Comparison

PDF Reader vs Books Reader

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

Head to head
About

PDF Reader

This app allows you to read various document formats like PDF, EPUB, and CHM on your iPhone and iPad. It supports file import, text search, annotation, and even previewing MS Office files and videos. A simple to-do list and auto-save reading progress are also included.

Highlights
  • Reads PDF, CHM, EPUB, TXT files
  • PDF annotation and text search
  • File import via Files, Airdrop, iTunes, web
  • MS Office and video file preview
  • Simple To-Do list functionality
  • Auto-save reading progress
Features
Read full description

PDF Reader - Mini Version is an amazing reader App on iPhone and iPad Main Fatures: 1. support read pdf、chm、epub、txt file 2. support pdf annotation and text search 3. support import file via Files、Airdrop、iTunes、web browser 4. support MS office Word、Excel、PPT、Video and many other file types preview 5. support simple Todo list 6. support auto save reading progress 7. support Baidu Net Disk

About

Books Reader

This app provides a seamless e-reading experience, managing your ebook collection and offering customizable reading settings. It supports various formats and includes features like bookmarking, note-taking, and a read/unread tracker.

Highlights
  • Supports multiple ebook formats (epub, fb2, mobi, PDF)
  • Manages and organizes ebook collections
  • Customizable text size, color, theme, and brightness
  • Progress tracking and bookmarking
  • Note-taking and excerpt selection
  • Read/unread book tracker
  • Filtering and search functionality
Features
Read full description

Books Reader - its a perfect e-reading experience. Overdrive your reading skills everyday. For everyone reader we gift free books and e-reading collections. Books Reader is a laconic pocket library and intuitive tool for a perfect reading experience. Without extra fluff or complexity, it takes care of all the basic needs: managing your ebook collections, getting the text on the screen and letting you interact with it as you go at your prime reading. For a start, the app builds a library for you by rounding up all the book files stored on the device. Books Reader works with most popular ebooks formats (epub, fb2, mobi etc.), including zip archives. If necessary, you can tweak the list manually, by adding or removing specific titles for ibooks. However big your collection gets, browsing will remain easy thanks to a provided set of filters. Besides, the system is keeping track of your history to display the books in order of relevance. Viewing the book, you can adjust the settings for the best effect: change size and color of the text, pick the right theme and brightness level, use various controls options for turning pages. The combination of a progress bar, bookmarking and a search tool help to navigate the text effortlessly. Make sure to select the excerpts that stayed with you and import them to Notes with just a couple of taps. Books Reader offers: - A variety of ebook formats (epub, fb2,PDF, mobi and others); - Auto unpacking of zip archives; - A smart manager of the books stored on your device; - Read/unread books tracker; - Filtering system (by author, by date added or read, etc.); - Adjustable page/text settings (brightness, size, color, theme and more); - Several controls methods (scrolling, tapping or using buttons); - Marking pages and taking notes. Privacy Policy: https://villow.studio/privacy Term Of Use: https://villow.studio/terms

Screenshots

PDF Reader3 screens
Books Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PDF Reader at 71% against Books Reader's 38%. PDF Reader also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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 sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Books Reader sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PDF Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 22 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of PDF Reader's written reviews are positive against 38% of Books Reader's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDF Reader ships an update every 3 weeks, Books Reader every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
PDF Reader versus Books Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF ReaderBooks Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (8 ratings) — better4.7 (22 ratings)
Positive reviews71.4% of reviews — better37.5% of reviews
Number of ratings822 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB59 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer绪强 任Villow

Customer experience

PDF Reader

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral17.9%
Negative10.7%

Books Reader

All ratings22 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral4.5%
Negative4.5%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive37.5%
Neutral25.0%
Negative37.5%

In-app purchases

5 purchases

PDF Reader

One-time5
  • Reader App donate$0.99
  • Dropbox Support$0.99
  • Remove Ad$4.99
Show 2 more
  • Todo donate$7.99
  • Todo donate$14.99
9 purchases

Books Reader

Subscriptions4
  • Regular donation$1.991 Month
  • Regular donation$3.991 Month
  • Regular donation$5.991 Month
Show 1 more
  • Regular donation$9.991 Month
One-time5
  • Donation$1.99
  • Donation$3.99
  • Donation$5.99
Show 2 more
  • Donation$9.99
  • Custom Fonts & Themes$9.99

Questions

Is PDF Reader free?
PDF Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Books Reader free?
Books Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PDF Reader or Books Reader?
PDF Reader is rated higher. PDF Reader averages 4.9 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Books Reader averages 4.7 from 22 ratings.
Do PDF Reader or Books Reader have ads?
Neither PDF Reader nor Books Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PDF Reader or Books Reader?
PDF Reader ships an update every 3 weeks, and Books Reader every 3 months. Most recently, PDF Reader was updated on October 8, 2026 and Books Reader on September 23, 2026.

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