Comparison

PDF Reader vs Trace

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

Head to head
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.

About

Trace

This app allows users to privately read and organize EPUB files downloaded from AO3 offline. It offers customizable reading settings, library management with personal tags and notes, and robust search and filtering capabilities for fanfiction.

Highlights
  • Offline EPUB reading
  • AO3 fanfiction organization
  • Customizable reading themes and fonts
  • Personalized library management
  • Advanced search and filtering
  • Optional cloud sync
Features
Read full description

Trace Reader is a private, unofficial reader for AO3 EPUBs. Import a story and read it comfortably offline, with the metadata and organisation fanfiction readers actually need. I built this for accessible reading tailored to offline AO3 reading because Apple Books wasn't quite enough. Choose paged or continuous scrolling, adjust the type and spacing, and read in Paper, Sepia, Night or High Contrast themes, with accessible fonts. Filter your collection with all of AO3's filters, and view your library by the things that matter for fanfiction: reading status, fandom, tags, and ships. NO AO3 LOGIN - Keep your account details private. You should never trust a third party with your AO3 login details and this app will never ask you for them. BUILD A LIBRARY THAT FEELS LIKE YOURS • Keep stories as Saved, Reading, Paused, Caught up, Finished or Dropped • Add ratings, personal tags, highlights, and notes by story, chapter or highlighted passage. • Search and filter by fandom, relationships, characters, warnings, series and more • Import individual EPUBs or choose a folder that will automatically load EPUBs once you download them from AO3. • Keep previous EPUB versions and restore one when needed NO ACCOUNT NEEDED Reading, importing and organisation work offline. Your EPUB files and story text stay on your device with no limitations on library size or organization features. TRACE SYNC IS OPTIONAL ADD ON Connect a free Trace account to sync up to 100 stories, restore library details and reading progress on a new device, and access your reading library from any browser. Trace Unlimited adds unlimited Reader sync and private reading Stats. Trace also gives you access to the Trace extension, which lets you track your online reading in the same way you track your EPUB reading, storing it all in the same online library. A subscription is never required to read, import or organise EPUBs on this device. EPUB files are not included in sync right now. Trace Reader is an independent, unofficial app. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Organization for Transformative Works or Archive of Our Own. End User License Agreement (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

PDF Reader3 screens
Trace4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PDF Reader at none against Trace's 2. Trace's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly). On price, ads, 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. Trace sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. PDF Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDF Reader ships an update weekly, Trace every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
PDF Reader versus Trace: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF ReaderTrace
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB34 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperMehmet Tark OzdemirZACHARY SAMUEL LAMBERT

In-app purchases

None

PDF Reader

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Trace

Subscriptions2
  • Trace Unlimited Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Trace Unlimited Yearly$24.991 Year

Questions

Is PDF Reader free?
PDF Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Trace free?
Trace is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PDF Reader or Trace have ads?
Neither PDF Reader nor Trace shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PDF Reader or Trace?
PDF Reader ships an update weekly, and Trace every 3 days. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on October 16, 2026 and Trace on October 25, 2026.

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