PDF Reader vs Box
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PDF Reader
This app offers a streamlined way to manage PDF documents on your iPhone. It allows you to read, edit, merge, compress, and secure your files directly on your device, with no cloud syncing or account required. Advanced features like OCR and password protection are available.
- Read PDFs with zoom and night mode
- Sign and annotate documents
- Merge and split PDF files
- Compress and encrypt PDFs
- OCR for searchable text
- Share via system share sheet
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The cleanest way to read, organize, and edit PDFs on iPhone. No bloat, no sign-up, no manual sync — open a file and go. Whether you are reviewing a contract, signing a form, scanning a receipt, or merging reports, PDF Reader keeps every document fast, private, and right where you need it. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Read in full screen with night mode, continuous or page scroll, and pinch-to-zoom • Search instantly across long documents • Sign and annotate — add your signature, notes, and markup • Merge several PDFs into one clean document • Split a long PDF at the exact pages you choose • Compress files to shrink them for email or messaging • Encrypt PDFs with a password so only the right people can open them • Run OCR to turn scanned, image-only PDFs into searchable text • Share to Mail, Messages, AirDrop, or Files via the system share sheet • Jump back into recent files with a single tap WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT Everything happens on your device. Your PDFs are never uploaded to a server and never analyzed by us — you stay in full control. The interface is simple enough to use in seconds, yet powerful enough for real work. No accounts, no clutter, no learning curve. PDF READER PRO Upgrade to Pro for the full toolkit: • Unlimited operations every month • Higher-quality OCR (3.5× resolution) for sharper accuracy on small fonts • Higher-quality compression that preserves more detail • No ads • Priority support Pro is available as an affordable weekly plan or a yearly plan that includes a 3-day free trial — plus a one-time Lifetime option. Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions. Download PDF Reader and turn your iPhone into a complete PDF studio today. Privacy policy: https://sites.google.com/view/pdfreadersimple/ana-sayfa Terms of service: https://sites.google.com/view/pdfreadersimple/ana-sayfa
Box
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Capture it first. AI sorts it. Don't think. Just drop it in. Notes go to Note. To-dos go to Do. Groceries go to Buy. All on your device. Box is a native app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. ■ AI SORT (Apple Intelligence) Everything you add from the input bar or a shortcut is sorted automatically into Notes, To-dos, and your shopping list. ・Groceries are split into separate items in Buy ・Tasks with a date go to Do ・Notes that run several lines go to Note ・Ideas and links stay in Box Not quite right? Send it back to Box with one tap. Turn off AI SORT in the input bar to keep things in Box. Type "Add a project called Garden" to create a project or a Do list. Sorting happens entirely on your device. Nothing you write is sent anywhere. * AI SORT requires a device that supports Apple Intelligence. ■ Box, Note, Do ・Box Save thoughts, links, photos, and files. AI SORT does the sorting. ・Note For anything worth more than a line. Every edit is kept in history, so you can always go back. ・Do Today, List, and Buy are ready from the start. Add the lists you need as you go. Inside the app, Inbox is simply "Box" and ToDo is "Do." It's a tool you reach for every day, so the names stay light. ■ Made for the big screen on Mac Widen the window to see Box, Note, and Do in three columns. ⌘-click to show just the columns you want. ■ What it does ・iPhone, iPad, and Mac (native SwiftUI) ・Private sync over iCloud ・Quick save from the share sheet (iPhone, iPad) ・Quick save from anywhere (Mac / keyboard shortcut) ・Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets ・A focus timer with Live Activity ・Projects, tags, and attachments ・A Trash that keeps items for 30 days ■ Free to start The free version holds up to 10 items across Box, Note, and Do. Every feature is there to try, including AI SORT. Box Pro (one-time purchase) ・Unlimited items ・Change the app icon ・Includes Box Pro features added in the future There is no subscription. Buy it once, and it stays yours. ■ About your data Your data lives only in your own private iCloud. AI SORT runs entirely on your device, too. No account to create. No ads. No analytics. No tracking. Purchases are handled by Apple, so the developer never sees your data or payment details.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Box at none against PDF Reader's shown. Box also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and device support (3 vs 1). PDF Reader's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. PDF Reader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Box sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
PDF Reader ships an update every 3 weeks, Box weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PDF Reader | Box |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ahmet Bostancklioglu | BOX LLC (Japan) |
In-app purchases
PDF Reader
- Pro Weekly$4.997 Days
- Pro Annual3 Days trial$19.991 Year
- Pro Lifetime$39.99
Box
- Box Pro$5.99









