Comparison

PDF Reader & Editor | Xodo vs PDF Gear

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

Head to head
About

PDF Reader & Editor | Xodo

Edit, sign, convert, and organize PDF documents with a comprehensive suite of tools. Scan images to PDF, compress files, and integrate with cloud storage for seamless access across devices. Offers advanced annotation and drawing capabilities.

Highlights
  • Edit PDFs
  • Scan to PDF
  • Fill & Sign Forms
  • Convert Files to PDF
  • Annotate & Draw
  • Cloud Integration
  • Compress PDFs
Features
Read full description

Transform your PDFs. Get your work done quickly with Xodo's all-in-one PDF editor and reader with 30+ features - all available on your iPhone or iPad. Safely store and sync your files on your iCloud, OneDrive, Google Drive and Dropbox so you can easily view, edit, convert, e-sign and compress your files anytime, anywhere on your device. Edit PDFs: Intuitive, easy-to-use PDF editor for any user in mind. • Compress PDF: Quickly reduce PDF file size for ease of sharing • Flatten PDF: All annotations in PDF like fillable forms will be locked and merged into a single layer for protection • Rotate & crop PDF: Add, remove, rearrange, rotate, crop PDF pages with ease • Split & extract PDF: Instantly split PDF or extract pages to a new PDF file • Create new PDF: Create PDFs from scratch or use one of our ready-made templates and edit file Scan PDFs: Seamlessly scan images and save as PDFs. • PDF scanner: Scan image with your camera or open an existing image or file and save as a new PDF • Edit scanned PDF: Edit, annotate, send your documents to iCloud, share via AirDrop, or any available app on your device Fill & Sign PDF Forms: Fill out, sign, and share your PDF forms. • Create your e-signature: E-sign your documents by hand or type in your signature, and save to reuse for later • Stylus-friendly: Supports Apple Pencil Convert PDFs: Convert files to PDF in seconds. • PDF converter: Convert any MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) to PDF, iWork (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) to PDF • Additional file formats: Convert JPG to PDF, PNG to PDF, PDF to JPG, PDF to PNG View & print PDFs: Quick and convenient PDF reader for e-books, reports, digital planner. • Viewing mode: View in light, dark, and sepia color modes for comfort reading • Bookmark feature: Tag your favorite PDF pages • Multiple tabs: Use tabs to work across multiple PDF documents • Print PDFs directly from your device • Fully searchable text: Search text within PDF to save time Annotate & Draw PDFs: Utilize Xodo's annotation tools configured to you. • Fully-featured mark-up tools: Add images, links, stamp or highlight text directly on PDF documents • Arrange pages: Thumbnail browser for deleting pages, extracting, and inserting pages • Scrolling mode: See all annotations at a glance with the touch of your finger Store & Manage Files Securely: Integrate with popular cloud apps and safely store your important files so you can pick up where you left off. • Built-in file manager: Rename, copy, move, or delete docs and folders locally • Cloud integration: Sync your files directly on iCloud, OneDrive, Google Drive and Dropbox to view in multiple devices • Protected features: Protect your PDF files with password encryption and unlock your protected PDF with PDF password remover tool Upgrade to Xodo Mobile Subscription: Get unlimited access to all 30+ tools with custom toolbar for quick access. • Free trial available in supported regions • Convert PDF to MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) • Remove sensitive content with PDF Redaction tool • High compression file size • Easily merge multiple documents to a single PDF • Create fillable PDF forms to fill out and sign while you're on the go • Support Smart pen to streamline and enhance note taking experience • Annotate in Reader mode - When viewing a PDF in reader mode, you can highlight, underline and strikeout text. • View and manage files with nesting layers - PDFs that include multi-level layers can be viewed individually • Scanned images can save as PDFs with searchable text (OCR) option • Flexible monthly and annual subscription options • Cancel anytime For Support and Feedback: support@xodo.com Visit Homepage: xodo.com Xodo is powered by Apryse | https://apryse.com

About

PDF Gear

This app offers a comprehensive suite of tools for managing PDF documents on mobile devices. Users can easily view, annotate, edit pages, fill out forms, and digitally sign documents. It provides a free and unlimited experience for all its powerful PDF manipulation features.

Highlights
  • View and print PDFs
  • Annotate with highlights, text, and drawings
  • Organize pages (add, delete, rotate, extract)
  • Fill out forms and sign documents
  • Manage PDF files (duplicate, rename, move, share)
  • Open and save to device & iCloud
Features
Read full description

Want a well-featured and easy-to-access PDF solution for mobile use? PDFgear for iOS could achieve this! With PDFgear for iOS, users could handle their PDFs with ease, including viewing, printing, annotating, page editing, signing, etc. The abundant features will let you fill out forms, sign contracts, finish works, review documents, and make more possibilities in PDF! PDFgear for iOS provides free use for all functions without any limits like trial watermark, page count, etc. The concise design brings users a satisfying experience, and the powerful performance makes the perfect document. PDFgear will make your study and work easier to carry out PDFs! Try it on your own! View and Print PDF • Open and view PDFs with easy touch • Zoom in or out for better details • Jump to the appointed page directly • Print PDF from your phone Annotate PDF • Markup texts in PDF with highlight, underline and strike-through • Input texts with the color and font size you need • Draw shapes like rectangles, circles, lines, and arrows easily • Write on PDFs with the Ink tool, and erase the ink freely Organize Pages • Add, delete, and rotate pages supported • Extract pages from the PDF file with the aimed page range Fill out Forms & Sign PDFs • Insert text to the form at the place you need • Put common symbols like checkmarks and crossmarks in the document • Add built-in or customized stamps to the form • Sign the PDF with the signature created from image, keyboard, or drawing Manage PDFs • Manage PDF files with duplicate, rename, copy, move, share, etc. • Open and save PDFs in the device & iCloud

Screenshots

PDF Reader & Editor | Xodo4 screens
PDF Gear4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PDF Gear at none against PDF Reader & Editor | Xodo's 7. PDF Gear also leads on review sentiment (85% vs 56%) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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 Reader & Editor | Xodo sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month. PDF Gear asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PDF Gear holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Gear has 8.6K ratings behind it against 1.7K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of PDF Reader & Editor | Xodo's written reviews are positive against 85% of PDF Gear's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDF Reader & Editor | Xodo ships an update every 2 weeks, PDF Gear monthly. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
PDF Reader & Editor | Xodo versus PDF Gear: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF Reader & Editor | XodoPDF Gear
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (1.7K ratings)4.7 (8.6K ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.5% of reviews85.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.7K8.6K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size101 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperXodo Technologies Inc.PDF GEAR TECH PTE. LTD.

Customer experience

PDF Reader & Editor | Xodo

All ratings1,685 ratings
Positive83.2%
Neutral4.6%
Negative12.2%
Written reviews1,012 reviews
Positive55.5%
Neutral12.4%
Negative32.1%

PDF Gear

All ratings8,601 ratings
Positive93.6%
Neutral2.0%
Negative4.4%
Written reviews713 reviews
Positive85.1%
Neutral3.5%
Negative11.4%

User reviews

PDF Reader & Editor | Xodo

From 1.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Best PDF reader
  • 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
  • 🚀 Efficient PDF handling
  • 👍 Useful annotation tools
  • 👍 Convenient cloud sync

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and freezes
  • 🐛 Losing annotations and files
  • 🐛 Buggy updates
  • 🐛 Inconsistent performance
  • 🔒 Subscription model issues

PDF Gear

From 8.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Simplicity and reliability
  • 👍 Straightforward and easy to learn
  • 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • 👍 Excellent PDF handling capabilities
  • 🚀 Efficient and fast processing

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or corrupted files
  • 🐛 Limited functionality on iOS devices
  • 🐛 Unreliable auto-save and undo/redo features
  • 🐛 Inability to edit password-protected PDFs
  • 🐛 Annoying popups and requests for reviews

Bugs and requests

PDF Reader & Editor | Xodo

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Disappearing annotations
  • Inability to open saved files
  • Frequent crashes and freezes
  • Syncing issues with cloud storage
  • Incompatibility with iOS 14 updates

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add manual zoom percentage
  • Improve Apple Pencil support
  • Implement better page navigation
  • Allow exporting annotations
  • Add split-screen support on iPad
Show 1 more
  • Improve text editing and alignment

PDF Gear

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes when opening certain PDF files
  • Inability to edit text in forms on iPad
  • Corrupted PDFs after repeated editing and saving

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add password protection and encryption
  • Improve undo/redo functionality
  • Enhance text editing capabilities
  • Implement better auto-save and file recovery
  • Provide more customization options
Show 1 more
  • Integrate with more cloud storage services

In-app purchases

6 purchases

PDF Reader & Editor | Xodo

Subscriptions6
  • Xodo Mobile (Monthly)3 Days trial$11.991 Month
  • Xodo PDF Converter & Editor3 Days trial2 variants$11.991 Month
  • Xodo PDF Converter & Editor3 Days trial$39.991 Year
Show 3 more
  • Xodo Mobile (Yearly)1 Year trial$107.991 Year
  • Xodo Mobile (Yearly)7 Days trial$107.991 Year
  • Xodo Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$107.991 Year
None

PDF Gear

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PDF Reader & Editor | Xodo free?
PDF Reader & Editor | Xodo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PDF Gear free?
PDF Gear is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PDF Reader & Editor | Xodo or PDF Gear?
PDF Gear is rated higher. PDF Reader & Editor | Xodo averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while PDF Gear averages 4.7 from 8.6K ratings.
Do PDF Reader & Editor | Xodo or PDF Gear have ads?
Neither PDF Reader & Editor | Xodo nor PDF Gear shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PDF Reader & Editor | Xodo or PDF Gear?
PDF Reader & Editor | Xodo ships an update every 2 weeks, and PDF Gear monthly. Most recently, PDF Reader & Editor | Xodo was updated on September 25, 2026 and PDF Gear on September 25, 2026.

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