Comparison

PDF Reader vs PDF Flow

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

Head to head
About

PDF Reader

Features
Read full description

PDF Reader: Convert & Edit is your all-in-one solution for managing PDF files on iPhone and iPad. Easily read, convert, edit, merge, split, compress, and sign PDF documents with powerful tools designed for productivity. - Key Features Read PDFs smoothly, even large files. Convert documents to PDF and export with ease. Edit text, highlight, and annotate PDFs. Sign and draw PDF forms quickly. Merge or split PDF files in seconds. Compress PDFs to save storage and share faster. Organize & share documents via email. - Why Choose Us? Fast and intuitive interface. Professional tools in one app. Secure, private, and reliable. - Download now and make PDF management simple, fast, and effective!

About

PDF Flow

This app is an offline PDF tool for creating, viewing, editing, and organizing PDF documents directly on your device. Generate PDFs from photos or text, edit pages, compress files, and manage your local library without needing an account or uploading your data.

Highlights
  • Create PDFs from photos, text, or blank pages
  • Edit PDF pages, insert or remove pages
  • Compress PDFs with adjustable strength
  • Organize files with categories and favorites
  • Offline file management and editing
  • Import and export via Files app and share sheet
Features
Read full description

PDF Flow is your private offline PDF tool for viewing, creating, editing and storing PDFs on your phone. Generate PDFs from photos, text or blank pages, edit pages in a clear reader view, and save all files on your device. Create PDF files - Merge selected photos into one PDF - Type text and export clean PDF documents - Create blank PDFs with custom page numbers - Import PDFs and images from the Files app Read & edit PDF pages - Read documents continuously, navigate quickly with page thumbnails - Zoom in/out for clearer reading - Insert blank pages or add photo pages - Duplicate pages or remove unwanted ones - Modify single pages while keeping your original file intact Compress & share PDFs - Select compression strength to fit your needs - Preview estimated file size before compression - Save a copy of your original document if needed - Export or share PDFs through iOS native share sheet Manage your local file library - Sort files by name, date or file size - Use categories and favorites to filter your documents - Search filenames and view recent searches - Restore deleted files or erase them forever - Clear temporary cache and thumbnails without deleting PDFs All PDF editing, reading, compression and file management happens directly on your iPhone.  PDF Flow needs no account and will never upload your files to outside servers. Your documents only leave the app when you actively share them via iOS share functions. Feature performance varies based on file content, format, device hardware and iOS system version.

Screenshots

PDF Reader4 screens
PDF Flow4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: PDF Flow at every 3 weeks against PDF Reader's every 2 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, PDF Flow every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 10, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
PDF Reader versus PDF Flow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF ReaderPDF Flow
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Ad-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.616.6
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB75 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCuong Kieu VanFuzhou Qingyue Network Technology Co., Ltd.

In-app purchases

None

PDF Reader

No in-app purchases

None

PDF Flow

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PDF Reader free?
PDF Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PDF Flow free?
PDF Flow is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do PDF Reader or PDF Flow have ads?
Both PDF Reader and PDF Flow show ads.
Which is updated more often, PDF Reader or PDF Flow?
PDF Reader ships an update every 2 months, and PDF Flow every 3 weeks. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on October 10, 2026 and PDF Flow on October 10, 2026.

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