Comparison

PDF Expert vs PDF Pro Reader Edit

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

Head to head
About

PDF Expert

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
Read full description

Unlock your potential with a fast and easy PDF Expert app with all the features you need in a well-designed and intuitive user interface. BEST FOR iPHONE, iPAD, MAC & VISION PRO Read PDF files easily, highlight and annotate PDFs, fill out forms, convert any file to PDF, merge several files into one, add notes, summarize and navigate PDF documents in seconds with AI-powered tools. Unlock unlimited possibilities with PDF Expert Premium features and work across all your Apple devices, effortlessly letting you complete any PDF task on the go. “PDF Expert is one of my must-have iPad apps and a desktop-class PDF reader.” – MacStories “The best app for managing, editing, and reading PDFs on your iPad.” – The Sweet Setup ▶ WITH PDF EXPERT, YOU CAN: READ PDFs WITH JOY • Pick Day, Night, or Sepia mode and enjoy reading anytime, anywhere. • Enjoy both vertical and horizontal scrolling. • Export PDF files from email, web, or any app that supports the Apple system-wide Share menu • Use Text to Speech to hear the selected text read out loud HIGHLIGHT AND ANNOTATE PDFs • Mark important info in books using colors, text, or stickers • Add stamps such as Approved, Confidential, etc. • Record your voice and add it to the doc FILL OUT FORMS • Fill out PDF forms using interactive text fields, checkboxes, and radio buttons • All the major form formats support, including acro forms and static XFA forms ***PREMIUM FEATURES *** EDIT PDFs DOCS EASILY • Edit or modify existing text directly in a PDF – just as you would in a Word document • Add links: link any part of the text or image to a different page or website • Add outlines to big PDFs to simplify navigation for hundreds of pages • Easily add, replace, and resize images in your PDFs SUMMARIZE AND ANALYZE HUGE PDFs WITH PDF COPILOT – YOUR SMART AI ASSISTANT • List Main Points – instantly scan and highlight key takeaways from any PDF • Summarize – get concise summaries of entire PDFs, or annotations • Ask Anything – find specific details with AI-powered answers and references • Explain – no more Googling! Get instant, contextual explanations of words or phrases MERGE AND COMBINE PDFs • Merge and combine multiple PDF files into one • Add, delete, and rearrange pages with a thumbnail preview • Rotate and reorder pages in PDFs EDIT SCANNED DOCUMENTS • Access the scanned PDFs that you’ve created using PDF Expert • Open your scans to fill out, sign, comment, and share CONVERT FROM AND TO PDF • Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, PPT, JPG/PNG, TXT, and vice versa • Converts any file in seconds SIGN DOCUMENTS • Use e-signatures to sign contracts on the go • Create custom stamps or import one from the images PROTECT YOUR FILES • Restrict access to PDF Expert with a password • Permanently blackout or erase sensitive information like credit card numbers • Secure and Safe trusted brand software COMPRESS PDFs • Compress large PDF files to save space on your device • Merge several files into one and compress it to reduce the file size CONSTRUCTION TOOLS • Scale and measure drawings using our Measure tab • Polygon and polyline shapes • Redline tools COLLABORATE ON THE GO PDF Expert provides the best platform for paperless collaboration between team members. Annotate and add notes in project materials, fill and sign contracts and invoices, and exchange files via email or cloud on the go. OTHER AMAZING FEATURES: • Fully customizable toolbar • Create a Link (drag and add a landing page or a Web) • Presentation Mode • Print and Share ONE ACCOUNT FOR ALL YOUR APPLE DEVICES Now, you don’t need to purchase Mac and iPhone & iPad versions separately. PDF Expert introduces a single Premium subscription for all your Apple devices. Read more about our terms and conditions here: https://pdfexpert.com/privacy https://pdfexpert.com/terms Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at http://readdle.com/contact

About

PDF Pro Reader Edit

This app allows you to read, edit, and manage PDF files. It offers features like merging, splitting, converting PDFs to images, adding text, highlighting, and creating digital signatures. You can also import PDFs from iCloud or scan documents.

Highlights
  • Merge and split PDF files
  • Convert PDF to images
  • Add text and annotations
  • Create digital signatures
  • Encrypt and unlock PDFs
  • Scan documents to PDF
  • Import from iCloud
Features
Read full description

PDF Pro is a PDF reading and editing application that can read and edit PDF files perfectly. ** PDF Pro FEATURES ** All-in-one tool - PDF multi-file merge, custom merge order - Split PDF files, each page can be split - Convert PDF to images in batches - Image to PDF file - Encrypt PDF files - Unlock PDF files - PDF file page rotation - PDF file page removal Edit PDF - Add text content to PDF file - Mark important files by adding underline, strikethrough, background highlighting, etc. - Add rectangle, ellipse geometry - Add picture stickers selected from album to PDF file - Add custom strokes and doodles to create your own signature Import PDF File - Can import your uploaded PDF files from iCloud - Can receive PDF files shared from other apps - Support scan file to generate PDF - Support importing single or multiple pictures from album to generate PDF file - Combine multiple PDF files - Support file search, sort, copy, delete, share - Support file thumbnail and directory outline browsing - Support file content search Sign documents - Quickly use personalized handwritten electronic signatures to sign contract agreements In-app purchase instructions In-app purchases are one-time purchases that are permanent and not a subscription fee.

Screenshots

PDF Expert4 screens
PDF Pro Reader Edit4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PDF Pro Reader Edit at 75% against PDF Expert's 46%. PDF Pro Reader Edit also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7). PDF Expert's advantage is ratings volume (216K vs 4) and chart position (#67 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 Expert sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and PDF Pro Reader Edit sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PDF Pro Reader Edit holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Expert has 216K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of PDF Expert's written reviews are positive against 75% of PDF Pro Reader Edit's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDF Expert ships an update fortnightly, PDF Pro Reader Edit every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
PDF Expert versus PDF Pro Reader Edit: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF ExpertPDF Pro Reader Edit
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (216K ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews46.0% of reviews75.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings216K — better4
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#67 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size307 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperReaddle Technologies Limited崴 杨

Customer experience

PDF Expert

All ratings215,851 ratings
Positive92.4%
Neutral2.3%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews1,135 reviews
Positive46.0%
Neutral7.4%
Negative46.6%

PDF Pro Reader Edit

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Bugs and requests

PDF Expert

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

PDF Pro Reader Edit

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

PDF Expert

Subscriptions9
  • PDF Expert Premium Trial7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • PDF Expert Premium No Trial$9.991 Month
  • PDF Expert for Education7 Days trial$39.991 Year
Show 6 more
  • PDF Expert Premium7 Days trial3 variants$49.991 Year
  • PDF Expert Premium New7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • PDF Expert Premium Existing7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • PDF Expert – Premium Editing1 Year trial$49.991 Year
  • PDF Expert Mac & iOS Pro7 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • PDF Expert Mac & iOS7 Days trial$79.991 Year
One-time1
  • PDF Expert Basic$9.99
1 purchases

PDF Pro Reader Edit

One-time1
  • Upgrade to PRO$1.99

Questions

Is PDF Expert free?
PDF Expert is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PDF Pro Reader Edit free?
PDF Pro Reader Edit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PDF Expert or PDF Pro Reader Edit?
PDF Pro Reader Edit is rated higher. PDF Expert averages 4.7 out of 5 from 216K ratings, while PDF Pro Reader Edit averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do PDF Expert or PDF Pro Reader Edit have ads?
Neither PDF Expert nor PDF Pro Reader Edit shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PDF Expert or PDF Pro Reader Edit?
PDF Expert ships an update fortnightly, and PDF Pro Reader Edit every 4 weeks. Most recently, PDF Expert was updated on September 24, 2026 and PDF Pro Reader Edit on September 15, 2026.

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