# PDF Expert vs Camera Scanner

The clearest difference is ads: PDF Expert at none against Camera Scanner's shown. PDF Expert also leads on ratings volume (216K vs 777) and chart position (#86 vs unranked). Camera Scanner's advantage is review sentiment (66% vs 45%) and update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDF Expert sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Camera Scanner sells 21 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for PDF Expert against 4.7 for Camera Scanner. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Expert has 216K ratings behind it against 777, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 45% of PDF Expert's written reviews are positive against 66% of Camera Scanner's.

PDF Expert ships an update fortnightly, Camera Scanner weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Expert | Camera Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (216K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-expert-editor-and-reader/id743974925/reviews) | [4.7 (777 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/camera-scanner-pdf-converter/id1601775710/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **216K** | 777 |
| Positive reviews | 45.5% of reviews | **66.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#86** | — |
| Size | 295 MB | 162 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Readdle Technologies Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/285035419) | [Liger Infotech](https://appshunter.io/developer/1184303147) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Expert

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

**Currently charting:** #86 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


### Camera Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/camera-scanner-pdf-converter/id1601775710)

Transform your phone into a powerful document scanner and PDF converter. Easily scan, edit, sign, and manage all your important files on the go. Perfect for professionals, students, and anyone needing to go paperless.

**Highlights:** Scan documents with high accuracy, Convert photos to PDF, Edit and sign PDF files, Organize files with PDF reader, Receipt scanner for expenses, Share scanned documents instantly

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (21)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subscriptions | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium Subscription | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Subscriptions | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Premium Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Subscriptions | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Subscriptions | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Subscriptions | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Premium Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Subscriptions | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Subscriptions | $6.99 | per month |
| Subscriptions | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Subscriptions | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Subscriptions | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Subscriptions | $9.99 | per month |
| Subscriptions | $14.99 | per month |
| HD Scan | $19.99 | per year |
| Subscriptions | $19.99 | per year |
| Subscriptions | $19.99 | per year |
| E-Sign Document | $19.99 | per year |
| Subscriptions | $22.99 | per year |
| Subscriptions | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 📱 Accurate document scanning functionality
- ✅ Works as advertised
- ⭐ Reliable performance
- 🎯 Effective e-signature capability
- 👍 User-friendly operation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive pricing
- 🎨 Poor UI/UX design
- 📞 Inadequate customer support
- ❓ Lacks clear instructions
- 🐛 App crashes and instability

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes mid-use requiring rescans
- App won't stay open or retain scans
- Unexpected app closures

**Requested features**

- Better user documentation and tutorials
- Improved app stability and crash prevention
- More affordable pricing tiers


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Expert free?

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

### Is Camera Scanner free?

Camera Scanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PDF Expert or Camera Scanner?

PDF Expert and Camera Scanner are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 216K and 777 ratings respectively.

### Do PDF Expert or Camera Scanner have ads?

Camera Scanner shows ads; PDF Expert does not.

### Which is updated more often, PDF Expert or Camera Scanner?

PDF Expert ships an update fortnightly, and Camera Scanner weekly. Most recently, PDF Expert was updated on October 18, 2026 and Camera Scanner on October 14, 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.*