# Simple PDF vs PDF Reader

The clearest difference is rating: PDF Reader at 5.0 against Simple PDF's 3.7. Simple PDF's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDF Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Simple PDF asks for nothing beyond the download.

PDF Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

Simple PDF ships an update every 3 weeks, PDF Reader every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simple PDF | PDF Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-pdf-pdf-reader/id6746363157/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-edit-and-sign/id6761097664/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 1 |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 12 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chang Keun Jung](https://appshunter.io/developer/1813307401) | [Quynh Trang Pham Doan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1880613796) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### PDF Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-edit-and-sign/id6761097664)

Easily manage your PDF files on your phone with tools for reading, editing, signing, and converting documents. Import files, use the camera, and access recent documents quickly. Convert various file types to PDF and perform essential PDF management tasks like merging and splitting.

**Highlights:** Sign documents, Add text to PDFs, Highlight and underline content, Convert Docs/Excel/Img to PDF, Merge and split PDFs, Compress and extract PDFs

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Premium | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simple PDF free?

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

### Is PDF Reader free?

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

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

PDF Reader is rated higher. Simple PDF averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while PDF Reader averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

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

PDF Reader shows ads; Simple PDF does not.

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

Simple PDF ships an update every 3 weeks, and PDF Reader every 6 weeks. Most recently, Simple PDF was updated on October 6, 2026 and PDF Reader on October 2, 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.*