# PDF Reader vs PDF Creator

The clearest difference is rating: PDF Creator at 5.0 against PDF Reader's 4.2. PDF Creator also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). PDF Reader's advantage is ratings volume (108 vs 5) and chart position (#147 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

PDF Creator holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Reader has 108 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of PDF Reader's written reviews are positive against 100% of PDF Creator's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Reader | PDF Creator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (108 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-edit-and-ocr-scan/id6774545766/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-creator-readscan-and-sign/id6782261633/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **108** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#147** | — |
| Size | 22 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Duc Duong Tran](https://appshunter.io/developer/1580090879) | [Hardik Khanesa](https://appshunter.io/developer/1878104574) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-edit-and-ocr-scan/id6774545766)

**Currently charting:** #147 Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Weekly | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Weekly | $14.99 | per 7 days |


### PDF Creator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-creator-readscan-and-sign/id6782261633)

This app transforms your iPhone into a comprehensive PDF workstation. It allows you to create, edit, scan, convert, compress, and sign PDF documents efficiently. Designed for various users, it offers a fast, intuitive, and privacy-focused experience for all your document needs.

**Highlights:** Create PDF files from photos and scans, Edit PDF content, add text and images, High-quality document scanner, Convert various file formats to PDF, Compress PDF file sizes, Add digital signatures to documents, Organize and manage PDF pages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Reader free?

PDF Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is PDF Creator free?

PDF Creator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PDF Reader or PDF Creator?

PDF Creator is rated higher. PDF Reader averages 4.2 out of 5 from 108 ratings, while PDF Creator averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do PDF Reader or PDF Creator have ads?

PDF Reader shows ads; PDF Creator does not.

### Which is updated more often, PDF Reader or PDF Creator?

PDF Reader ships an update every 3 weeks, and PDF Creator every 3 weeks. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on October 30, 2026 and PDF Creator on October 28, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*