Comparison

GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer vs PDF Viewer by Nutrient

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

Head to head
About

GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer

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
Currently charting
Read full description

First released in 2009, GoodReader® is truly a veteran of the App Store. In the modern app business, it's not easy to stay relevant that long. We're proud to say that after 17 years and counting, we've been delivering wonderful updates with extraordinary new features. And we're going to keep doing that! GoodReader is a perfect combination of document-reading and file-managing capabilities. It's your one-stop shop for all your document needs on your iOS device. Use the app once, and you'll be hooked. Soon you'll be wondering how you ever managed to work without it. -= File Reading =- PDF, TXT, MS Office, iWork, HTML, pictures, music & audio-books, videos. This is what you can view in GoodReader, plus you can also annotate PDF files and edit TXT files. -= PDF Reading and Annotating =- PDF files is where GoodReader truly shines. Reading experience is so superior, it's hard to describe. To rephrase one of our customers' review, "try it, and you'll see." While you're at it, give our PDF Reflow feature a try. You'll be surprised how much better PDF reading goes when you don't have to scroll left/right all the time, for every single line of text. Annotating PDFs is another star feature of our app. Adding notes and drawings, highlighting text, and then sharing your annotated files or annotation summaries will be your main productivity and collaboration asset. -= File Management =- While reading files is a big part of GoodReader, it's not all it can do. It can also serve as a central hub for all your files, even those that can't be opened by GoodReader itself. It's like bringing your personal computer experience to your mobile device — easily managing huge collections of files and folders will make you forget you don't have your laptop around. -= Connecting =- Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, Box.com, WebDAV, SMB, FTP, SFTP — these are all accessible from inside GoodReader. Download, upload, and sync individual files or huge folder collections. -= Security =- With GoodReader, your data security steps up to the level previously only dreamt of. With Pro Pack®, our new set of professional-level super-features, you'll get AES-256, a military-grade encryption, for all your data, at a price of a cup of coffee! And it's completely independent from the built-in Apple's Data Protection, so even if a hacker steals and unlocks your device, your data will still be protected by another strong layer of security, our own. -= Multi-Windows =- Seamlessly view and manage multiple files simultaneously on iPad. -= Notes =- Capture ideas and comments while reading or studying a technical document without even leaving the app. Sort and group your notes into categories. (Note: Some features require a Pro Pack® subscription.)

About

PDF Viewer by Nutrient

Easily view, search, and annotate PDF documents on your iPhone and iPad. Import files from cloud services, fill out forms, add signatures, and organize your documents. Advanced features like redaction and combining documents are available with a Pro subscription.

Highlights
  • View and search PDFs
  • Annotate with highlights and notes
  • Sign documents digitally
  • Fill out PDF forms
  • Organize and share documents
  • Import from cloud services
Features
Read full description

PDF Viewer is a fast and beautiful app, allowing you to view, search, and annotate PDF documents with ease on your iPhone and iPad. Access your files from iCloud, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, Google Drive or any other cloud solution via Apple's familiar Document Browser interface. +++ Listed as “Productivity lifesaver” on the App Store +++ "A streamlined interface packed with powerful features - it’s like having a desktop-quality PDF toolkit wherever we go" – App Store Editor Notes “I'm impressed by how the folks at PSPDFKit have been able to fine-tune the document browser to the app's needs.” – MacStories.net "If you want a PDF viewer that is designed for reading PDF books, this is it." – App Review VIEW DOCUMENTS ON THE GO • Easily import a PDF from your favorite cloud service provider, email, or directly off a website. • Supports Open In Place, Drag & Drop and features the familiar Apple Document Browser interface from the Files app. • Search for the exact text you are looking for within the document. • Double tap on the screen to Smart Zoom directly to the text you want to read. • Annotate images (JPEG, PNG) non-destructive, just like PDF documents. (PRO) ANNOTATE WITH EASE • While reviewing a document, use your finger or Apple Pencil to highlight and markup text. • Leave comments by adding a note, text, or drawing directly on the PDF. • Add images or audio. • Reply to notes. (PRO) SIGN DOCUMENTS ANYWHERE • Add your signature to any document using your finger or Apple Pencil. • Move and resize your signature as needed. • Flatten a document to ensure the signature doesn’t change. CREATE AND EDIT PDFs • Create new documents from existing documents by moving, rotating, deleting, or adding new pages. • Combine multiple documents into a single one. (PRO) • Add bookmarks to easily return to certain pages in large documents. FILL OUT FORMS • Quickly fill out PDF Forms by adding text to the fields. • Flatten and secure the form once you’re done to ensure the document doesn’t change. • Add a signature to any Form. STORE, ORGANIZE AND SHARE • Store documents, create folders and organize your documents. • Share documents by printing, emailing or saving your edits back any cloud service. PASSWORD PROTECT DOCUMENTS • Read document metadata, title and keywords. • Protect documents with user and owner passwords and limit permissions. (PRO) AND SO MUCH MORE • Conveniently switch to night mode when viewing your documents at night. • Present on external screens without the distraction of toolbars. (PRO) • Have the text from a PDF read out loud to you with text-to-speech. • PDF Viewer remembers where you were down to the page/position where you left off - even across devices. PRICING PDF Viewer comes with a large feature set, completely free. Some advanced features require the purchase of PDF Viewer Pro, available as a subscription. We offer 3-monthly and yearly subscription plans. There’s also a fully functional 7-day trial, so you can test PDF Viewer Pro (including document merging and password editing) before you commit. All plans unlock the app on iPhone and iPad. TRUSTED BY COMPANIES YOU KNOW PDF Viewer is built on top of and powered by PSPDFKit, the same PDF engine trusted around the world by companies like Dropbox, Box, IBM, Atlassian, SAP, and Lufthansa. BE PART OF THE PDF VIEWER COMMUNITY pdfviewer.io twitter.com/pdfviewerapp LEGAL Duration and price of each subscription are displayed in PDF Viewers’ storefront, updated at the time of purchase. Payment will be charged to iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off no later than 24 hours before the end of the current period. Subscriptions and auto-renewal can be managed/turned off in the iTunes account settings. Any unused portion of a free trial period is forfeited as soon as a subscription is purchased. Terms of Use: https://pdfviewer.io/terms Privacy Policy: https://pdfviewer.io/privacy

Screenshots

GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer3 screens
PDF Viewer by Nutrient4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PDF Viewer by Nutrient at Free against GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer's $6.99. PDF Viewer by Nutrient also leads on device support (4 vs 2). GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs monthly) and chart position (#35 vs unranked). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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

PDF Viewer by Nutrient is free to download; GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer costs $6.99 up front. GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and PDF Viewer by Nutrient sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 3 months. 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 GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer against 4.6 for PDF Viewer by Nutrient. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14K and 9.1K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 69% of GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer's written reviews are positive against 74% of PDF Viewer by Nutrient's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer ships an update weekly, PDF Viewer by Nutrient monthly. Both last shipped on October 17, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer versus PDF Viewer by Nutrient: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGoodReader PDF Editor & ViewerPDF Viewer by Nutrient
Price$6.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (14K ratings) — better4.6 (9.1K ratings)
Positive reviews68.7% of reviews73.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings14K — better9.1K
Update frequencyWeekly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
Best chart rank#35 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB112 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGood.iWare, Inc.PSPDFKit GmbH

Customer experience

GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer

All ratings13,805 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral2.3%
Negative5.5%
Written reviews1,840 reviews
Positive68.7%
Neutral7.9%
Negative23.4%

PDF Viewer by Nutrient

All ratings9,096 ratings
Positive90.8%
Neutral3.7%
Negative5.4%
Written reviews1,089 reviews
Positive73.6%
Neutral9.7%
Negative16.7%

User reviews

GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer

From 14K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 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

Room to improve

  • 🔒 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

PDF Viewer by Nutrient

From 9.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Seamless integration with iCloud and Files app
  • 👍 Intuitive annotation tools with Apple Pencil
  • 🎨 Versatile highlighting and drawing options
  • 💾 Saves annotations to original PDF files
  • 🔍 Powerful search and navigation features

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and performance issues
  • 🤔 Confusing UI and steep learning curve
  • 🔀 Difficulty managing and organizing PDF files
  • 🔍 Inconsistent text selection and highlighting
  • 🔒 Privacy concerns around data collection

Bugs and requests

GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

PDF Viewer by Nutrient

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Annotations randomly disappearing or not saving
  • Incompatibility issues with certain PDF files
  • Scrolling and panning problems on large PDFs
  • Unexpected crashes after iOS updates

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add a rubber/eraser tool for annotations
  • Implement a side-by-side PDF view mode
  • Improve palm rejection and gesture support
  • Allow customization of toolbar and shortcuts
  • Provide better options for PDF file management

In-app purchases

4 purchases

GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Pack (monthly)7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Pro Pack (annual)7 Days trial$24.991 Year
One-time2
  • Auto Sync$59.99
  • Pro Pack$89.99
2 purchases

PDF Viewer by Nutrient

Subscriptions2
  • PDF Viewer Pro 3 Months7 Days trial$6.993 Months
  • PDF Viewer Pro Yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year

Questions

Is GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer free?
GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer costs $6.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is PDF Viewer by Nutrient free?
PDF Viewer by Nutrient is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer or PDF Viewer by Nutrient?
GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer is rated higher. GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer averages 4.7 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while PDF Viewer by Nutrient averages 4.6 from 9.1K ratings.
Do GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer or PDF Viewer by Nutrient have ads?
Neither GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer nor PDF Viewer by Nutrient shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer or PDF Viewer by Nutrient?
GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer ships an update weekly, and PDF Viewer by Nutrient monthly. Most recently, GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer was updated on October 17, 2026 and PDF Viewer by Nutrient on October 17, 2026.

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