# PDF AI vs PDF Reader

The clearest difference is rating: PDF AI at 4.8 against PDF Reader's 4.0. PDF AI also leads on review sentiment (90% vs 50%) and ratings volume (151 vs 4). PDF Reader's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks) and monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDF AI sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days and PDF Reader sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $19.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PDF AI holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF AI has 151 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of PDF AI's written reviews are positive against 50% of PDF Reader's.

PDF AI ships an update every 3 weeks, PDF Reader every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF AI | PDF Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (151 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-ai-editor-scanner-chat/id6581489325/reviews)** | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-smart-reader/id6756703231/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **151** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **90.0% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 169 MB | 85 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yang Yang](https://appshunter.io/developer/1756128958) | [truong nguyen xuan](https://appshunter.io/developer/552933291) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF AI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-ai-editor-scanner-chat/id6581489325)

This application offers a comprehensive suite of AI-powered tools for managing PDF documents. Users can edit text and images, generate AI summaries, convert files to various formats, and securely sign documents. It prioritizes speed and privacy with local processing and encryption.

**Highlights:** Edit PDF text and images, AI-powered summaries and highlights, Annotate and collaborate on documents, Fill and e-sign forms, Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, PPT, Images, TXT, Secure offline scanning and organization

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly VIP | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly VIP | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly VIP | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly VIP | $14.99 | per month |
| Yearly VIP | $59.99 | per year |


### PDF Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-smart-reader/id6756703231)

This app is a fast and lightweight document viewer for PDF, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. It offers smart file management, offline access, and easy sharing, making it ideal for students and professionals. Enjoy a seamless reading experience with features like search, bookmarks, and dark mode.

**Highlights:** All-in-one document viewer (PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, TXT), Smart file manager, Offline document access, Fast and smooth performance, Search and bookmarking, Dark mode support, Easy document sharing

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Subscription - 1 week | $19.99 | per 7 days |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF AI free?

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

### Is PDF Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PDF AI or PDF Reader?

PDF AI is rated higher. PDF AI averages 4.8 out of 5 from 151 ratings, while PDF Reader averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do PDF AI or PDF Reader have ads?

Both PDF AI and PDF Reader show ads.

### Which is updated more often, PDF AI or PDF Reader?

PDF AI ships an update every 3 weeks, and PDF Reader every 4 days. Most recently, PDF AI was updated on September 20, 2026 and PDF Reader on September 23, 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.*