# PDF Reader vs PDF Scanner

The clearest difference is rating: PDF Scanner at 4.6 against PDF Reader's 4.0. PDF Scanner also leads on review sentiment (29% vs 0%) and ratings volume (263 vs 23). PDF Reader's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDF Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days and PDF Scanner sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PDF Scanner holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Scanner has 263 ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of PDF Reader's written reviews are positive against 29% of PDF Scanner's.

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 weeks, PDF Scanner every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Reader | PDF Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-ez-read-pdf/id6752860700/reviews) | **[4.6 (263 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-scannerscan-for-documents/id6775806063/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 23 | **263** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **28.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 42 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [欣 翁](https://appshunter.io/developer/1748126630) | [Quke Technology](https://appshunter.io/developer/1880975939) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-ez-read-pdf/id6752860700)

This utility app allows users to open and manage various file formats, including PDFs, Docs, PPTs, and Excels. It offers powerful search capabilities, clear viewing options with annotation browsing, and easy sharing and printing of documents. Enjoy a high-speed, stable experience with a convenient night mode for reading in low light.

**Highlights:** Full-text PDF search, Annotation browsing, Outline support, Document sharing and printing, High-speed viewing, Night mode

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| weekly | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| yearly | $29.99 | per year |


### PDF Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-scannerscan-for-documents/id6775806063)

This app transforms your smartphone into a professional scanner with AI-powered features for document capture, OCR, and PDF conversion. It offers offline functionality, e-signature capabilities, and secure local storage for all your scanned files. Ideal for professionals and students needing to digitize and manage documents efficiently.

**Highlights:** AI HD Scanning with auto-detection, Offline multilingual OCR, Versatile PDF conversion (Image, Word, Excel, PPT), PDF Signing & Annotation, Comprehensive PDF Editing, Local offline storage, Smart image optimization

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| weekly | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| yearly | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Reader free?

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

### Is PDF Scanner free?

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

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

PDF Scanner is rated higher. PDF Reader averages 4.0 out of 5 from 23 ratings, while PDF Scanner averages 4.6 from 263 ratings.

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

Both PDF Reader and PDF Scanner show ads.

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

PDF Reader ships an update every 2 weeks, and PDF Scanner every 6 days. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on November 8, 2026 and PDF Scanner on November 7, 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.*