# DefendMe vs PDF Tools

The clearest difference is rating: PDF Tools at 5.0 against DefendMe's 4.5. PDF Tools also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.6). DefendMe's advantage is ratings volume (80 vs 9). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DefendMe sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per 7 days and PDF Tools sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PDF Tools holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DefendMe has 80 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two.

DefendMe ships an update every 2 months, PDF Tools weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DefendMe | PDF Tools |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (80 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/defendme-ai-guard/id6742220971/reviews) | **[5.0 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-tools-read-and-edit/id6745811413/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **80** | 9 |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 64 MB | 96 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Terek Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1797484905) | [Shilong Lu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1185413008) |

## What reviewers say

### DefendMe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/defendme-ai-guard/id6742220971)

Enhance your online privacy and security with advanced web protection and ad blocking. Utilize AI assistance for real-time guidance on digital safety and performance optimization. Take control of your digital life with comprehensive tools.

**Highlights:** Web tracker and script blocking, Force HTTPS and block mining, Safari ad and pop-up blocking, Customizable ad filters, AI security and privacy assistant, Real-time guidance and insights

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Safari Extension

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| DefendMe Pro - Weekly | $8.99 | per 7 days |
| DefendMe Pro - Weekly | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| DefendMe Pro - Yearly | $49.99 | per year |


### PDF Tools

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-tools-read-and-edit/id6745811413)

Edit, convert, and manage PDF files with features like OCR scanning, electronic signatures, and file merging. This tool allows for local processing without requiring a login, ensuring privacy and security for your documents.

**Highlights:** PDF to Word/Excel/TXT conversion, OCR scanning, Electronic signature, Merge and split PDFs, File encryption, Highlight and doodle on PDFs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Permanent Member | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DefendMe free?

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

### Is PDF Tools free?

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

### Which has better reviews, DefendMe or PDF Tools?

PDF Tools is rated higher. DefendMe averages 4.5 out of 5 from 80 ratings, while PDF Tools averages 5.0 from 9 ratings.

### Do DefendMe or PDF Tools have ads?

Both DefendMe and PDF Tools show ads.

### Which is updated more often, DefendMe or PDF Tools?

DefendMe ships an update every 2 months, and PDF Tools weekly. Most recently, DefendMe was updated on October 16, 2026 and PDF Tools on September 19, 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.*