# PDF Reader vs PDF Scanner

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PDF Scanner at none against PDF Reader's 2. PDF Scanner also leads on ratings volume (6 vs 1). PDF Reader's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDF Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. PDF Scanner asks for nothing beyond the download.

PDF Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Scanner has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

PDF Reader ships an update every 6 weeks, PDF Scanner every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Reader | PDF Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-edit-and-sign/id6761097664/reviews)** | [4.8 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-scanner-file-reader/id6771282051/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **6** |
| Positive reviews | — | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Size | 54 MB | 115 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Quynh Trang Pham Doan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1880613796) | [Fuzhou Xuanlong Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895713245) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-edit-and-sign/id6761097664)

Easily manage your PDF files on your phone with tools for reading, editing, signing, and converting documents. Import files, use the camera, and access recent documents quickly. Convert various file types to PDF and perform essential PDF management tasks like merging and splitting.

**Highlights:** Sign documents, Add text to PDFs, Highlight and underline content, Convert Docs/Excel/Img to PDF, Merge and split PDFs, Compress and extract PDFs

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Premium | $39.99 | per year |


### PDF Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-scanner-file-reader/id6771282051)

Transform your iPhone into a powerful document studio. Scan, read, edit, merge, and manage all your PDF files with this all-in-one, ultra-fast, and intuitive application. Keep your documents confidential with local processing.

**Highlights:** Intelligent document scanning, PDF reading and annotation, Drawing and easy signing, Merge and organize PDFs, Ultimate file manager, Local data privacy

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## 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 no in-app purchases.

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

PDF Reader is rated higher. PDF Reader averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while PDF Scanner averages 4.8 from 6 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 6 weeks, and PDF Scanner every 4 weeks. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on October 2, 2026 and PDF Scanner on October 1, 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.*