# File vs PDF Reader

The clearest difference is rating: PDF Reader at 4.0 against File's 2.6. PDF Reader also leads on ratings volume (91 vs 5). File's advantage is review sentiment (72% vs 47%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. File sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and PDF Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PDF Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Reader has 91 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 72% of File's written reviews are positive against 47% of PDF Reader's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

File ships an update every 2 weeks, PDF Reader monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | File | PDF Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-drop/id815466873/reviews) | **[4.0 (91 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-edit-and-storage/id889642590/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **91** |
| Positive reviews | **72.2% of reviews** | 46.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 22 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [典 熊](https://appshunter.io/developer/812126908) | [ABV Mobile](https://appshunter.io/developer/595885253) |

## What reviewers say

### File

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-drop/id815466873)

Easily transfer and manage files between your Apple devices and PCs. This app offers a simple yet powerful interface for seamless file sharing over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, with built-in tools for previewing and organizing your data.

**Highlights:** Cross-device file transfer, File management, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support, Multi-type file preview, Zip/unzip functionality, In-app photo/video sharing

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove ADs | $0.99 | one-time |


### PDF Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-edit-and-storage/id889642590)

Easily view, edit, search, and annotate PDF documents. This software helps manage your daily work needs by supporting multiple document formats and offering convenient sharing and printing options.

**Highlights:** View PDF documents, Text search within PDFs, Annotate documents, Document management, Support multiple formats, Share and print PDFs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly VIP | $1.99 | per month |
| Annual VIP | $14.49 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is File free?

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

### Is PDF Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, File or PDF Reader?

PDF Reader is rated higher. File averages 2.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while PDF Reader averages 4.0 from 91 ratings.

### Do File or PDF Reader have ads?

Neither File nor PDF Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, File or PDF Reader?

File ships an update every 2 weeks, and PDF Reader monthly. Most recently, File was updated on October 10, 2026 and PDF Reader on September 30, 2026.

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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.*