# PDF Reader Pro vs Adobe Scan

The clearest difference is price: Adobe Scan at Free against PDF Reader Pro's $19.99. Adobe Scan also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (1.6M vs 222). PDF Reader Pro's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Adobe Scan is free to download; PDF Reader Pro costs $19.99 up front. PDF Reader Pro sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $39.99 per year and Adobe Scan sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Adobe Scan holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Adobe Scan has 1.6M ratings behind it against 222, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of PDF Reader Pro's written reviews are positive against 83% of Adobe Scan's.

PDF Reader Pro ships an update every 2 months, Adobe Scan fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Reader Pro | Adobe Scan |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $19.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.3 (222 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-pro-signedit-pdf/id883101890/reviews) | **[4.9 (1.6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/adobe-scan-pdf-and-ocr-scanner/id1199564834/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 222 | **1.6M** |
| Positive reviews | 68.8% of reviews | **82.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #90 | **#12** |
| Size | 180 MB | 398 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PDF Technologies, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1263126485) | [Adobe Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/331646274) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Reader Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-pro-signedit-pdf/id883101890)

**Currently charting:** #90 Top Paid · Business (US App Store)

This app allows users to read, edit, annotate, sign, convert, and fill out PDF documents on their mobile devices. It offers features like text editing, image modification, page management, and OCR capabilities, making it a comprehensive tool for PDF management.

**Highlights:** Edit PDF text and images, Annotate with highlights, notes, and drawings, Sign PDFs with custom signatures, Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, and more, Fill out interactive PDF forms, OCR scanned documents, Merge, split, and reorder PDF pages

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Add 2-Device · Advanced Annual | $39.99 | per year |
| Add Devices · Advanced Annual | $49.99 | per year |
| PDF Pro · AI Annual | $79.99 | per year |
| Convert PDF to Office Pack | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly
- 🚀 Efficient file management
- 💡 Useful annotation tools
- 👍 Seamless cloud integration
- 🚀 Fast performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔒 Unreliable security features
- 💡 Limited text editing capabilities
- 🐛 Conversion issues (PDF to Word)
- 💡 Missing merge/reorder PDF functions

**Reported bugs**

- Corrupted PDF files after updates
- Disappearing files and loss of organization
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Unreliable PDF form filling
- Unexpected app crashes

**Requested features**

- Add undo/redo functionality
- Improve OCR accuracy
- Introduce password protection for PDFs
- Allow custom folder colors
- Enhance browser integration (history, new tabs)


### Adobe Scan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/adobe-scan-pdf-and-ocr-scanner/id1199564834)

**Currently charting:** #12 Top Grossing · Business, #34 Top Free · Business (US App Store)

Transform your mobile device into a powerful document scanner. Easily convert paper documents, receipts, and IDs into professional-looking PDFs or JPEGs. Enhance scans with automatic straightening, stain removal, and editable text conversion.

**Highlights:** High-speed bulk scanning, Convert paper to PDF/JPEG, Automatic straightening, Magic eraser for cleanup, Extract pages, Image to text OCR, Organize into folders

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Adobe Scan Premium | $3.99 | per month |
| Adobe Scan Plus - Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Adobe PDF Pack | $9.99 | per month |
| Adobe Scan Premium - Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Adobe Scan Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| Scan premium - monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Adobe Scan Plus - Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Adobe Scan Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Adobe Scan Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Adobe Scan Premium | $69.99 | per year |
| Adobe Scan Premium | $69.99 | per year |
| Adobe PDF Pack | $89.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 🚀 Quick scanning
- 👍 Convenient for on-the-go
- 🚀 High-quality scans

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 🐛 Issues with auto-cropping and alignment
- 🔒 Privacy concerns around cloud storage
- 💰 Expensive premium features

**Reported bugs**

- Scans not saving properly
- Compatibility issues with older devices
- Problems with multi-page document scanning

**Requested features**

- Add option to save scans locally without cloud sync
- Improve edge detection and auto-cropping accuracy
- Implement multi-language OCR support
- Allow manual control over scan settings and adjustments


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Reader Pro free?

PDF Reader Pro costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Adobe Scan free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PDF Reader Pro or Adobe Scan?

Adobe Scan is rated higher. PDF Reader Pro averages 4.3 out of 5 from 222 ratings, while Adobe Scan averages 4.9 from 1.6M ratings.

### Do PDF Reader Pro or Adobe Scan have ads?

Both PDF Reader Pro and Adobe Scan show ads.

### Which is updated more often, PDF Reader Pro or Adobe Scan?

PDF Reader Pro ships an update every 2 months, and Adobe Scan fortnightly. Most recently, PDF Reader Pro was updated on September 24, 2026 and Adobe Scan on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, PDF Reader Pro or Adobe Scan?

PDF Reader Pro currently peaks at #90 in the App Store charts, and Adobe Scan at #12. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*