PDFUnlock vs Protect PDF
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side ā with what reviewers say about each.
PDFUnlock
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Unlock or password-protect any PDF ā instantly, privately, and without an internet connection. Whether you need to open a locked document or secure one before sharing, this app handles both in seconds. No accounts, no uploads, no waiting. Ā· Remove passwords from encrypted PDFs Ā· Add passwords to protect sensitive documents Ā· Works entirely on your device ā files never leave Ā· Available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac Ā· No internet connection required Your files are yours. Nothing is sent to any server ā ever. All processing happens locally, so your documents stay completely private. Try it free with your first 3 PDFs. After that, unlock unlimited use with a single one-time purchase ā no subscription, no auto-renewal, no surprises.
Protect PDF
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Protect PDF is a simple PDF security app for locking, unlocking and changing PDF passwords directly on your iPhone. Import a PDF from Files, choose the action you need and export the processed document when you are done. Your files are handled locally on your device, with no account and no upload flow. What you can do: ⢠Protect a PDF with an opening password ⢠Unlock a protected PDF when you know the current password ⢠Change an existing PDF password ⢠Generate a strong password and copy it to the clipboard ⢠Allow or block printing and text copying when protecting a file ⢠Save, share or export the processed PDF ⢠Review your recent processed files in the local history Built for private documents: Protect PDF is designed for invoices, forms, contracts, study notes, work documents and any PDF you want to share more safely. The workflow is intentionally focused: import, choose protect, unlock or change password, then save or share. All PDF tools are available in the app. An optional one-time purchase removes ads. Protect PDF does not replace legal or enterprise document management systems. Always keep your password somewhere safe, because a protected PDF cannot be opened without the correct password.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Protect PDF at 17.6 against PDFUnlock's 26.0. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
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
Both are free to download. PDFUnlock sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Protect PDF sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
| Parameter | PDFUnlock | Protect PDF |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac ā better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 17.6 ā better |
| Further details ā not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | DIEGO ALEJANDRO VILLA CARDENAS | Antonio Gonzalez de la aleja german |
In-app purchases
PDFUnlock
- PDFUnlock Unlimited$4.99
Protect PDF
- Remove Ads$2.99









