# PDF Reader vs PDF Scanner & Simple Reader

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PDF Reader at none against PDF Scanner & Simple Reader's 2. PDF Scanner & Simple Reader's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDF Scanner & Simple Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. PDF Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, PDF Scanner & Simple Reader every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on August 26, 2026 and August 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Reader | PDF Scanner & Simple Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 13 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cuong Kieu Van](https://appshunter.io/developer/1816110113) | [KunWoo Kwon](https://appshunter.io/developer/1603506815) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-convert-and-edit/id6752774269)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### PDF Scanner & Simple Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-scanner-and-simple-reader/id6753705461)

Transform paper documents into searchable PDFs using your device's camera. Read, bookmark, and organize your scanned files offline with a simple, intuitive interface. Offers tools for page extraction and merging for efficient document management.

**Highlights:** Document scanning to PDF, Simple PDF reader with zoom, Continue reading from last page, Bookmark important pages, Offline PDF access, Extract and merge PDF pages

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| remove ads (one month) | $0.99 | per month |
| remove ads (life time) | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Reader free?

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

### Is PDF Scanner & Simple Reader free?

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

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

PDF Reader shows ads; PDF Scanner & Simple Reader does not.

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

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, and PDF Scanner & Simple Reader every 5 days. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on August 26, 2026 and PDF Scanner & Simple Reader on August 10, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*