# Scanner vs PDF Reader

The clearest difference is rating: Scanner at 4.6 against PDF Reader's 4.0. PDF Reader's advantage is monetization model (freemium vs subscription) and update cadence (monthly vs every 8 months). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Scanner sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and PDF Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scanner holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 267 and 91 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of Scanner's written reviews are positive against 47% of PDF Reader's.

Scanner ships an update every 8 months, PDF Reader monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Scanner | PDF Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (267 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scanner/id668230227/reviews)** | [4.0 (91 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-edit-and-storage/id889642590/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **267** | 91 |
| Positive reviews | **54.5% of reviews** | 46.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 103 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TapMedia Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/359632753) | [ABV Mobile](https://appshunter.io/developer/595885253) |

## What reviewers say

### Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scanner/id668230227)

Transform your mobile device into a powerful scanner. Easily capture documents, notes, and receipts, converting them into high-quality PDF files. Features include automatic border detection, advanced image processing, and OCR for text recognition.

**Highlights:** High-resolution scanning, Advanced image processing, Automatic border detection, OCR scanned documents, Batch scanning, Share as PDF or images, Upload to cloud storage

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TapMedia PRO - 1 Month | $4.99 | per month |
| Upgrade | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Saves documents as PDF
- 👍 Scans multiple pages at once
- 👍 No subscription fees
- 👍 Fast scanning
- 👍 Useful for business

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 Scans can be stretched or rotated incorrectly
- 🐛 Unstable on older iOS versions
- 🐛 Free version has limitations (though some users dispute this)
- 🐛 App closes immediately after opening

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when trying to save to a folder
- App crashes when trying to scan a barcode
- App crashes frequently
- App closes immediately after opening
- Glitchy after last update

**Requested features**

- Allow moving scans to specific folders
- Option to send multiple files in one email


### PDF Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-edit-and-storage/id889642590)

Easily view, edit, search, and annotate PDF documents. This software helps manage your daily work needs by supporting multiple document formats and offering convenient sharing and printing options.

**Highlights:** View PDF documents, Text search within PDFs, Annotate documents, Document management, Support multiple formats, Share and print PDFs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly VIP | $1.99 | per month |
| Annual VIP | $14.49 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Scanner free?

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, Scanner or PDF Reader?

Scanner is rated higher. Scanner averages 4.6 out of 5 from 267 ratings, while PDF Reader averages 4.0 from 91 ratings.

### Do Scanner or PDF Reader have ads?

Neither Scanner nor PDF Reader shows ads.

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

Scanner ships an update every 8 months, and PDF Reader monthly. Most recently, Scanner was updated on October 13, 2026 and PDF Reader on September 30, 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.*