Comparison

PDF Export vs PDF Maker & 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

This app provides comprehensive tools for creating, editing, converting, and organizing PDF files on your mobile device. It offers features like scanning documents, merging files, adding watermarks, and even transcribing audio to text, all without requiring an internet connection.

Highlights
  • Convert Word, Excel, JPG to PDF
  • Convert PDF to Word, Excel, PPT
  • Edit PDF text and images
  • Annotate and sign documents
  • Merge and split PDFs
  • Scan documents with OCR
  • Compress and secure PDFs
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 Maker & Reader

Create and read PDF documents on your iPhone and iPad. Easily add text, photos, maps, and diagrams to new or existing PDFs. Share your creations via iCloud Drive, email, and other compatible applications.

Highlights
  • Create new PDF documents
  • Read PDF documents from various sources
  • Add text manually or via keyboard
  • Insert photos, maps, and diagrams
  • Export PDFs to other applications
  • Compatible with App Extensions and Apple Pencil
Features
Read full description

PDF Maker & Reader is a simple and powerful tool for reading and creating PDF. It can be displayed PDF documents on iPhone and iPad and you can input either manually or from the keyboard and add photos, maps, lines and diagrams. And you can make a new PDF document. PDF documents that you made can be output to many applications. [Major Functions] - You can read PDF documents from iTunes, iCloud Drive and many applications.(compatible with App Extensions) - You can make a new PDF document. - You can make a PDF document in the following way.  1. You can input either manually or from the keyboard (compatible with Apple Pencil).  2. You can paste up to photos.  3. You can paste maps.  4. By pasting figures and lines, you can display PDF documents graphically. - You can upload PDF documents to iTunes, iCloud Drive, applications compatible with PDF, and you can attach PDF to emails. You can use PDF Maker & Reader for free for 10 days. If you want to use it for more than 11 days, you need to follow the procedure for In-App Purchases(the one time purchase). Or you can extend the free usage period by 3 days by watching a video ad. [Contact us] https://www.studioks.net/en/contact-us/ [Studio K's - Business Applications Maker] https://www.studioks.net/en/

Screenshots

PDF Export4 screens
PDF Maker & Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PDF Export at 4.7 against PDF Maker & Reader's 4.2. PDF Export also leads on review sentiment (46% vs 20%) and ratings volume (1.8K vs 25). PDF Maker & Reader's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Export sells 12 one-off in-app purchases and PDF Maker & Reader sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PDF Export holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Export has 1.8K ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of PDF Export's written reviews are positive against 20% of PDF Maker & Reader's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDF Export ships an update fortnightly, PDF Maker & Reader every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
PDF Export versus PDF Maker & Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF ExportPDF Maker & Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.8K ratings) — better4.2 (25 ratings)
Positive reviews46.4% of reviews — better20.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1.8K — better25
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size217 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLiveBird Technologies Private LimitedNAOAKI SEKIGUCHI

Customer experience

PDF Export

All ratings1,727 ratings
Positive91.1%
Neutral3.3%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews418 reviews
Positive46.4%
Neutral5.5%
Negative48.1%

PDF Maker & Reader

All ratings25 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative16.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive20.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative60.0%

Bugs and requests

PDF Export

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes when opening certain PDF files
  • Formatting issues when converting documents to PDF
  • Inability to restore previous purchases

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved PDF splitting and merging capabilities
  • Annotation and editing tools for PDFs
  • Better integration with other productivity apps
  • Clearer pricing and feature structure
  • Enhanced user interface and navigation

PDF Maker & Reader

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

12 purchases

PDF Export

One-time12
  • 1 Fax Credit$0.99
  • Convert 5 Documents Online$0.99
  • 5 Fax Credit$3.99
Show 9 more
  • PDF Export Pro Plus$3.99
  • PDF Export Pro$3.99
  • Convert 30 Documents Online$4.99
  • 10 Fax Credit$5.99
  • 20 Fax Credit$9.99
  • Convert 70 Documents Online$9.99
  • PDF Export Full Access$12.99
  • 50 Fax Credit$19.99
  • Convert 150 Documents Online$19.99
2 purchases

PDF Maker & Reader

One-time2
  • PDF Maker & Reader Pro$1.99
  • License$3.99

Questions

Is PDF Export free?
PDF Export is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PDF Maker & Reader free?
PDF Maker & Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PDF Export or PDF Maker & Reader?
PDF Export is rated higher. PDF Export averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while PDF Maker & Reader averages 4.2 from 25 ratings.
Do PDF Export or PDF Maker & Reader have ads?
Both PDF Export and PDF Maker & Reader show ads.
Which is updated more often, PDF Export or PDF Maker & Reader?
PDF Export ships an update fortnightly, and PDF Maker & Reader every 2 months. Most recently, PDF Export was updated on October 21, 2026 and PDF Maker & Reader on October 23, 2026.

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