Comparison

PDF Reader vs IDB Digital CE

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

Head to head
About

PDF Reader

This app allows you to scan, read, edit, and manage PDF documents on your iPhone and iPad. Features include OCR text extraction, annotation tools, digital signatures, and file organization.

Highlights
  • Scan documents with camera
  • Convert photos to PDF
  • Extract text with OCR
  • Annotate and highlight PDFs
  • Add digital signatures
  • Merge and split PDFs
  • Password protection
Features
Read full description

PDF Reader is your all-in-one app to read, scan, edit, and manage PDF documents on iPhone and iPad. SCAN & CREATE • Scan paper documents with your camera and save them as crisp PDFs • Convert photos and images into PDF files • Extract text from scans and PDFs with OCR READ & VIEW • Smooth, fast PDF viewer with page thumbnails and search • Open PDFs from Files, email, and other apps EDIT & ANNOTATE • Highlight, draw, and add text to any PDF • Add your signature to sign documents • Rotate, delete, and reorder pages ORGANIZE YOUR TOOLS • Merge multiple PDFs into one • Split a PDF into separate files • Lock and unlock PDFs with a password • Manage files with search and a recycle bin PDF READER PREMIUM Upgrade to Premium to remove ads and unlock the full toolset: • OCR text recognition • Edit & sign without limits • Unlimited access to all PDF tools • An ad-free experience Subscription details: • PDF Reader Premium is a weekly auto-renewable subscription. • Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. • The subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. • Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. • Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ • Privacy Policy: https://goldenboat.io/policy

About

IDB Digital CE

This application streamlines the process of proving retiree and beneficiary eligibility for pension benefits. It leverages facial biometrics, liveness checks, and geo-location to securely submit a digital certificate to a blockchain, replacing a slow, paper-based system.

Highlights
  • Digital Certificate of Eligibility
  • Facial Biometric Technology
  • Liveness Check
  • Geo-location Submission
  • Secure Blockchain Storage
  • Eliminates Paper-Based Process
Features
Read full description

The current paper-based process for the IDB Certificate of Eligibility to prove a retiree's/beneficiary's eligibility for continued pension benefits caters to thousands of retirees and beneficiaries across the Americas and beyond. As it uses postal services, the process is very slow and cumbersome. The App uses facial biometric technology, liveness check, and geo-location to submit a Digital Certificate of Eligibility to a secure blockchain. Use of location makes it possible for retirees and beneficiaries in multiple countries to also use the app. All user data is stored securely either in the App or in data centres protected by IDB institutional policies. No cloud-based services are used for processing of user information. The paper-based CE will continue to be an option for retirees/beneficiaries who cannot or do not want to use the app.

Screenshots

PDF Reader4 screens
IDB Digital CE4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: IDB Digital CE at 4.8 against PDF Reader's 4.3. IDB Digital CE also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). PDF Reader's advantage is chart position (#188 vs unranked). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PDF Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. IDB Digital CE asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

IDB Digital CE holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 134 and 307 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 75% and 75% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDF Reader ships an update every 3 weeks, IDB Digital CE weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
PDF Reader versus IDB Digital CE: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF ReaderIDB Digital CE
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (134 ratings)4.8 (307 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings134307 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#188 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB345 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDuc Duong TranInter-American Development Bank

Customer experience

PDF Reader

All ratings108 ratings
Positive79.6%
Neutral4.6%
Negative15.7%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

IDB Digital CE

All ratings61 ratings
Positive91.8%
Neutral3.3%
Negative4.9%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

PDF Reader

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Weekly3 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • Premium Weekly3 Days trial$14.997 Days
None

IDB Digital CE

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PDF Reader free?
PDF Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is IDB Digital CE free?
IDB Digital CE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PDF Reader or IDB Digital CE?
IDB Digital CE is rated higher. PDF Reader averages 4.3 out of 5 from 134 ratings, while IDB Digital CE averages 4.8 from 307 ratings.
Do PDF Reader or IDB Digital CE have ads?
PDF Reader shows ads; IDB Digital CE does not.
Which is updated more often, PDF Reader or IDB Digital CE?
PDF Reader ships an update every 3 weeks, and IDB Digital CE weekly. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on November 5, 2026 and IDB Digital CE on November 1, 2026.

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