Comparison

PDF Connect Free vs Smart PDF Document Scanner

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

Head to head
About

PDF Connect Free

This app provides a comprehensive suite of tools for managing PDF documents. It allows users to view, edit, scan, convert, and fill out PDF forms. Seamless cloud integration and annotation features enhance productivity on the go.

Highlights
  • Fast document rendering
  • PDF editing and scanning
  • PDF conversion
  • PDF form-filling and signing
  • Page rearrangement and insertion
  • Cloud storage integration
  • Annotation tools
Features
Read full description

PDF Connect is the front-runner in document solutions with innovative and groundbreaking features: fast document rendering speed for large files, editing, scanning, PDF conversion, PDF form-filling, add/delete/rearrange pages in PDFs, cloud support…you name it! PDF Connect has played an instrumental role in helping businesses in a variety of industries, schools, and nonprofits succeed. Our signature editing package makes document works on the road a child’s play; the PDF conversion tool allows quicker file transfers; PDF scanner preserves all the scattered information; PDF form filling and signing helps you close deals in an instant. Ready to have seamless experiences across all your devices? Pay once and install PDF Connect in your iPhone, iPad, iPad Pro and iPhone 6 / 7 Plus and iPod! PDF Connect stipulates a high benchmark in the business app with: + iOS 10 Compatibility + Universal App + Strong rendering engine stands ready to tackle large files over 100mb + Covert and organize various file formats* into PDFs + Fill and sign PDF Forms + Support hyperlinks, dictionary, Wikipedia search in PDFs + Rearrange pages and insert templates in PDFs under the thumbnail mode + Back up files in iCloud, GoogleDrive, Dropbox, Sugarsync, Box, OneDrive,Evernote, FTP and WebDAV + Multilingual User Interface: French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Simplified/ Traditional Mandarin + Recognized as Apple’s "iPhone App for Business" and highly regarded by Macworld, AppCreaver, AppGoneFree and iPhoneAppsPlus As a top rated paid app in Business category, PDF Connect offers a complete package of document solutions including: [Scanner: Capture Valuable Information] -Scan and convert to encrypted PDFs -Scan Adjustments: Cropping and brightness -Customize scan project: Page number, layout and margin [File Transfer: Access files on the go] -Send, receive, and manage email attachments -Sync files with Apple’s iCloud across different devices -Access files via Wi-Fi, USB, GoogleDrive, Dropbox, Sugarsync, Box, OneDrive,Evernote -Enhance workplace collaboration by FTP and WebDAV client support -Support multi-account manager across different cloud services -Support GoogleDocs online editing -Download web content from browser/URL [Annotation: Extract Knowledge from PDFs] -Fill, sign, and share PDF forms -Manage and store signature -Highlight, underline, strikeout, and squiggly text -Annotation tools: lines, arrows, circles, squares, freehand draw, text boxes, sticky notes and stamps -Flatten PDFs to retain all annotations [Page Edit: Customize Your PDFs] -Rearrange page orders -Insert several templates: Blanks, line, square and music paper [PDF Reader: The Solution to All Your PDF Needs] - PDF converter (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Web Pages, Pages, Numbers, Keynote and other*) -Document Management -View in bookmark, outline and thumbnail -Level up reading experience with Auto Scroll and Text Reflow -Private Folder -Air Print & Air Play -VGA Out (for iPad only) *Various file types supported: -MS Office documents -image files (png, jpg, thm, jpeg, tif, tiff, gif, bmp) -audio files (aiff, aifc, wav, mp3) -video files (mov, mp4, mpv) -iWork files (key, pages, numbers) -Comic files (cbr, cbz,ePub) -HTML files and Safari web archives -Others Note: To maximize reading experience and file rendering, we strongly suggest updating to iOS 9 or later. Constant improvement is our promise to you. Reach out to us at service@buildtoconnect.com for questions and comments.

About

Smart PDF Document Scanner

Transform your phone into a powerful document scanner. Capture, enhance, and organize your important papers with tack-sharp scans and a color-coded tagging system. Easily share PDFs for business or personal use.

Highlights
  • Tack-sharp document scanning
  • Automatic edge detection and perspective correction
  • Color, grayscale, and black-and-white scan options
  • FlashAssist for low-light scanning
  • Color-coded tagging system for organization
  • Quickly scan and share PDFs
Features
Read full description

Ditch the bulky office copier! Smart PDF Document Scanner is the ultimate free scanner app that turns your phone or iPad into a portable digitizing tool. Just snap a photo of your document, and get a high-quality pdf scan you can instantly send to your colleagues, clients, or keep for your personal records. TACK SHARP SCANS That processor in your phone is quite a little monster. Smart Scanner uses it fully to make the best possible scans. Even full-page articles come out tack-sharp and easy to read. It automatically detects the page edges and corrects for perspective. Pick full-color scans, grayscale, or black-and-white for maximum legibility. FlashAssist can take perfect scans even in poor lighting conditions. You can even change the correction and enhancement settings after the fact. POWERFUL COLOR-CODED ORGANIZATION Scanning is just half the problem. You need a good way to keep all your documents organized, and easy to find later. Smart Scanner uses a simple tagging system that is much easier and more powerful than the regular folder system. File documents under custom color-coded categories with just a couple taps. Browse and sort files by category with a couple more. It's the way filing should work. FOR ALL YOUR SCANNING NEEDS + Quickly scan and send contracts and forms + Keep scans of important documents in your pocket, separate form the Photo Library + Scan all your travel receipts for easy expense reports + Keep digital copies of your notes and sketches + Scan articles to read later + And more! TIPS AND TRICKS Here are a few tips to get the best scans: + Place your document on a darker surface to improve the edge auto-detection. + You can drag the corners of the blue rectangle to fine tune it after taking a photo. + Make sure there is adequate lighting. Use the flash in low-light conditions. + You can tap on a page to edit its scan settings (including edges) after the fact.

Screenshots

PDF Connect Free4 screens
Smart PDF Document Scanner4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: PDF Connect Free at none against Smart PDF Document Scanner's shown. PDF Connect Free also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (374 vs 10). Smart PDF Document Scanner's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs paid) and review sentiment (100% vs 76%). On price, rating, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for PDF Connect Free against 4.4 for Smart PDF Document Scanner. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Connect Free has 374 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of PDF Connect Free's written reviews are positive against 100% of Smart PDF Document Scanner's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDF Connect Free ships an update every 3 weeks, Smart PDF Document Scanner every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
PDF Connect Free versus Smart PDF Document Scanner: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF Connect FreeSmart PDF Document Scanner
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (374 ratings) — better4.4 (10 ratings)
Positive reviews76.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings374 — better10
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size84 MB11 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperBuild to Connect, Inc.Qrayon, LLC

Customer experience

PDF Connect Free

All ratings370 ratings
Positive89.2%
Neutral6.8%
Negative4.1%
Written reviews146 reviews
Positive76.0%
Neutral6.2%
Negative17.8%

Smart PDF Document Scanner

All ratings10 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

PDF Connect Free

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Image fields, dropdown items, and radio buttons not working properly
  • Formatting issues when transferring files
  • Inability to save edited documents

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved form-filling capabilities
  • Ability to merge and split PDF files
  • Undo/redo functionality for annotations
  • Customizable annotation tools

Smart PDF Document Scanner

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

PDF Connect Free

No in-app purchases

None

Smart PDF Document Scanner

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PDF Connect Free free?
PDF Connect Free is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Smart PDF Document Scanner free?
Smart PDF Document Scanner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PDF Connect Free or Smart PDF Document Scanner?
PDF Connect Free is rated higher. PDF Connect Free averages 4.5 out of 5 from 374 ratings, while Smart PDF Document Scanner averages 4.4 from 10 ratings.
Do PDF Connect Free or Smart PDF Document Scanner have ads?
Smart PDF Document Scanner shows ads; PDF Connect Free does not.
Which is updated more often, PDF Connect Free or Smart PDF Document Scanner?
PDF Connect Free ships an update every 3 weeks, and Smart PDF Document Scanner every 6 months. Most recently, PDF Connect Free was updated on October 29, 2026 and Smart PDF Document Scanner on October 11, 2026.

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