# PDF Connect Free vs Smart PDF Document Scanner

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.

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

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Connect Free | Smart PDF Document Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (374 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-connect-free-view-annotate-and-convert-pdfs/id733762338/reviews)** | [4.4 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-pdf-document-scanner/id1181147140/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **374** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | 76.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 84 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Build to Connect, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1204259289) | [Qrayon, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/354980265) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Connect Free

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-connect-free-view-annotate-and-convert-pdfs/id733762338)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Helpful for business and professional use
- 👍 Easy to use and transfer files between devices
- 🚀 Efficient for annotating and editing PDFs
- 👍 Works well on older devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes when trying to upgrade or open files
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 💸 Paid version required for full functionality

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### Smart PDF Document Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-pdf-document-scanner/id1181147140)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


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