Comparison

ZRead 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

ZRead

A versatile reader for ebooks, PDFs, and comics. Supports numerous file formats including EPUB, MOBI, and CBZ. Offers a clean reading experience with privacy in mind.

Highlights
  • EPUB, PDF, TXT, FB2, MOBI, AZW support
  • CBZ, CBR, CB7 comic format support
  • Custom source integration
  • Privacy-focused design
  • Clean reading interface
Features
Read full description

Read ebooks, PDFs, and comics with ZRead. ZRead supports EPUB, PDF, TXT, FB2, MOBI, AZW, and comic formats including CBZ, CBR, and CB7. Privacy: https://zread.app/privacy Terms: https://zread.app/terms

About

PDF Reader

Features
Read full description

PDF Reader — your clean, distraction-free companion for reading and annotating PDF documents on iPhone and iPad. Whether you're studying, reviewing contracts, or reading books, PDF Reader gives you the tools to engage with your documents — not just scroll through them. POWERFUL ANNOTATIONS - Highlight text in 6 colors — yellow, green, blue, orange, purple, and teal - Add notes anywhere on the page, with or without a text selection - Drop bookmarks to mark important pages instantly - Tap any annotation to view, edit, or delete it SMART LIBRARY - All your PDFs in one organized library - Automatic cover thumbnails generated from each document - See your last reading position at a glance - Swipe to remove documents you no longer need CLEAN READING EXPERIENCE - Smooth page-by-page navigation with swipe gestures - Full dark mode support — easy on the eyes at night - Remembers exactly where you left off in every document - Fast loading even for large PDF files PRIVATE BY DESIGN - All documents and annotations are stored locally on your device - No account required, no sign-in, no cloud uploads - Your reading data never leaves your phone BUILT FOR iOS - Optimized for iPhone and iPad - Supports iOS safe areas and dynamic text sizes - Available in English and Turkish PDF Reader is perfect for students, professionals, and anyone who works with documents every day.

Screenshots

ZRead4 screens
PDF Reader3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PDF Reader at none against ZRead's 4. PDF Reader also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17). On price, update cadence, ads 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. ZRead sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. PDF Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ZRead ships an update every 9 days, PDF Reader weekly. The most recent releases landed on July 9, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
ZRead versus PDF Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZReadPDF Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS1715.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer光泽 赖Mehmet Tark Ozdemir

In-app purchases

4 purchases

ZRead

Subscriptions2
  • ZRead Pro Monthly$0.991 Month
  • ZRead Pro Yearly$6.991 Year
One-time2
  • Founding Member$6.99
  • ZRead Pro Lifetime$12.99
None

PDF Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ZRead free?
ZRead is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PDF Reader free?
PDF Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ZRead or PDF Reader have ads?
Neither ZRead nor PDF Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ZRead or PDF Reader?
ZRead ships an update every 9 days, and PDF Reader weekly. Most recently, ZRead was updated on July 9, 2026 and PDF Reader on September 17, 2026.

Other comparisons