Comparison

PDF Expert vs Merge PDF

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

Head to head
About

PDF Expert

Edit, annotate, convert, and sign PDF documents with this comprehensive tool. Features include AI-powered summarization, file merging, compression, and secure password protection. Available across Apple devices for seamless workflow.

Highlights
  • Read, annotate, and mark up PDFs
  • Fill and sign PDF forms
  • Edit text and images in PDFs
  • Convert files to and from PDF
  • Merge, split, and compress documents
  • AI-powered summarization and Q&A
  • Password protection and redaction
Features
Read full description

PDF Expert is a fast and easy PDF app to read, annotate, fill and sign PDF forms, convert files to PDF, and merge, split or compress documents – all in one intuitive app for iPhone, iPad, Mac & Vision Pro. Read PDF files with comfort, highlight and mark up text, fill out forms, sign contracts, create and convert PDFs, and summarize long documents in seconds with AI-powered tools. Unlock unlimited possibilities with PDF Expert Premium and work across all your Apple devices. "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 - PDF reader with Day, Night, and Sepia modes for comfortable reading anytime - Scroll PDFs vertically or horizontally and search text in any document - Open and view PDF files from email, web, Files, or any app via the Share menu - Read PDFs out loud with Text to Speech ANNOTATE AND MARK UP PDFs - Highlight, underline, and strike through text in your PDFs - Mark up documents with pen, shapes, text, notes, and comments - Add stamps such as Approved or Confidential - Record your voice and add audio notes to PDFs FILL AND SIGN PDF FORMS - Fill out PDF forms with text fields, checkboxes, and radio buttons - Sign PDF documents in seconds – draw your signature or add it from an image - Save your signature to sign contracts, agreements, invoices, and applications faster - Fill, sign, and send forms right from your iPhone – no printing or scanning needed - Supports all major form formats, including AcroForms and static XFA forms ***PREMIUM FEATURES*** EDIT PDFs - Edit text directly in a PDF – just as you would in a Word document - Add, replace, and resize images in your PDFs - Add links to other pages or websites - Add outlines to navigate large PDFs CREATE AND CONVERT PDFs - Create PDFs from Word files, images, and other documents - Convert Word to PDF, JPG to PDF, and PNG to PDF in seconds - Convert PDF to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, JPG, PNG, and TXT MERGE, SPLIT AND ORGANIZE PDFs - Merge and combine multiple PDF files into one - Split PDFs and extract pages into a new file - Add, delete, rotate, and reorder pages with thumbnail preview COMPRESS PDFs - Compress PDFs to reduce file size for email and sharing - Shrink large PDF files to save space on your device SUMMARIZE PDFs WITH AI – PDF COPILOT - List Main Points – get key takeaways from any PDF - Summarize – get concise summaries of entire PDFs or annotations - Ask Anything – find details with AI answers and references - Explain – get instant explanations of words or phrases PROTECT YOUR FILES - Password-protect PDF Expert - Redact – permanently black out sensitive information WORK WITH SCANNED DOCUMENTS - Open scanned PDFs to fill out, sign, annotate, and share CONSTRUCTION TOOLS - Scale and measure drawings with the Measure tab - Polygon, polyline, and redline tools MORE FEATURES - Customizable toolbar - Presentation Mode - Print and share PDFs via email or cloud ONE ACCOUNT FOR ALL YOUR APPLE DEVICES One Premium subscription covers PDF Expert on iPhone, iPad, and Mac – no need to buy versions separately. 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

Merge PDF

This app offers a comprehensive suite of tools for managing PDF documents. It allows users to merge, split, compress, convert, and secure PDFs, as well as convert images to PDF format. Designed for ease of use, it caters to students, professionals, and general users needing efficient document handling.

Highlights
  • Merge PDF files
  • Split PDF files
  • Compress PDF files
  • Convert PDF to PNG
  • Image to PDF conversion
  • Lock and unlock PDFs
  • Light and dark mode
Features
Read full description

Merge PDF - Combine PDF: All-in-One PDF Management Tool Looking for a fast, simple, and reliable way to manage your PDFs? Merge PDF - Combine PDF is your complete PDF solution! Whether you want to merge, split, compress, or convert PDFs, this app makes document management effortless for students, professionals, and everyday users. Why Choose Merge PDF - Combine PDF? More than just a PDF merger, our app is a full-featured PDF toolkit. With advanced PDF tools, light & dark modes, and secure file handling, it’s the only app you’ll need to manage all your PDF files efficiently. Fast, easy, and reliable! Key Features: Merge PDF Files – Combine multiple PDFs into one file quickly and rearrange pages as you like. - Split PDF Files – Extract only the pages you need and save them as a new PDF. - Rearrange PDF Pages – Organize your documents by moving pages effortlessly. - Delete PDF Pages – Remove unwanted pages for cleaner, professional files. - Compress PDF – Reduce large PDFs without losing quality. - Lock & Unlock PDF – Protect your files with a password or unlock secured PDFs. - View & Print PDF – Open, navigate, and print your documents smoothly. - Convert PDF to PNG – Extract high-quality images from your PDFs. - Image to PDF – Turn JPG, PNG, or BMP images into PDF documents in seconds. - BMP to PDF – Convert BMP files to PDFs with ease. - History Section – Quickly access previously managed files. - Light & Dark Mode – Switch modes to reduce eye strain and improve reading comfort. Who Can Benefit? - Students: Merge lecture notes, compress files, or create PDFs from scanned assignments. - Professionals: Rearrange reports, delete unnecessary pages, or protect sensitive files. - Everyday Users: Combine bills, receipts, certificates, and more into a single PDF for easy sharing. Why It’s Convenient: - Fast & Efficient – Optimized for speed, saving you time. - User-Friendly Interface – Simple navigation for everyone. - Secure – All files are processed locally on your device. - Why Our App Stands Out - Free to Download – Core PDF tools are free; Premium unlocks advanced features. - Lightweight – Won’t take up too much device storage. - Regular Updates – New features and improvements added frequently. How It Works: - Open the app and select your tool. - Upload your PDF or image file. - Follow the on-screen instructions. - Save, share, or print your file instantly. Multi-Language Support Enjoy our tools in multiple languages, making it accessible worldwide. Privacy First All files are processed locally on your device. Your documents stay secure and private. Download Now! Join thousands of satisfied users and simplify your PDF management today. Merge, split, compress, and secure PDFs easily with Merge PDF - Combine PDF. Make document handling hassle-free—download now! Terms of Use: https://talharehman.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://talharehman.com/privacy

Screenshots

PDF Expert4 screens
Merge PDF4 screens

Verdict

The call

PDF Expert and Merge PDF both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 88% of Merge PDF's written reviews are positive against 45% of PDF Expert's. PDF Expert's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (217K vs 357). On price, rating, update cadence 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 9 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Merge PDF sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for PDF Expert against 4.8 for Merge PDF. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Expert has 217K ratings behind it against 357, 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 88% of Merge PDF's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDF Expert ships an update fortnightly, Merge PDF every 9 days. Both last shipped on November 10, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
PDF Expert versus Merge PDF: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF ExpertMerge PDF
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (217K ratings)4.8 (357 ratings) — better
Positive reviews45.2% of reviews88.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings217K — better357
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 9 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#70 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size328 MB32 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperReaddle Technologies Limitedtalha rehman

Customer experience

PDF Expert

All ratings216,576 ratings
Positive92.4%
Neutral2.3%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews1,186 reviews
Positive45.2%
Neutral7.5%
Negative47.3%

Merge PDF

All ratings357 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral2.0%
Negative3.6%
Written reviews136 reviews
Positive88.2%
Neutral2.9%
Negative8.8%

User reviews

PDF Expert

From 217K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

Merge PDF

From 357 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Quick and efficient
  • 💯 Works as expected
  • 🆓 Free app with great features
  • 🤩 Excellent for beginners

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes
  • 📢 Too many ads
  • 🔍 Issues with aspect ratio and layout
  • 🔒 Requires internet connection
  • 🔄 Reverse order of added PDFs

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

Merge PDF

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes from start
  • Deleting information from documents
  • Hyperlinks not working

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add PDF rotation tool
  • Improve PDF layout and formatting
  • Enhance share functionality
  • Add PDF inversion feature

In-app purchases

9 purchases

PDF Expert

Subscriptions8
  • 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 5 more
  • PDF Expert Premium7 Days trial2 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 & iOS7 Days trial$79.991 Year
One-time1
  • PDF Expert Basic$9.99
7 purchases

Merge PDF

Subscriptions6
  • 3-Day Free Trial - Weekly3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • Premium User - Weekly3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • Premium User - Weekly$3.997 Days
Show 3 more
  • Premium User - 1 Month$5.991 Month
  • Premium User - Yearly$29.991 Year
  • Premium User - Yearly3 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium user - Lifetime$99.99

Questions

Is PDF Expert free?
PDF Expert is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Merge PDF free?
Merge PDF is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PDF Expert or Merge PDF?
Merge PDF is rated higher. PDF Expert averages 4.7 out of 5 from 217K ratings, while Merge PDF averages 4.8 from 357 ratings.
Do PDF Expert or Merge PDF have ads?
Merge PDF shows ads; PDF Expert does not.
Which is updated more often, PDF Expert or Merge PDF?
PDF Expert ships an update fortnightly, and Merge PDF every 9 days. Most recently, PDF Expert was updated on November 10, 2026 and Merge PDF on November 10, 2026.

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