# Files vs PDF Reader

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Files at 88% against PDF Reader's 47%. Files also leads on rating (4.4 vs 4.0) and iOS requirement (5.0 vs 9.0). PDF Reader's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Files sells 3 one-off in-app purchases 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.

Files holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 242 and 91 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of Files's written reviews are positive against 47% of PDF Reader's.

Files ships an update every 3 months, PDF Reader monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Files | PDF Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (242 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/files/id669786908/reviews)** | [4.0 (91 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-edit-and-storage/id889642590/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **242** | 91 |
| Positive reviews | **88.2% of reviews** | 46.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 37 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | **5.0** | 9.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Savy Soda Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/295726257) | [ABV Mobile](https://appshunter.io/developer/595885253) |

## What reviewers say

### Files

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/files/id669786908)

Manage all your documents, spreadsheets, and media on your iPhone and iPad. This app facilitates downloading, storing, editing, and transferring files across devices and cloud services. It offers seamless integration with other iOS apps for enhanced productivity.

**Highlights:** Download, store, edit, create, and transfer files, Cloud synchronization with iCloud, Support for Dropbox, Google Drive, FTP, and Wi-Fi transfer, Integrated website downloader for videos and music, Seamless integration with other iOS apps, Organize media into folders, Create documents for email and web attachments

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Large Spreadsheets | $1.99 | one-time |
| Enhanced Security | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy and intuitive user interface
- 🚀 Fast and efficient file management
- 💾 Reliable file storage and organization
- 🔗 Seamless cloud service integration (Google Drive, Dropbox, Box)
- 📤 Simple file sharing capabilities

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⚠️ Outdated iOS compatibility issues
- 🐛 Random document deletion glitch
- ❌ Non-functional Google Drive sync
- 🔴 App crashes on some occasions
- 📵 Files not displaying properly

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when launched on certain iOS versions
- Random deletion of documents without user action
- Google Drive sync fails with 'Access denied' error
- Files not displaying or downloading
- Blank screen when downloading Google Docs

**Requested features**

- iOS 11 and above compatibility update
- iPad 1 iOS 5.1.1 support
- Document signing capability
- Audio and video downloader functionality
- Music playback while using other apps


### 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 Files free?

Files 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, Files or PDF Reader?

Files is rated higher. Files averages 4.4 out of 5 from 242 ratings, while PDF Reader averages 4.0 from 91 ratings.

### Do Files or PDF Reader have ads?

Neither Files nor PDF Reader shows ads.

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

Files ships an update every 3 months, and PDF Reader monthly. Most recently, Files was updated on October 7, 2026 and PDF Reader on September 30, 2026.

---

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