# Google Docs vs Polaris Viewer

The clearest difference is ads: Google Docs at none against Polaris Viewer's shown. Google Docs also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (3.2M vs 74). Polaris Viewer's advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Google Docs sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $199.99 per year and Polaris Viewer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Google Docs holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Google Docs has 3.2M ratings behind it against 74, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Google Docs's written reviews are positive against 56% of Polaris Viewer's.

Google Docs ships an update weekly, Polaris Viewer every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Google Docs | Polaris Viewer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (3.2M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-docs/id842842640/reviews)** | [4.6 (74 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polaris-viewer-pdf-document/id1361508774/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.2M** | 74 |
| Positive reviews | **69.8% of reviews** | 56.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#8** | — |
| Size | 348 MB | 177 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) | [Polaris Office Corp.](https://appshunter.io/developer/380275428) |

## What reviewers say

### Google Docs

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-docs/id842842640)

**Currently charting:** #8 Top Free · Productivity, #57 Top Free (US App Store)

Create, edit, and collaborate on documents online in real time. Work together seamlessly with your team, even offline, and access a variety of file types. AI-powered features can help draft and refine content.

**Highlights:** Real-time collaboration, Offline editing, Template library, Multiple file type support, AI-powered drafting, Commenting and action items

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Google AI Pro (5 TB) | $199.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient and accessible
- 👍 Seamless collaboration
- 🔒 Automatic saving
- 💡 Offline functionality
- 👍 Versatile for various uses

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Laggy performance and input delays
- 👎 Limited formatting and customization options
- 🔍 Difficult to organize and navigate documents
- 👎 Compatibility issues with other platforms

**Reported bugs**

- Unexpected crashes and document loss
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps
- Issues with image insertion and manipulation

**Requested features**

- Improved document organization with folders
- Expanded font and formatting options
- Better integration with Microsoft Office
- Smoother scrolling and navigation


### Polaris Viewer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polaris-viewer-pdf-document/id1361508774)

This app offers a mobile-optimized experience for viewing various document types, including Microsoft Office files, PDFs, and TXT. It provides smart document management features and supports cloud integration for easy access to your files.

**Highlights:** Mobile optimized document viewer, Supports Microsoft Office, PDF, TXT, Zip, CSV, Cloud storage integration (iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.), Smart document management, App lock with fingerprint, face, or password, Night mode and paper texture background options

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $10.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Google Docs free?

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

### Is Polaris Viewer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Google Docs or Polaris Viewer?

Google Docs is rated higher. Google Docs averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.2M ratings, while Polaris Viewer averages 4.6 from 74 ratings.

### Do Google Docs or Polaris Viewer have ads?

Polaris Viewer shows ads; Google Docs does not.

### Which is updated more often, Google Docs or Polaris Viewer?

Google Docs ships an update weekly, and Polaris Viewer every 3 months. Most recently, Google Docs was updated on September 25, 2026 and Polaris Viewer on September 22, 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.*