# PDF Tools vs Bold

The clearest difference is rating: PDF Tools at 5.0 against Bold's 4.7. PDF Tools also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.6). Bold's advantage is ratings volume (59 vs 9). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDF Tools sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Bold sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PDF Tools holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bold has 59 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two.

PDF Tools ships an update weekly, Bold every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Tools | Bold |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-tools-read-and-edit/id6745811413/reviews)** | [4.7 (59 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bold-ai-meeting-note-taker/id6745902872/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **59** |
| Positive reviews | — | 94.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 96 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Shilong Lu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1185413008) | [Bold Notes](https://appshunter.io/developer/1814407559) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### Bold

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bold-ai-meeting-note-taker/id6745902872)

This AI-powered recorder captures meetings, lectures, and thoughts, transforming them into organized summaries and transcriptions. Share your notes and audio easily via web links or other platforms. It's designed for students, professionals, and anyone who needs to stay organized.

**Highlights:** AI-powered recording and transcription, Automatic smart summaries, Multi-speaker detection, Organize and search notes, Secure web sharing, Background recording

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bold Notes Monthly Pro | $12.99 | per month |
| Bold Notes Yearly Pro | $89.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Functional and great design
- 🚀 Precise and efficient
- 🚀 Keeps user in the moment during meetings
- 🚀 Saves time by providing summaries and action items


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Tools free?

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

### Is Bold free?

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

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

PDF Tools is rated higher. PDF Tools averages 5.0 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Bold averages 4.7 from 59 ratings.

### Do PDF Tools or Bold have ads?

Both PDF Tools and Bold show ads.

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

PDF Tools ships an update weekly, and Bold every 6 days. Most recently, PDF Tools was updated on September 19, 2026 and Bold on October 11, 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.*