# PDF Reader vs Readium

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Readium at none against PDF Reader's 1. Readium also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDF Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Readium asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for PDF Reader against 5.0 for Readium. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 4 respectively.

PDF Reader ships an update every 3 weeks, Readium weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Reader | Readium |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-text-to-speech/id6739147199/reviews) | [5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readium-text-to-speech-pdf/id6798495748/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **4** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 9 MB | 109 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.1 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Morgan Zellers](https://appshunter.io/developer/1651985906) | [Raquib Ul Alam](https://appshunter.io/developer/6798495750) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-text-to-speech/id6739147199)

Transform PDF documents into natural-sounding audio. Listen to reports, academic papers, or any text while on the go, exercising, or multitasking. Enjoy customizable voices and a distraction-free interface to maximize your reading time.

**Highlights:** PDF to audio conversion, Local text-to-speech with natural voices, Customizable voice selection, Playback controls, English language with accent options, Distraction-free interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime | $4.99 | one-time |


### Readium

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readium-text-to-speech-pdf/id6798495748)

Transform any text document, PDF, or web article into a natural-sounding audiobook. Follow along with highlighted words in real-time for improved focus and recall. Offers lifelike AI voices and offline playback for a private, distraction-free reading experience.

**Highlights:** Text-to-speech audiobook conversion, Real-time word highlighting, Lifelike AI and offline voices, Distraction-free reader with themes, Background playback with lockscreen controls, Supports EPUB, PDF, MOBI, and web articles, Adjustable playback speed

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Reader free?

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

### Is Readium free?

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

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

PDF Reader and Readium are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 4 ratings respectively.

### Do PDF Reader or Readium have ads?

Neither PDF Reader nor Readium shows ads.

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

PDF Reader ships an update every 3 weeks, and Readium weekly. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on October 30, 2026 and Readium on October 31, 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.*