Comparison

PDF Studio vs Docsmith

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

Head to head
About

PDF Studio

Features
Read full description

PDF Studio — your complete PDF solution for iPhone and iPad. Scan, edit, sign, convert, and manage documents with professional-grade tools, all in one app. SCAN & DIGITIZE • Intelligent document scanner with auto-edge detection • Multi-page scanning in seconds • High-quality PDF output from any paper document EDIT & ANNOTATE • Add text, images, and shapes to any PDF • Highlight, underline, and strike through text • Draw and sketch with precision tools • Reorder, rotate, and delete pages SIGN DOCUMENTS • Create and save multiple signatures • Sign contracts, forms, and agreements instantly • Professional digital signatures CONVERT ANYTHING • PNG, JPG, HEIC, WebP → PDF • PDF → PNG, JPG images • TXT ↔ PDF conversion • Batch convert multiple files COMPRESS & OPTIMIZE • Reduce PDF size up to 70% • Three compression levels: Light, Medium, Maximum • Perfect for email attachments and sharing POWERFUL TOOLS • OCR: Extract text from images and scans • Merge: Combine multiple PDFs into one • Split: Separate PDF into individual pages • Print: Direct printing to any AirPrint device ORGANIZE YOUR FILES • Create folders and organize documents • Quick search across all files • Favorites for fast access • Recent files tracking CLOUD SYNC • Automatic iCloud synchronization • Access documents on all your Apple devices • Secure cloud backup WHY PDF STUDIO? No watermarks on your documents Works offline — no internet required Privacy first — files stay on your device Clean, intuitive interface Regular updates with new features Perfect for students, professionals, and anyone who works with documents. Download PDF Studio and take control of your PDFs today! Download PDF Studio today and experience the most powerful PDF toolkit for iOS! Terms of Use: https://github.com/spiroba/pdf-studio-legal/blob/main/TERMS_OF_USE.md

About

Docsmith

Features
Read full description

Edit the text inside a PDF — right on your iPhone, with nothing sent to a server. Docsmith is a complete PDF workbench that runs 100% on your device. No account. No cloud. No ads. Your files never leave your iPhone. Reading and marking up are always free; editing, scanning and the core tools are free every day, and Pro removes all limits. EDIT PDF TEXT — FOR REAL • Tap a line, or a whole paragraph, and simply retype it • Docsmith matches the original font, size and colour • The text stays real and searchable — it is not a sticker placed on top • Works in 40 languages, including right-to-left Arabic and Hebrew SCAN & MAKE SEARCHABLE • Scan paper with the camera into a clean, sharp PDF • On-device OCR turns any scan into searchable, selectable text • Nothing is uploaded — the recognition happens entirely on your iPhone SIGN & FILL • Draw, type or photograph your signature • Your signature is stored only in your Keychain, never on a server • Fill in forms and flatten them when you are done 20+ TOOLS IN ONE PLACE • Merge several PDFs, or split one apart • Compress to shrink file size • Convert PDF to images, or pull out the text and images • Add page numbers or Bates numbering • Redact sensitive areas, then flatten to bake them in • Add a watermark • Set or remove a password • Compare two PDFs side by side • Run the same tool across many files at once ANNOTATE & REVIEW • Highlight, underline and strike through • Draw with ink, add free text, sticky notes, shapes, images and stamps PRIVATE BY DESIGN • 100% on-device — no servers, no account, no tracking, no ads • Docsmith collects nothing; your documents stay yours • Lock the app behind Face ID • Seal a finished PDF, then let anyone verify it has not been changed FREE & PRO Free every day: • Read and annotate as much as you like • Edit PDF text, sign documents and scan pages within a generous daily allowance • One free run of each core tool (merge, split, compress, convert and more) per day Docsmith Pro unlocks: • Unlimited text editing — rewrite any line or paragraph, as often as you want • Unlimited runs of every tool, with all daily limits removed • OCR to make scans searchable • Batch the same tool across many files • Redaction, passwords, watermarks, Bates numbering and flattened copies • The full annotation kit: shapes and stamps • Unlimited signing and scanning WORKS WITH THE SYSTEM • Shortcuts and Siri: merge or compress from an automation • Home-screen widgets for one-tap scan and import • Open PDFs straight from Files, Mail or any share sheet No account. No cloud. No ads. Just a fast, private PDF workbench. — Docsmith Pro is offered as a weekly, monthly or yearly subscription; the yearly plan begins with a 7-day free trial. Payment is charged to your Apple Account. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the current period ends; manage or cancel any time in Settings. Terms of Use: https://sites.google.com/view/docsmith/terms Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/docsmith/privacy

Screenshots

PDF Studio4 screens
Docsmith4 screens

Verdict

The call

PDF Studio and Docsmith are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. PDF Studio sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per 7 days and Docsmith sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDF Studio ships an update every 2 weeks, Docsmith fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
PDF Studio versus Docsmith: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF StudioDocsmith
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBoris SpiroSerhii Tykhonenko

In-app purchases

3 purchases

PDF Studio

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Premium$2.497 Days
  • Monthly Premium$4.991 Month
  • Annual Premium$29.991 Year
3 purchases

Docsmith

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Yearly Offer$24.991 Year
  • Yearly3 Days trial$34.991 Year

Questions

Is PDF Studio free?
PDF Studio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Docsmith free?
Docsmith is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PDF Studio or Docsmith have ads?
Neither PDF Studio nor Docsmith shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PDF Studio or Docsmith?
PDF Studio ships an update every 2 weeks, and Docsmith fortnightly. Most recently, PDF Studio was updated on October 18, 2026 and Docsmith on October 10, 2026.

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