GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer vs DarkPDF
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.)
DarkPDF
This app allows you to read PDF documents in dark mode, inverting text and background colors to reduce eye strain. It also offers the ability to compress margins and blank spaces for a larger text display.
- Dark mode PDF reading
- Invert text and background
- Larger text display
- Margin compression
- Cross-platform compatibility (macOS & iOS)
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macOS and iOS 13 bring us this marvellous Dark Mode. Dark Mode has many benefits. But there is a problem for PDF readers. Most PDF files are black text on a white background, resembling a printed form of documents. For eyes that get used to Dark Mode, such pages put a strain on them. DarkPDF can help. It is available on both macOS (Catalina) and iOS. Buy it once, and use it on both platforms. By altering the background from white to black, text from black to white, you can read PDFs in Dark Mode. Even better, DarkPDF can also compress margins around the page, as well as blank spaces in the page so that more space can be used to render meaningful text.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DarkPDF at none against GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer's 4. DarkPDF also leads on price ($0.99 vs $5.99) and device support (4 vs 2). GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (14K vs 27). On update cadence 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
GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer costs $5.99 and DarkPDF $0.99 up front. GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. DarkPDF asks for nothing beyond the download.
GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer has 14K ratings behind it against 27, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer's written reviews are positive against 47% of DarkPDF's.
GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer ships an update weekly, DarkPDF every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer | DarkPDF |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99 | $0.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (14K ratings) — better | 4.3 (27 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 68.7% of reviews — better | 47.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 14K — better | 27 |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #39 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 53 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Good.iWare, Inc. | Numathic |
Customer experience
GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer
DarkPDF
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
DarkPDF
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer
- Pro Pack (monthly)7 Days trial$2.991 Month
- Pro Pack (annual)7 Days trial$17.991 Year
- Auto Sync$9.99
- Pro Pack$79.99
DarkPDF
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer free?
Is DarkPDF free?
Which has better reviews, GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer or DarkPDF?
Do GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer or DarkPDF have ads?
Which is updated more often, GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer or DarkPDF?
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