# PDF Scanner vs PDF Reader

The clearest difference is rating: PDF Scanner at 5.0 against PDF Reader's 4.0. PDF Scanner also leads on review sentiment (90% vs 50%). 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, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDF Scanner sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 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 Scanner holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of PDF Scanner's written reviews are positive against 50% of PDF Reader's.

PDF Scanner ships an update every 3 weeks, PDF Reader every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Scanner | PDF Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-scanner-document-camera/id6654918235/reviews)** | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-smart-reader/id6756703231/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **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 | 52 MB | 85 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vishal Dave](https://appshunter.io/developer/1764280012) | [truong nguyen xuan](https://appshunter.io/developer/552933291) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-scanner-document-camera/id6654918235)

Transform your device into a powerful document scanner. Capture, convert, and edit documents, receipts, and notes into high-quality PDFs. Recognize text with OCR, sign documents digitally, and share them securely.

**Highlights:** HD Document Scanning, OCR Text Recognition, Photo to PDF Converter, PDF Editing Tools, Digital Signatures, Secure Offline Storage, Easy Sharing

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade to Premium | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Upgrade to Premium | $1.99 | per month |
| Upgrade to Premium | $14.99 | per year |
| Life Time Access | $29.99 | one-time |


### 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 Scanner free?

PDF Scanner 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 Scanner or PDF Reader?

PDF Scanner is rated higher. PDF Scanner averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while PDF Reader averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.

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

Both PDF Scanner and PDF Reader show ads.

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

PDF Scanner ships an update every 3 weeks, and PDF Reader every 4 days. Most recently, PDF Scanner was updated on September 13, 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.*