# PDF Reader vs Simple PDF

The clearest difference is rating: PDF Reader at 4.7 against Simple PDF's 3.7. PDF Reader also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (64 vs 3). Simple PDF's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

PDF Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Reader has 64 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

PDF Reader ships an update every 6 days, Simple PDF every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Reader | Simple PDF |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (64 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-viewer/id6746119431/reviews)** | [3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-pdf-pdf-reader/id6746363157/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **64** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 116 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [All About Housing LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1773925650) | [Chang Keun Jung](https://appshunter.io/developer/1813307401) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-viewer/id6746119431)

This app provides a privacy-focused way to view, organize, and manage PDF files on your device. It offers tools for merging, splitting, securing documents, and converting images to PDF, all processed locally for enhanced data safety.

**Highlights:** View and organize PDF files, Merge and split PDFs, Secure documents with passwords, Convert images to PDF, Built-in document scanner, Local data processing for privacy

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Simple PDF

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-pdf-pdf-reader/id6746363157)

This application allows users to view, annotate, and edit PDF documents with ease. Features include document management, OCR capabilities, and a built-in scanner. It's designed for students and professionals to stay productive on the go.

**Highlights:** View, annotate, and edit PDFs, Full-text search and navigation, Free-draw and text box annotation, Page reordering and PDF merging, Scan documents with built-in camera, OCR for text extraction, Home screen widget for quick access

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Reader free?

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

### Is Simple PDF free?

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

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

PDF Reader is rated higher. PDF Reader averages 4.7 out of 5 from 64 ratings, while Simple PDF averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.

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

PDF Reader shows ads; Simple PDF does not.

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

PDF Reader ships an update every 6 days, and Simple PDF every 3 weeks. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on October 3, 2026 and Simple PDF on October 6, 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.*