Comparison

PDF Edit Express vs Smart PDF Editor

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

Head to head
About

PDF Edit Express

Edit and annotate PDFs and TXT files with freehand drawing, text tools, and image insertion. Seamlessly sync and transfer documents across Apple devices using iCloud.

Highlights
  • Freehand drawing on PDFs
  • Text and image insertion
  • iCloud sync and HandOff
  • DOC/DOCX read support
  • Graphical file manager
  • Speech-to-text dictation
Features
Read full description

PDF Edit Express is a flexible and powerful new iCloud PDF and TXT Note Taker, Signer, Form Filler, Drawing/Diagram app, and Annotator for iOS and OS X. PDF Edit Express features freehand drawing using a native PDF Format, allowing you to use powerful note taking and annotating tools to markup PDFs instantly. Featuring iCloud Drive* and iCloud Continuity/HandOff** Support so not only are all your PDFs synced to all your devices, but you can also transfer PDFs between devices instantly. PDF Edit Express is not only the most innovative PDF apps for Mobile and Desktop, yet also the easiest to use PDF creation and markup applications in the world. And best of all, PDF Edit Express is free for iOS and only $6.99 (U.S.) for OS X! With iCloud Drive, you can take Notes on the go and have your Notes ready at your Mac or Windows PC already downloaded when you get home* And If that wasn't enough, PDFs can be transferred instantly from one device to another with iCloud HandOff so you can start working on one device, and continue on another (iPhone, iPad, and Mac)** iOS Specific Features: - Innovative Graphical File Manager with Natural Touch Gestures: Single Tap to Select a File, Double-Tap to Open a File, Two Finger "Pinch" to Zoom the File Manager, and Tap and Hold to Drag Files onto Folders - Photorealistic page swipe animations (swipe the vertical edge of a PDF page horizontally to go to the previous or next page) - Draw using Palm Rest or Magnifier Window with "Smart Shift" technology - DOC/DOCX Read Support Included Innovative Features on both iOS and OS X: - Freehand draw on PDFs with “Vector" note taking tools such as Pencil, Eraser, and Highlighter; keeping PDF file sizes small - iCloud support keeps your documents in Sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac; and with iCloud Drive, Windows PCs and well* - iCloud Continuity/HandOff lets you start work on one device and continue on another (iPhone, iPad, and Mac)** - DOC/DOCX Read support on iOS, DOC/DOCX Read/Write support on OS X - Create blank PDFs super easily and add Text, Drawings, Images, Web Pages, and more - TXT Word processing support for instances when all you need is the keyboard - Text Tool lets your Touch/Click to Type anywhere (iPad/Mac) - Cut Tool Makes it easy to reposition PDF content - Add Images, Text, and Web Pages to a PDF instantly (iPad/Mac) - Full Speech-To-Text Dictation support anywhere you can Type (Press Dictation key on keyboard on iOS, press “Fn” key twice on OS X) - Read Support for Password-Protected PDFs - iCloud is completely optional — PDF Edit Express works just as well offline as online! *iCloud Drive Support for Windows requires iCloud Drive install, iCloud Drive for Mac requires OS X 10.10 or later; iCloud Drive supports PDF/TXT/DOC/DOCX **iCloud HandOff requires both Bluetooth 4.0/LE and WiFi on and enabled

About

Smart PDF Editor

This app is a PDF editor designed for efficient ink annotations, especially with a stylus. It helps professionals sign and share documents, and students take notes on study materials. Organize your files with a built-in manager.

Highlights
  • Ink annotation optimized
  • Digital signature tool
  • Document review and sharing
  • Note-taking on documents
  • Built-in file manager
  • Color-coded categories
Features
Read full description

Smart PDF is a PDF editor specially optimized for ink annotations. Use it with an Apple Pencil for the ultimate ease in note taking. Great for professionals Quickly sign and send documents. Review, annotate and share files with your colleagues. Great for students If you spend a lot of time reading and studying documents on your iPad, then Smart PDF is an indispensable tool for getting the most out of your study time. Take notes on documents in class, or while studying at home. Keep all your files organized with the built-in file manager, with color-coded categories. We hope you enjoy Smart PDF! -- The App Makers @ Qrayon

Screenshots

PDF Edit Express4 screens
Smart PDF Editor4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Smart PDF Editor at none against PDF Edit Express's 2. Smart PDF Editor also leads on review sentiment (21% vs 0%). PDF Edit Express's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement 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 Edit Express sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Smart PDF Editor asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDF Edit Express ships an update every 11 months, Smart PDF Editor every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
PDF Edit Express versus Smart PDF Editor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF Edit ExpressSmart PDF Editor
PriceFreeFree
Rating—3.8 (109 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews20.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—109 — better
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsEvery 7 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB11 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperMach Software DesignQrayon, LLC

Customer experience

PDF Edit Express

Written reviews3 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Smart PDF Editor

All ratings109 ratings
Positive67.9%
Neutral5.5%
Negative26.6%
Written reviews43 reviews
Positive20.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative79.1%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

PDF Edit Express

One-time1
  • Remove Ads2 variants$0.99
None

Smart PDF Editor

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PDF Edit Express free?
PDF Edit Express is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Smart PDF Editor free?
Smart PDF Editor is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do PDF Edit Express or Smart PDF Editor have ads?
Smart PDF Editor shows ads; PDF Edit Express does not.
Which is updated more often, PDF Edit Express or Smart PDF Editor?
PDF Edit Express ships an update every 11 months, and Smart PDF Editor every 7 months. Most recently, PDF Edit Express was updated on September 10, 2026 and Smart PDF Editor on September 15, 2026.

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