# PDF Reader vs Simple Pdf

The clearest difference is rating: PDF Reader at 4.0 against Simple Pdf's 3.2. PDF Reader also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDF Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Simple Pdf sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 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 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Reader has 91 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 47% of PDF Reader's written reviews are positive against 29% of Simple Pdf's.

PDF Reader ships an update monthly, Simple Pdf every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Reader | Simple Pdf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (91 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-reader-edit-and-storage/id889642590/reviews)** | [3.2 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-pdf-reader/id1513739391/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **91** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **46.7% of reviews** | 28.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 52 MB | 75 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ABV Mobile](https://appshunter.io/developer/595885253) | [AMARDEEP DHILLON](https://appshunter.io/developer/999752727) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### Simple Pdf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-pdf-reader/id1513739391)

Easily view, manage, and create PDF files. This app allows you to open local PDFs, load them from the internet, and even scan documents with your camera. It also supports merging, splitting, converting PDFs to images, and adding signatures.

**Highlights:** View local PDF files, Scan documents and convert to PDF, Merge and split PDF files, Convert PDF to images, Add digital signatures, Organize and manage files

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock all features | $3.99 | per month |
| Unlock feature yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Remove ads | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Reader free?

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

### Is Simple Pdf free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PDF Reader or Simple Pdf?

PDF Reader is rated higher. PDF Reader averages 4.0 out of 5 from 91 ratings, while Simple Pdf averages 3.2 from 6 ratings.

### Do PDF Reader or Simple Pdf have ads?

Simple Pdf shows ads; PDF Reader does not.

### Which is updated more often, PDF Reader or Simple Pdf?

PDF Reader ships an update monthly, and Simple Pdf every 5 months. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on September 30, 2026 and Simple Pdf on September 28, 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.*