integration
  • Bookmark/favorite feature for frequently used PDFs
  • Expanded cloud storage integration (OneDrive, Google Drive, etc.)

In-app purchases

10 purchases

PDF Export Pro

One-time10
  • 1 Fax Credit$0.99
  • Convert 5 Documents Online$0.99
  • 5 Fax Credit$3.99
Show 7 more
  • PDF Export Pro Plus$3.99
  • Convert 30 Documents Online$4.99
  • 10 Fax Credit$5.99
  • 20 Fax Credit$9.99
  • Convert 70 Documents Online$9.99
  • 50 Fax Credit$19.99
  • Convert 150 Documents Online$19.99
None

PDF Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PDF Export Pro free?
PDF Export Pro costs $12.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is PDF Reader free?
PDF Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PDF Export Pro or PDF Reader?
PDF Export Pro is rated higher. PDF Export Pro averages 4.6 out of 5 from 217 ratings, while PDF Reader averages 4.3 from 3.9K ratings.
Do PDF Export Pro or PDF Reader have ads?
Neither PDF Export Pro nor PDF Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PDF Export Pro or PDF Reader?
PDF Export Pro ships an update fortnightly, and PDF Reader every 2 months. Most recently, PDF Export Pro was updated on September 22, 2026 and PDF Reader on September 23, 2026.

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