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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Acrobat Reader vs PDF Editor ,PDF Book Reader ®

Acrobat Reader 4.7★ · Free to download 70
Winner Acrobat Reader
PDF Editor ,PDF Book Reader ® 4.3★ · Free + IAP 40

Acrobat Reader is generally preferred for its core PDF viewing and basic functionality, despite its cost and recent feature bloat, while PDF Editor, PDF Book Reader® struggles with core editing claims and aggressive monetization.

Full reviews: Acrobat Reader · PDF Editor ,PDF Book Reader ®

Acrobat Reader remains a widely used and often praised PDF viewer, though users express frustration with its pricing, performance issues, and new AI features. PDF Editor, PDF Book Reader® faces significant criticism for not delivering on its editing promises and for its aggressive subscription model, despite some users finding it useful for basic tasks.

Head to head

Core Functionality (Reading & Basic Use) edge: Acrobat ReaderR2R7R24R27
Acrobat Reader Acrobat Reader is highly praised for its ability to open and read all types of documents, with many users calling it excellent and essential for personal and professional use R2R56. However, some recent reviews indicate issues with slow loading times, freezing, and documents not opening or syncing across devices R7R24R27.
PDF Editor ,PDF Book Reader ® PDF Editor, PDF Book Reader® is also noted for being good for reading PDF files and ebooks, with some users finding it stable and smooth for this purpose . It also offers unique features like reading PDFs on Apple Watch . However, some users report the app crashing upon opening or when trying to open PDFs .
Editing Capabilities edge: Acrobat ReaderR9R15R18R41
Acrobat Reader Acrobat Reader users report that while the app is supposed to offer editing features, many advanced functions require payment R41R49. Some users find it difficult to perform promised tasks and are frustrated by the app's complexity when trying to create or edit PDFs R9R15. Recent updates have also caused issues, like checkboxes not appearing R18.
PDF Editor ,PDF Book Reader ® PDF Editor, PDF Book Reader® is heavily criticized for not delivering on its promise of being a PDF editor. Many users state they cannot actually edit text or add/remove pages, only use markup tools or add images R72. Some users do find it useful for filling forms, adding signatures, and highlighting text .
Price and Value tieR4R10R13R16
Acrobat Reader Acrobat Reader users frequently complain about the cost, stating that many essential features are locked behind paywalls and subscriptions R41. There are also numerous complaints about being charged after canceling free trials or subscriptions, and difficulty with customer service regarding billing issues R4R10R13R16.
PDF Editor ,PDF Book Reader ® PDF Editor, PDF Book Reader® also faces strong criticism for its pricing model. Users report being charged annual fees after canceling short free trials R67R78. Many features are paywalled, with some users stating they can't even open files in the free version . The app is seen as overpriced for its limited functionality .
User Experience and Interface edge: Acrobat ReaderR7R9R15R25
Acrobat Reader Some users find Acrobat Reader's interface slow and not user-friendly R7R15. Recent updates have introduced unwanted AI suggestions and pop-ups, cluttering the screen and frustrating users who just want to perform basic tasks R9. There are also complaints about difficulty signing in and the app taking over phone functions R25.
PDF Editor ,PDF Book Reader ® PDF Editor, PDF Book Reader® receives mixed reviews on its interface. Some users find it easy to use and practical . However, others describe the interface as terrible, challenging, and hard to use . There are also reports of typos in the app .
Reliability and Performance edge: Acrobat ReaderR7R24R27R31
Acrobat Reader Acrobat Reader users report frequent issues with the app freezing, glitching, and being slow to open documents R7R24R27. Some users experience problems with documents not syncing across devices or the app not updating properly . There are also severe complaints about files being deleted when the app is uninstalled R31.
PDF Editor ,PDF Book Reader ® PDF Editor, PDF Book Reader® also has reliability concerns, with reports of the app crashing upon opening or when trying to open PDFs . Some users mention it being slow for heavy ebooks and experiencing glitches . There are also reports of subscriptions not being honored .
Pick Acrobat Reader if

Pick Acrobat Reader if you need a reliable PDF viewer for all types of documents and are willing to tolerate its subscription costs for advanced features, or if your company requires its use R2R56.

Pick PDF Editor ,PDF Book Reader ® if

Pick PDF Editor, PDF Book Reader® if you primarily need basic PDF reading, form filling, signing, or scanning features, and appreciate its compatibility with Apple Watch, provided you are aware of its subscription model and limitations in actual PDF editing .

Evidence note: Acrobat Reader has a significantly larger number of reviews, providing a broader range of feedback. PDF Editor, PDF Book Reader® has many reviews that sound similar, raising questions about their authenticity . The free-vs-paid asymmetry is particularly strong for PDF Editor, PDF Book Reader®, where many negative reviews stem from users being unable to access basic functionality without paying, or being charged unexpectedly after free trials.

Frequently asked

Can I edit PDFs for free with these apps?
No, neither app allows robust PDF editing for free; Acrobat Reader locks most editing features behind a paid subscription R41R49, and PDF Editor, PDF Book Reader® is widely criticized for not offering true text editing even with a subscription, only basic markup R72R96.
Are there issues with free trials and subscriptions?
Yes, both apps have significant complaints regarding free trials and subscriptions; Acrobat Reader users report being charged after canceling trials or subscriptions R4R13, and PDF Editor, PDF Book Reader® users frequently mention being charged annual fees (around $30) after canceling short 3-day free trials R67R78.
Which app is better for basic PDF viewing?
Acrobat Reader is generally considered better for basic PDF viewing, with many users praising its ability to open all types of documents reliably R2R56, although some recent reviews note it can be slow to open files R24.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] Acrobat Reader 5/5 · US Genial: Está app es excelente. Abre toda clase de documentos recomendablemente 100%
  2. [R7] Acrobat Reader 1/5 · US Slow and hard to use: This app is slow, often glitches and is not user friendly
  3. [R24] Acrobat Reader 3/5 · GB Soooo slow!: App itself is fine and works well, but takes an age to open (like 20+ seconds to open a small sized standard PDF document). Seriously, what is the app doing to take so long to load - I can open the same documents in other PDF reader apps virtually instantly…
  4. [R27] Acrobat Reader 3/5 · GB Acrobat: The app is great but it keep freezes and unable to type and get you out of the app and won’t save your files it is a shame been using this app for years for my work , the app has soo many bugs that need fixing .
  5. [R9] Acrobat Reader 3/5 · US Too many issues: Adobe used to be my go to app for all my PDFs and all my work. Now it’s only functionable about half the time. My screen is filled with AI suggestions, when all I really want to do is create a PDF.
  6. [R15] Acrobat Reader 3/5 · US Sucks: Promises wonderful things, but it’s so difficult to what it says it will do that. It’s almost to work on. They’re real frustrating mess.
  7. [R18] Acrobat Reader 3/5 · US New update: My check boxes are not appearing on my phone when using a form, but They appear on the desktop. It was there before but not after this update.
  8. [R41] Acrobat Reader 1/5 · US Great, if you want to spend $$$: You immediately are bombarded with “opportunities” to upgrade, upgrade, upgrade. You have options to export to Word…but, wait! That requires upgrade for $$$$. You can’t use half the functionality without (wait for it!) upgrade $$$$. If you are reminiscent of hucksters at carnivals and circuses, offering one thing and then fleecing you out of your money, then this i
  9. [R4] Acrobat Reader 1/5 · US Charged after Canceling subscription: I canceled 2 months after that the company charged me $29.99… I didn’t find some mail to write message to them. Thank you.
  10. [R10] Acrobat Reader 1/5 · US Traps People: Adobe traps you into their universe so they can charge a bunch of money. Not cool.
  11. [R13] Acrobat Reader 2/5 · US Billing Scam: I signed up for a 7 day free trial and cancelled it the same day (I have proof) and was still charged $14.99. After speaking with Apple, they said that I may have had a subscription in the past which is definitely not the case. Presenting consumers with a trial that is not honored is a deceptive practice.
  12. [R16] Acrobat Reader 1/5 · US Tries to temporarily cancel: It would be hard to put into words the dissatisfaction in my experience with customer service for this product. I intended to shut it off temporarily, but, now, I will not go back and I will do my best to avoid Adobe products of any kind in the future.
  13. [R25] Acrobat Reader 1/5 · US They make it hard to sign in: They don’t seem to care about productivity
  14. [R31] Acrobat Reader 1/5 · US Files Deleted: When the app is deleted, all your associated pdfs go with it and there is no way to recover them.
  15. [R49] Acrobat Reader 1/5 · US Overly Complicated: Absolutely horrible experience trying to get a simple task done. They also have the audacity to charge for every single extension, tool, or service within the app it’s self because paying a monthly fee isn’t enough for them!
  16. [R72] PDF Editor ,PDF Book Reader ® 1/5 · US Don’t even waste time: The app description says “editor” but all you really can “edit” is by drawing with markup on your pdf.
  17. [R96] PDF Editor ,PDF Book Reader ® 1/5 · US Not actually a pdf editor: This app seems to be a scam because it doesn’t actually allow me to edit any pdfs. I hit the edit button and it just allows me to do “markup” but not actually edit the pdf.
  18. [R67] PDF Editor ,PDF Book Reader ® 1/5 · US Don't get the free trial: Got the 3 day FREE trial, canceled it within 30 minutes, but then they charged me the annual fee. App isn't great either.
  19. [R78] PDF Editor ,PDF Book Reader ® 1/5 · US charged me for a year-long subscription: i only needed this to fill out a few forms on the road. i would have been happy to pay for a monthly subscription but the only way to use the trial was to sign up for a yearly subscription. the trial period is bizarrely short (three days?????????) so now i paid $30 for an app that i don’t need!!!!!! annoying!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  20. [R56] Acrobat Reader 5/5 · US Since 2019: I believe it is 2019 since I’ve had this app on my phone and it truly has been such a vital part of everything I do, whether it’s personal or professional! I hope the developer never changes the good it already has! I would even dare to tell the developer not to attempt to even improve it because “don’t fix what’s not broken”. Seriously, don’t change anything about this app! It’s essen

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store