# PDF Reader vs PDF Scanner

PDF Reader and PDF Scanner both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 37% of PDF Reader's written reviews are positive against 0% of PDF Scanner's. PDF Reader also leads on ratings volume (665 vs 6) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 4 weeks). PDF Scanner's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDF Reader sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. PDF Scanner asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for PDF Reader against 4.8 for PDF Scanner. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Reader has 665 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 37% of PDF Reader's written reviews are positive against 0% of PDF Scanner's.

PDF Reader ships an update every 8 days, PDF Scanner every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Reader | PDF Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (665 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-editor-and-scanner/id6739480825/reviews) | **[4.8 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-scanner-file-reader/id6771282051/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **665** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **37.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 118 MB | 115 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DAOWEI NETWORK TECHNOLOGY PTE.LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1547755677) | [Fuzhou Xuanlong Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895713245) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-editor-and-scanner/id6739480825)

This app provides comprehensive PDF management, including reading, editing, and scanning. It uses AI for intelligent document recognition, summarization, and conversion to various formats. Securely store and access your files in the cloud or from popular services.

**Highlights:** AI-powered PDF editing and summarization, Intelligent document scanning with OCR, Convert between PDF and other file formats, Annotate, sign, and fill PDF forms, Cloud storage integration (Google Drive, OneDrive), Merge, split, lock, and compress PDFs

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| One Week | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| One Week | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| One Week | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| One Week | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| One Month | $12.99 | per month |
| One Year | $49.99 | per year |
| One Year | $76.99 | per year |
| One Year | $76.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |


### PDF Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-scanner-file-reader/id6771282051)

Transform your iPhone into a powerful document studio. Scan, read, edit, merge, and manage all your PDF files with this all-in-one, ultra-fast, and intuitive application. Keep your documents confidential with local processing.

**Highlights:** Intelligent document scanning, PDF reading and annotation, Drawing and easy signing, Merge and organize PDFs, Ultimate file manager, Local data privacy

**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 PDF Scanner free?

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

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

PDF Scanner is rated higher. PDF Reader averages 4.7 out of 5 from 665 ratings, while PDF Scanner averages 4.8 from 6 ratings.

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

Both PDF Reader and PDF Scanner show ads.

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

PDF Reader ships an update every 8 days, and PDF Scanner every 4 weeks. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on September 28, 2026 and PDF Scanner on October 1, 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.*