# PDF Expert vs GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer

The clearest difference is price: PDF Expert at Free against GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer's $5.99. PDF Expert also leads on ratings volume (216K vs 14K). GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer's advantage is review sentiment (69% vs 46%) and update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). On rating, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

PDF Expert is free to download; GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer costs $5.99 up front. PDF Expert sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. 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 GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Expert has 216K ratings behind it against 14K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 46% of PDF Expert's written reviews are positive against 69% of GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer's.

PDF Expert ships an update fortnightly, GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer weekly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Expert | GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $5.99 |
| Rating | [4.7 (216K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-expert-editor-and-reader/id743974925/reviews) | [4.7 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goodreader-pdf-editor-and-viewer/id777310222/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **216K** | 14K |
| Positive reviews | 46.0% of reviews | **68.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #67 | **#39** |
| Size | 307 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Readdle Technologies Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/285035419) | [Good.iWare, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/289191291) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Expert

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

**Currently charting:** #67 Top Grossing · Productivity, #193 Top Free · 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


### GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goodreader-pdf-editor-and-viewer/id777310222)

**Currently charting:** #39 Top Paid · Productivity (US App Store)

This app offers robust PDF editing and viewing capabilities, alongside comprehensive file management tools. It allows users to annotate PDFs, manage files from various cloud services, and secure sensitive data with advanced encryption. Enjoy a superior reading experience with features like PDF Reflow and split-screen viewing.

**Highlights:** PDF annotation and editing, Extensive file format support, Cloud service integration (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.), AES-256 military-grade encryption, Split-screen viewing for iPad, File management and organization

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Pack (monthly) | $2.99 | per month |
| Pro Pack (annual) | $17.99 | per year |
| Auto Sync | $9.99 | one-time |
| Pro Pack | $79.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent for reading and annotating PDFs
- 📚 Powerful file management and organization
- 💻 Seamless integration with cloud storage
- 🎨 Customizable reading experience
- ⚙️ Robust set of features and capabilities

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Subscription model for some features
- 🔀 Cluttered interface after recent update
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
- 📁 Difficulty migrating files from older versions
- 🖌️ Lacking palm rejection and customizable Apple Pencil controls

**Reported bugs**

- Syncing issues with cloud storage providers
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps

**Requested features**

- Continuous scrolling for better reading experience
- Improved search functionality with advanced filters
- Ability to set custom color schemes and themes
- Enhanced support for ebook formats like EPUB
- Streamlined annotation tools and workflow


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Expert free?

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

### Is GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer free?

GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer costs $5.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PDF Expert or GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer?

PDF Expert and GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 216K and 14K ratings respectively.

### Do PDF Expert or GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer have ads?

Neither PDF Expert nor GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PDF Expert or GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer?

PDF Expert ships an update fortnightly, and GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer weekly. Most recently, PDF Expert was updated on September 24, 2026 and GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, PDF Expert or GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer?

PDF Expert currently peaks at #67 in the App Store charts, and GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer at #39. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*