Comparison

Archivist Browser vs PDF Reader

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

Head to head
About

Archivist Browser

Stream millions of films, audiobooks, music, and digital texts directly from the Internet Archive. This media player offers enhanced playback, universal TV casting, and organized file management for researchers and enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • Stream films, audiobooks, music, and texts
  • Universal TV Casting (AirPlay)
  • High-resolution image viewer
  • Optimized audio with background support
  • Topic Chips for content filtering
  • Folder sharing via URL or QR code
  • On-the-fly renaming and text file cleanup
Features
Read full description

Archivist Browser: Your Portal to Digital History Archivist Browser is the ultimate media player, transforming your device into a comprehensive portal for streaming content directly from the Internet Archive's vast collections. Built specifically for researchers and enthusiasts of historical media, our app provides the fastest, most reliable way to stream millions of films, audiobooks, music and digital texts. Stop struggling with browser playback. Download Archivist Browser and experience the past, optimised for seamless, modern streaming. What the Critics Say "A really cool piece of software... I've never seen anything like this before... Highly recommend." — WILL SMITH, BRAD AND WILL MADE A TECH POD "A great idea for a very niche utility – my favourite kind these days." — FEDERICO VITICCI, MACSTORIES As featured in Cory Doctorow's Pluralistic blog. Enhanced Media Playback & Visuals Experience history in high definition with a UI designed for modern enthusiasts. Custom Themes: Personalise your experience with the new Alt Indigo Theme, a variation specifically for Dark Mode enthusiasts. Universal TV Casting: Watch films and video on your big screen! Archivist Browser supports AirPlay (on iOS) for instant, seamless video streaming to any compatible TV or streaming device. High-Res Image Viewer: Enjoy smoother navigation and better rendering when viewing high-resolution assets. Improved Subtitles: Expanded support for subtitles across more titles and languages. Optimised Audio: Enjoy full background audio support and media controls right from your lock screen, perfect for listening to historical audiobooks or music collections. Polished UI: Refined thumbnail badges offer better clarity and a more professional look. Discovery & Integration Navigate the Archive’s millions of items with ease. Topic Chips: Quickly filter and find what you want with Topic Chips now appearing on Collections. Uploader Profiles: Explore more from your favourite contributors by clicking an uploader’s name to see their full gallery. Internet Archive (IA) Integration: Seamlessly import your lists directly from your IA account for a seamless transition. Fast Content Discovery: Easily find media by title, keyword or creator, or access curated "Popular Queries" to jump straight into trending collections. File & Folder Management Organise and share your research effortlessly. Folder Sharing: Share your favourite folders with other users via URL or QR code. Smart Store Linking: If a recipient doesn’t have the app installed, shared links will automatically direct them to the store page. On-the-Fly Renaming: Keep your library organised by renaming your folders instantly. Text File Clean Up: Use a dedicated button to instantly tidy up messy OCR text files. Rapid Text Access: Cached text fetching retrieves PDFs and documents rapidly (note: cache is purged on app closure). Privacy & Reliability We prioritise your privacy: No user accounts, no mandatory login and absolutely no personal details are stored. Experience the Archive with total peace of mind.

About

PDF Reader

Features
Read full description

PDF Reader: View, Scan & Merge is your ultimate all-in-one document management solution for iOS. Easily read, scan, convert, merge, and compress PDF files directly from your iPhone or iPad with speed and privacy. Whether you need to turn physical paper documents into digital files or shrink large PDFs to send via email, this lightweight utility handles all your document tasks seamlessly. Key Features & Tools: 1. ALL PDF FILES VIEWER • Fast & smooth PDF viewer with simple navigation • Search, scroll, and zoom in/out with high clarity • Bookmark important pages for instant access • Organize, rename, and manage all your stored documents efficiently 2. HIGH-QUALITY PDF SCANNER • Scan paper documents, receipts, notes, and ID cards using your device camera • Auto-border detection and automatic perspective correction • Advanced image filters to enhance text readability and clarity 3. IMAGE TO PDF CONVERTER • Convert photos and images (JPG, PNG) into high-quality PDF files • Import multiple images from your photo library to create a single PDF • Perfect for saving receipts, bills, and visual notes 4. PDF MERGER & COMBINER • Combine multiple PDF documents into a single organized file • Reorder pages easily before merging • Streamline your workflow by keeping related documents together 5. COMPRESS & REDUCE PDF SIZE • Reduce PDF file sizes without losing essential quality • Optimize documents for faster sharing via email or cloud messaging • Save local storage space on your device Privacy & Performance First: All processing and document conversions happen locally on your device to keep your personal data private and secure. No complex cloud setups required. Download PDF Reader: View, Scan & Merge today to simplify your daily document workflow!

Screenshots

Archivist Browser4 screens
PDF Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Archivist Browser at none against PDF Reader's shown. On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Archivist Browser versus PDF Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArchivist BrowserPDF Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (63 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings63 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 days—
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size79 MB13 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperRobert LothianMalaika Danish

In-app purchases

None

Archivist Browser

No in-app purchases

None

PDF Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Archivist Browser free?
Archivist Browser is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PDF Reader free?
PDF Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Archivist Browser or PDF Reader have ads?
PDF Reader shows ads; Archivist Browser does not.

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