Comparison

iPDF local vs Studio PDF

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ€” with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

iPDF local

Features
Read full description

Edit and sign PDFs directly on your iPhone, iPad or Mac with Apple silicon. Scan documents using the camera on your iPhone or iPad. iPDF local is your private PDF workspace for everyday document tasks. Open PDFs, add text, highlight content, draw, manage pages or scan documents with a modern interface and without unnecessary cloud dependency. EDIT PDFs WITH EASE โ€ข Add text and edit your own text objects โ€ข Draw with a pen or highlight content โ€ข Add circles, rectangles and stamps โ€ข Adjust color, opacity, background and line width โ€ข Move, rotate, resize or delete objects โ€ข Rotate, reorder, add and remove PDF pages โ€ข Create new PDFs โ€ข Scan documents with the camera on supported iPhones and iPads โ€ข Export and share PDFs PRIVATE AND LOCAL The local PDF editor does not require an account with us. Documents and drafts are stored locally. You decide when to export them or process them with a server you configured yourself. No unnecessary cloud. No data collection by iPDF local. Your documents stay under your control. PRO FOR POWERFUL WORKFLOWS With Pro, iPDF local also becomes a powerful frontend for your own document infrastructure. STIRLING PDF Connect your own Stirling PDF server for advanced tools including: โ€ข Merge and split PDFs โ€ข Compress files โ€ข OCR โ€ข Crop and rotate pages โ€ข Protect PDFs โ€ข Add watermarks โ€ข Convert documents โ€ข Sanitize PDFs โ€ข And more Stirling PDF tools NEXTCLOUD Browse files in your private Nextcloud, open documents directly in iPDF local and return finished files to your own workflow. PAPERLESS-NGX Search your Paperless-ngx archive, open documents in iPDF local and send finished documents back to your document system. FOR EVERYONE โ€” AND POWER USERS You do not need your own server to use iPDF local as a PDF editor. But if you already use Stirling PDF, Nextcloud or Paperless-ngx, iPDF local grows into an exceptionally powerful mobile document workflow. Start for free. Basic includes local editing, page controls and single-page scans. Pro adds handwritten signatures, editable sharing, multi-page scans, non-PDF imports and server integrations. Conversions and server tools require the corresponding service you configure. Unlock Pro Lifetime once โ€” no new subscription required. The current price for your region is shown before purchase. The editor adds PDF content; it does not reconstruct existing PDF body text. Handwritten signatures are not qualified digital signatures. iPDF local is an independent app and is not affiliated with Stirling PDF, Nextcloud or Paperless-ngx.

About

Studio PDF

Features
Read full description

Studio PDF: A powerful toolbox, right in your pocket. Studio PDF is the ideal tool for handling your documents with ease and security. Unlike online alternatives, our app processes all your files locally on your iPhone. Your documents never leave your device: no servers, no cloud, total privacy. Why choose Studio PDF? Experience absolute privacy with no account required and zero data collection. Our native interface is designed specifically for iOS to ensure smooth performance, even with heavy documents. You get essential tools in one secure and elegant location. Your essential tools: Our page organizer allows you to reorder, rotate, or delete pages instantly with a single gesture. You can also merge multiple PDF files into one clean and structured document. For your security, add strong passwords to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access. Upgrade to the Pro version for unlimited access to merging and protection features, and enjoy a premium experience.

Screenshots

iPDF local4 screens
Studio PDF4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Studio PDF at every 3 days against iPDF local's every 3 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. iPDF local sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Studio PDF sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iPDF local ships an update every 3 months, Studio PDF every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference ยท 5 level
iPDF local versus Studio PDF: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriPDF localStudio PDF
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 days โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad โ€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.617.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size28 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThomas RhodeSimon DECAESTECKER

In-app purchases

4 purchases

iPDF local

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly$0.997 Days
  • Monthly Plan$2.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription$17.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Purchase$8.99
1 purchases

Studio PDF

One-time1
  • Studio PDF Pro - Lifetime$3.99

Questions

Is iPDF local free?
iPDF local is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Studio PDF free?
Studio PDF is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do iPDF local or Studio PDF have ads?
Neither iPDF local nor Studio PDF shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iPDF local or Studio PDF?
iPDF local ships an update every 3 months, and Studio PDF every 3 days. Most recently, iPDF local was updated on October 3, 2026 and Studio PDF on October 8, 2026.

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