# PDF Expert vs Use Before Flight

The clearest difference is rating: PDF Expert at 4.7 against Use Before Flight's 4.0. PDF Expert also leads on ratings volume (216K vs 5) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). Use Before Flight's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 12). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDF Expert sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Use Before Flight asks for nothing beyond the download.

PDF Expert holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Expert has 216K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of PDF Expert's written reviews are positive against 30% of Use Before Flight's.

PDF Expert ships an update fortnightly, Use Before Flight every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Expert | Use Before Flight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (216K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-expert-editor-and-reader/id743974925/reviews)** | [4.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/use-before-flight/id1186688274/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **216K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **45.5% of reviews** | 30.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#76** | — |
| Size | 295 MB | 286 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Readdle Technologies Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/285035419) | [Use Before Flight UK Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/493907623) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Expert

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-expert-editor-and-reader/id743974925)

**Currently charting:** #76 Top Grossing · Productivity (US App Store)

This app allows you to edit, annotate, fill out forms, and convert PDF documents. It offers AI-powered summarization and analysis, along with tools to merge, sign, and protect your files. Work seamlessly across Apple devices with a user-friendly interface.

**Highlights:** Edit PDF text and images, Annotate and highlight PDFs, Fill out PDF forms, Convert files to and from PDF, AI-powered summarization and analysis, Merge and combine PDF files, Sign documents with e-signatures

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PDF Expert Premium Trial | $9.99 | per month |
| PDF Expert Premium No Trial | $9.99 | per month |
| PDF Expert for Education | $39.99 | per year |
| PDF Expert Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| PDF Expert Premium New | $49.99 | per year |
| PDF Expert Premium Existing | $49.99 | per year |
| PDF Expert – Premium Editing | $49.99 | per year |
| PDF Expert Mac & iOS Pro | $79.99 | per year |
| PDF Expert Mac & iOS | $79.99 | per year |
| PDF Expert Basic | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 💡 Powerful annotation and editing tools
- 🔒 Seamless cloud integration
- 📚 Excellent for reading and organizing PDFs

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🔒 Subscription model for advanced features
- 🔒 Inconsistent pricing and feature changes
- 🔍 Cluttered and confusing UI in latest update
- 🔍 Reduced customization options for annotations

**Reported bugs**

- Corrupted PDFs after editing
- Sync issues with cloud storage providers
- Unexpected loss of annotations and edits
- Unreliable performance on older iPad models

**Requested features**

- Improved palm rejection for Apple Pencil
- Customizable toolbar and annotation presets
- Better integration with other productivity apps
- More flexible file management and organization
- Ability to create fillable PDF forms


### Use Before Flight

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/use-before-flight/id1186688274)

This app offers interactive pilot training for professional pilots, focusing on ECAM handling and emergency scenarios for Airbus aircraft. Prepare for simulator checks and enhance system knowledge with hundreds of drills, videos, and documents, available offline.

**Highlights:** Interactive ECAM handling drills, Simulated glass cockpit screens, Over 250 abnormal/emergency scenarios, Offline use for all drills, Cross-referenced content (blogs, videos), Intuitive multi-functional menu

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Expert free?

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

### Is Use Before Flight free?

Use Before Flight is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PDF Expert or Use Before Flight?

PDF Expert is rated higher. PDF Expert averages 4.7 out of 5 from 216K ratings, while Use Before Flight averages 4.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do PDF Expert or Use Before Flight have ads?

Neither PDF Expert nor Use Before Flight shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PDF Expert or Use Before Flight?

PDF Expert ships an update fortnightly, and Use Before Flight every 2 months. Most recently, PDF Expert was updated on October 17, 2026 and Use Before Flight on October 9, 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.*