Comparison

PDF Editor vs PDF Gear

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

Head to head
About

PDF Editor

Edit, read, scan, and convert PDF documents with a comprehensive suite of tools. Annotate, draw, and sign your files with ease. This app offers offline functionality and supports collaboration.

Highlights
  • Edit and annotate PDF documents
  • Scan physical documents to PDF
  • Convert various file types to PDF
  • Convert PDF to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
  • Sign documents electronically
  • Collaborate by sharing PDF files
  • Work offline
Features
Read full description

Edit, Read, Scan, Convert, Annotate & Sign Your PDF Documents With A1 PDF EDITOR! A1 PDF EDITOR is your all-in-one PDF converter, reader and editor app. It allows you to view, scan, edit, annotate, convert, draw and sign PDFs, allowing you to handle your important documents in an easy, breezy and safe way! KEY FEATURES: → PDF EDITOR: Edit & Annotate Documents Easily: • Edit PDF, write, annotate and leave comments easily on your doc with our customizable sticky notes and intuitive drawing tools. • Highlight key passages, add text boxes for in-depth comments, and respond to existing annotations. (Apple Pencil support on iPad Pro for enhanced precision). → PDF READER: View & Read PDF Documents: • Received a document you need to view and read? Our app lets you view any type of document which is easy to read with our high quality PDF opener app. → PDF SCANNER: Scan Physical Documents: • Scan your physical documents and convert them into universally readable documents using your phone’s camera. • Our advanced scanning technology ensures your scanned PDFs look professional with automatic perspective correction, color adjustments, and intelligent cropping tools. → PDF CONVERTER: Convert to PDF from different Documents: • Word Document → PDF • Excel Spreadsheets → PDF • Presentations → PDF • Images (JPG, PNG) → PDF • Plain Text (TXT) → PDF → PDF to FILES: Convert PDF to any document easily: • PDF → Word Document • PDF → Excel Spreadsheets • PDF → Presentations → PDF SIGNATURE: Sign Documents Without Hassle: • Fill out your forms and sign without any hassle using your finger or Apple pencil. • Our electronic signature system makes sure your original signatures look just as good and accurate on your PDF documents. → SHARE & EXPORT & COLLABORATE: • Invite colleagues or clients to collaborate by effortlessly sharing PDF files via email, link, or text message. • Set permission levels for recipients, allowing them to view, edit, or sign the PDF document according to your needs. • Print, fax, or convert any doc to PDF - Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats for maximum flexibility → MORE TOOLS: • Insert Images & Draw Effortlessly • Unleash your creative side by inserting images, editing images and using our multiple PDF tools to draw and beautify your documents. Why Should You Choose A1 PDF EDITOR? • Compatible With All Apple Devices - iPhone (iOS 15.0 or later), iPad (iPadOS 15.0 or later), Mac (macOS 12.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later) • All In One PDF App - No need to download multiple apps to scan, edit, convert, or annotate docs; this one app allows you to do it all effortlessly! • Work Offline - Fluctuating internet? No need to panic! Work offline and the changes will be synced as soon as you are back online :D • Free Premium Trial - Unlock the Full Potential with a Free Trial. Experience all the premium features of A1 PDF EDITOR free for 3 days! Choose a subscription plan that best suits your needs and cancel anytime without obligation. Please note: Subscriptions are charged through your App Store account. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage your subscription through your App Store account settings after purchase. What are you waiting for? No need to download multiple PDF apps. Make your life easier with the A1 PDF EDITOR today! Terms of use - https://blog.a1apps.co/terms-of-use-a1-pdf-editor/ Privacy Policy - https://a1office.co/ios-privacy-policy/

About

PDF Gear

This app offers a comprehensive suite of tools for managing PDF documents on mobile devices. Users can easily view, annotate, edit pages, fill out forms, and digitally sign documents. It provides a free and unlimited experience for all its powerful PDF manipulation features.

Highlights
  • View and print PDFs
  • Annotate with highlights, text, and drawings
  • Organize pages (add, delete, rotate, extract)
  • Fill out forms and sign documents
  • Manage PDF files (duplicate, rename, move, share)
  • Open and save to device & iCloud
Features
Read full description

Want a well-featured and easy-to-access PDF solution for mobile use? PDFgear for iOS could achieve this! With PDFgear for iOS, users could handle their PDFs with ease, including viewing, printing, annotating, page editing, signing, etc. The abundant features will let you fill out forms, sign contracts, finish works, review documents, and make more possibilities in PDF! PDFgear for iOS provides free use for all functions without any limits like trial watermark, page count, etc. The concise design brings users a satisfying experience, and the powerful performance makes the perfect document. PDFgear will make your study and work easier to carry out PDFs! Try it on your own! View and Print PDF • Open and view PDFs with easy touch • Zoom in or out for better details • Jump to the appointed page directly • Print PDF from your phone Annotate PDF • Markup texts in PDF with highlight, underline and strike-through • Input texts with the color and font size you need • Draw shapes like rectangles, circles, lines, and arrows easily • Write on PDFs with the Ink tool, and erase the ink freely Organize Pages • Add, delete, and rotate pages supported • Extract pages from the PDF file with the aimed page range Fill out Forms & Sign PDFs • Insert text to the form at the place you need • Put common symbols like checkmarks and crossmarks in the document • Add built-in or customized stamps to the form • Sign the PDF with the signature created from image, keyboard, or drawing Manage PDFs • Manage PDF files with duplicate, rename, copy, move, share, etc. • Open and save PDFs in the device & iCloud

Screenshots

PDF Editor4 screens
PDF Gear4 screens

Verdict

The call

PDF Editor and PDF Gear both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 85% of PDF Gear's written reviews are positive against 39% of PDF Editor's. PDF Gear also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 16). PDF Editor's advantage is chart position (#35 vs unranked) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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 Editor sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. PDF Gear asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for PDF Editor against 4.7 for PDF Gear. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7.8K and 8.6K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 39% of PDF Editor's written reviews are positive against 85% of PDF Gear's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDF Editor ships an update fortnightly, PDF Gear monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
PDF Editor versus PDF Gear: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF EditorPDF Gear
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (7.8K ratings)4.7 (8.6K ratings)
Positive reviews39.0% of reviews85.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings7.8K8.6K — better
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#35 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size217 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRhophi Analytics LLPPDF GEAR TECH PTE. LTD.

Customer experience

PDF Editor

All ratings7,772 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral2.3%
Negative6.2%
Written reviews136 reviews
Positive39.0%
Neutral1.5%
Negative59.6%

PDF Gear

All ratings8,601 ratings
Positive93.6%
Neutral2.0%
Negative4.4%
Written reviews713 reviews
Positive85.1%
Neutral3.5%
Negative11.4%

User reviews

PDF Editor

From 7.8K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use interface
  • 📚 Comprehensive PDF editing tools
  • 🚀 Reliable performance

Room to improve

  • 💰 Expensive subscription model
  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🙄 Intrusive ads and feedback popups
  • 📁 Limited functionality in free version

PDF Gear

From 8.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Simplicity and reliability
  • 👍 Straightforward and easy to learn
  • 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • 👍 Excellent PDF handling capabilities
  • 🚀 Efficient and fast processing

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or corrupted files
  • 🐛 Limited functionality on iOS devices
  • 🐛 Unreliable auto-save and undo/redo features
  • 🐛 Inability to edit password-protected PDFs
  • 🐛 Annoying popups and requests for reviews

Bugs and requests

PDF Editor

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Unable to save or export PDFs
  • Editing tools not working as expected
  • Subscription issues and billing problems

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add option to delete pages
  • Improve save/export functionality
  • Introduce a one-time purchase option

PDF Gear

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes when opening certain PDF files
  • Inability to edit text in forms on iPad
  • Corrupted PDFs after repeated editing and saving

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add password protection and encryption
  • Improve undo/redo functionality
  • Enhance text editing capabilities
  • Implement better auto-save and file recovery
  • Provide more customization options
Show 1 more
  • Integrate with more cloud storage services

In-app purchases

15 purchases

PDF Editor

Subscriptions14
  • Premium Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Premium Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Premium Weekly$9.997 Days
Show 11 more
  • Pro Weekly Plan3 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • Pro Weekly Plan7 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • Pro Weekly Plan7 Days trial2 variants$11.997 Days
  • Premium Monthly3 Days trial$11.991 Month
  • Pro Weekly Plan3 Days trial$12.997 Days
  • Premium Monthly$12.991 Month
  • Premium Monthly$16.991 Month
  • Black Friday Premium Sale3 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Premium Yearly3 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Pro Yearly3 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium Lifetime$49.99
None

PDF Gear

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PDF Editor free?
PDF Editor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PDF Gear free?
PDF Gear is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PDF Editor or PDF Gear?
PDF Editor and PDF Gear are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 7.8K and 8.6K ratings respectively.
Do PDF Editor or PDF Gear have ads?
Neither PDF Editor nor PDF Gear shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PDF Editor or PDF Gear?
PDF Editor ships an update fortnightly, and PDF Gear monthly. Most recently, PDF Editor was updated on September 24, 2026 and PDF Gear on September 25, 2026.

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