# Bamba PDF vs SmartReaderPDF

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SmartReaderPDF at none against Bamba PDF's 3. SmartReaderPDF also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 20 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bamba PDF sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. SmartReaderPDF asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bamba PDF ships an update every 20 months, SmartReaderPDF weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bamba PDF | SmartReaderPDF |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 20 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 6 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sabino Diaz](https://appshunter.io/developer/529205081) | [JOYFUL DOG (HK) CO., LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1692727619) |

## What reviewers say

### Bamba PDF

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bamba-pdf-scanner-and-editor/id6451231231)

Transform your iPhone into a private document scanner and PDF editor. Scan, sign, merge, and compress documents directly on your device without cloud uploads. Features include automatic edge detection, text recognition, and password protection.

**Highlights:** Private document scanning, Automatic edge detection, Scan multiple pages into one PDF, Searchable text recognition, PDF signing and form filling, PDF compression and password protection, Merge and organize PDFs

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium - No Ads | $1.99 | per month |
| Bamba PDF Pro – Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Bamba PDF Pro – Yearly | $29.99 | per year |


### SmartReaderPDF

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartreaderpdf/id6451301078)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bamba PDF free?

Bamba PDF is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is SmartReaderPDF free?

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

### Do Bamba PDF or SmartReaderPDF have ads?

Neither Bamba PDF nor SmartReaderPDF shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bamba PDF or SmartReaderPDF?

Bamba PDF ships an update every 20 months, and SmartReaderPDF weekly. Most recently, Bamba PDF was updated on October 30, 2026 and SmartReaderPDF on October 25, 2026.

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