PDF Reader vs Docsmith
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
Docsmith
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Edit the text inside a PDF — right on your iPhone, with nothing sent to a server. Docsmith is a complete PDF workbench that runs 100% on your device. No account. No cloud. No ads. Your files never leave your iPhone. Reading and marking up are always free; editing, scanning and the core tools are free every day, and Pro removes all limits. EDIT PDF TEXT — FOR REAL • Tap a line, or a whole paragraph, and simply retype it • Docsmith matches the original font, size and colour • The text stays real and searchable — it is not a sticker placed on top • Works in 40 languages, including right-to-left Arabic and Hebrew SCAN & MAKE SEARCHABLE • Scan paper with the camera into a clean, sharp PDF • On-device OCR turns any scan into searchable, selectable text • Nothing is uploaded — the recognition happens entirely on your iPhone SIGN & FILL • Draw, type or photograph your signature • Your signature is stored only in your Keychain, never on a server • Fill in forms and flatten them when you are done 20+ TOOLS IN ONE PLACE • Merge several PDFs, or split one apart • Compress to shrink file size • Convert PDF to images, or pull out the text and images • Add page numbers or Bates numbering • Redact sensitive areas, then flatten to bake them in • Add a watermark • Set or remove a password • Compare two PDFs side by side • Run the same tool across many files at once ANNOTATE & REVIEW • Highlight, underline and strike through • Draw with ink, add free text, sticky notes, shapes, images and stamps PRIVATE BY DESIGN • 100% on-device — no servers, no account, no tracking, no ads • Docsmith collects nothing; your documents stay yours • Lock the app behind Face ID • Seal a finished PDF, then let anyone verify it has not been changed FREE & PRO Free every day: • Read and annotate as much as you like • Edit PDF text, sign documents and scan pages within a generous daily allowance • One free run of each core tool (merge, split, compress, convert and more) per day Docsmith Pro unlocks: • Unlimited text editing — rewrite any line or paragraph, as often as you want • Unlimited runs of every tool, with all daily limits removed • OCR to make scans searchable • Batch the same tool across many files • Redaction, passwords, watermarks, Bates numbering and flattened copies • The full annotation kit: shapes and stamps • Unlimited signing and scanning WORKS WITH THE SYSTEM • Shortcuts and Siri: merge or compress from an automation • Home-screen widgets for one-tap scan and import • Open PDFs straight from Files, Mail or any share sheet No account. No cloud. No ads. Just a fast, private PDF workbench. — Docsmith Pro is offered as a weekly, monthly or yearly subscription; the yearly plan begins with a 7-day free trial. Payment is charged to your Apple Account. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the current period ends; manage or cancel any time in Settings. Terms of Use: https://sites.google.com/view/docsmith/terms Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/docsmith/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Docsmith at none against PDF Reader's shown. On price, update cadence, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. PDF Reader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Docsmith sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
PDF Reader ships an update every 3 weeks, Docsmith fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PDF Reader | Docsmith |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ahmet Bostancklioglu | Serhii Tykhonenko |
In-app purchases
PDF Reader
- Pro Weekly$4.997 Days
- Pro Annual3 Days trial$19.991 Year
- Pro Lifetime$39.99
Docsmith
- Monthly$4.991 Month
- Yearly Offer$24.991 Year
- Yearly3 Days trial$34.991 Year









