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.
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.
- Freehand drawing on PDFs
- Text and image insertion
- iCloud sync and HandOff
- DOC/DOCX read support
- Graphical file manager
- Speech-to-text dictation
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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
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.
- Ink annotation optimized
- Digital signature tool
- Document review and sharing
- Note-taking on documents
- Built-in file manager
- Color-coded categories
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. PDF Edit Express sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Smart PDF Editor asks for nothing beyond the download.
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.
| Parameter | PDF Edit Express | Smart PDF Editor |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 3.8 (109 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 20.9% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 109 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | Every 7 months — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free — better | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 18 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mach Software Design | Qrayon, LLC |
Customer experience
PDF Edit Express
Smart PDF Editor
In-app purchases
PDF Edit Express
- Remove Ads2 variants$0.99
Smart PDF Editor
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is PDF Edit Express free?
Is Smart PDF Editor free?
Do PDF Edit Express or Smart PDF Editor have ads?
Which is updated more often, PDF Edit Express or Smart PDF Editor?
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