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

PDF Expert vs Documents

PDF Expert 4.7★ · Free to download 65
Winner Tie
Documents 4.8★ · Free to download 65

PDF Expert is generally preferred for dedicated PDF editing, especially for academic or professional use, while Documents is a more versatile file manager with strong media capabilities, though both face significant user frustration over subscription models and feature changes.

Full reviews: PDF Expert · Documents

Both PDF Expert and Documents are highly-rated apps from the same developer, Readdle, offering robust file management and PDF capabilities. However, recent changes to their pricing models and feature sets have led to user dissatisfaction, with many features previously available for a one-time purchase now locked behind subscriptions. PDF Expert is often praised for its PDF editing, while Documents is valued for its broader file management and media playback features.

Head to head

Features & Functionality tieR8R10R12R13
PDF Expert PDF Expert is lauded for its strong PDF editing, annotation, and conversion features, making it useful for academic and professional work R8. Users appreciate its UI and smooth syncing . However, recent updates have introduced issues like disappearing annotations, blank tabs, and crashes R12R13R15. Some users also report problems with file management, such as difficulty finding or moving files . There's also a lack of Apple Pencil Pro support, which is a drawback for some users R8R30. The forced AI features are also a point of frustration R10.
Documents Documents is praised as a versatile file manager, excellent for downloading and organizing files, and even playing music and videos . Users appreciate its ability to save links and interact with them like files . However, recent updates have introduced significant bugs, including app crashes, lost files, and non-functional search features . Some users also report issues with video playback and the removal of features like AirDrop .
Ease of Use tieR6R9R43R45
PDF Expert PDF Expert is generally considered easy to use for its core PDF editing functions . However, some users find the UI cluttered with new AI features , and experience frustration with specific interactions like highlighting text in text boxes or adding bullet points R43. Issues with signing in on multiple devices and managing purchases also add complexity R6R9R45.
Documents Documents is praised for its convenience in keeping important files in one place and being easy to operate . However, users report difficulties with file organization, making it hard to find or move files . The app's initial setup and tutorials can also be frustrating .
Reliability & Performance tieR12R15R18R22
PDF Expert PDF Expert's reliability has declined for some users, with reports of freezing, crashing, and lost tabs R15R28. Specific issues include articles not downloading completely, weird formatting after conversion, and exponentially inflating file sizes R12R18. Login and server security issues also lead to frequent service interruptions R22.
Documents Documents also faces significant reliability concerns, with users reporting app crashes, especially when playing music or dealing with heavy PDFs . Some users have lost entire PDF forms due to a lack of autosave . After updates, some users can't even open the app , and videos may not launch . There are also reports of the app causing devices to run hot .
Price & Value tieR1R5R7R16
PDF Expert PDF Expert is widely criticized for its subscription model, with many users expressing frustration that features they previously paid for as a one-time purchase are now behind a paywall R1R7R16. Some users feel deceived by the trial and unexpected charges . While some find the $50 annual subscription worth it for heavy use R5, others refuse to pay for a subscription R16.
Documents Documents also faces strong criticism for its subscription model, with users feeling that features they previously had access to are now paywalled R61. Many users feel the subscription fees are undisclosed or too high R61. Legacy users who paid for the app years ago are particularly upset about losing features .
Customer Support edge: PDF ExpertR4R7R22R28
PDF Expert PDF Expert receives negative feedback regarding its customer service. Users report poor support, difficulty restoring purchases, and being ignored after being charged R4R7R22R28. Some users have had to argue with support and provide old receipts to regain access to features they already paid for R7R28.
Documents Documents has some mentions of support , but also reports of developers not responding to emails regarding issues . There are no extensive positive or negative comments on customer support to draw a clear conclusion.
Pick PDF Expert if

You need a dedicated PDF editor for academic or professional work and are willing to pay for a subscription, especially if you value features like text editing, annotation, and conversion .

Pick Documents if

You need a versatile file manager that can handle various file types, including media, and you appreciate features like downloading and organizing files, and playing music and videos .

Evidence note: Both apps are from the same developer, Readdle, and share similar complaints regarding their shift to subscription models and the removal of previously paid-for features. The evidence for customer support is stronger for PDF Expert, indicating negative experiences, while Documents has less specific feedback on this dimension.

Frequently asked

Are PDF Expert and Documents truly free?
Both PDF Expert and Documents are free to download, but many core features, especially advanced PDF editing and file management tools, are locked behind a subscription paywall, leading to user frustration over undisclosed fees and features being removed from previous one-time purchases R1R7R31R61.
Do these apps support Apple Pencil Pro?
PDF Expert users specifically note a lack of support for the Apple Pencil Pro, particularly the squeeze gesture for changing tools or erasing, which slows down their workflow R8R30. Documents reviews do not mention Apple Pencil Pro support.
Can I use these apps across multiple devices?
Users of PDF Expert report difficulties with account sign-in across multiple devices and confusion regarding purchases not transferring between Mac and mobile devices, questioning if they need to purchase plans again R6R9R45R56. Documents reviews do not provide clear information on multi-device usage beyond general file syncing capabilities.

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. [R8] PDF Expert 4/5 · US Great app, but would be better with Apple Pencil Pro support: This is my preferred app for reading and annotating pdfs for academic work. My only gripe is that it doesnt support the Apple Pencil Pro. I’d love to be able to hide the toolbar and change tools via the squeeze gesture, which would allow me to work in truly full screen mode.
  2. [R10] PDF Expert 2/5 · US AI made it worse: No matter how many times you check the box to not open copilot automatically it still opens. It also seems to forget what document I had open now. Great app that is going downhill fast.
  3. [R12] PDF Expert 3/5 · US Use to be better😞: I’m not sure why, but this app has stopped downloading parts of the articles I’m trying to save and annotate. The first year, the app downloaded the articles completely but the second year- it only downloads parts of the articles. Additionally, if you change the article to a PDF- there is some weird formatting. Disappointing.
  4. [R13] PDF Expert 2/5 · US Use to be good: All my tabs are blank, the files are there, but have to open each one to see which one it is, as all the tabs show no title. PLEASE FIX!!!
  5. [R6] PDF Expert 3/5 · US Sign in is useless for me: When attempting to sign in, it forces you to open you email on the same device your signing in on. I don’t have that email on the device. So I cannot sign in. Making the app useless for me.
  6. [R9] PDF Expert 3/5 · US Can't open account on 2nd device: Also, the payment process is inscrutable.
  7. [R43] PDF Expert 1/5 · US Functionality is terrible: This app is so wonky and sensitive. Every time I try to highlight text in a text box it’s a 5 minute process to try to get it right without the app thinking I’m moving the text box around. There are constant double spaces between words that seem to never go away. Bullet points are impossible to add. You can’t change line spacing whatsoever. This list goes on, glad I got
  8. [R45] PDF Expert 3/5 · GB Only for one device？: I purchased this app on my Mac on 23rd October for £129.99, but I cannot find the purchase record on my mobile. Do I need to purchase the plan again? Wasn't it supposed to be usable simultaneously on iPhone, iPad, and Mac?
  9. [R15] PDF Expert 3/5 · US good but its bugging and freezing for me right now and sometimes i lose all my tabs: and the pages can be blank for a while, and clicking tools can sometimes result in crashes. another annoying thing that can happen is that i can lose all my pdf tabs when exiting the app entirely or opening a new pdf.
  10. [R18] PDF Expert 3/5 · US 4-15-26 update broke something: File sizes the past two days have been inflating exponentially. I duplicate a blank form that is 200kb, add one alpha character, and suddenly the size is 3-5mb. Usually this app is super helpful. Have been using it for a few years. But I create a lot of simple forms that store as 1-2mb complete. The reason I noticed was I had one with moderate text added that went o
  11. [R22] PDF Expert 1/5 · US The software is horrible and their Customer Service is worse!: The software is horrible and there’s too many issues with logging in and the security they use with their server constantly logs you out and you have to contact customer support to get it working again and 2 to 3 weeks later it’ll work for a little while and then it logs you out again and removes your services. The software makes using
  12. [R1] PDF Expert 1/5 · US Everything is paid: Everything is paid, the only free features are reading a PDF and leaving a note on it. · translated
  13. [R5] PDF Expert 5/5 · US Wow just wow: I usually don’t care for paying for subscriptions to anything so I canceled this after seven days however, this thing is definitely worth it I just needed it from one document, but I would definitely buy it if I needed it.
  14. [R7] PDF Expert 1/5 · US Same paid features removed again with no permanent fix: I bought PDF Converter separately in 2018 for $4.99, entitling me to permanent conversion access under the terms sold at the time. This is the second time Readdle has revoked that access, first in 2025, now again in June 2026, both times forcing me to argue with support and provide old receipts just to get back something I already paid for.
  15. [R16] PDF Expert 2/5 · US No-go on the endless subscription fee.: This is an excellent app, especially the fully featured pro version. Well worth a reasonable one time cost, with possible future functionality upgrades that could be available for an additional cost. I know developing software isn’t cheap. Except that everyone used to sell software for a fixed price and now everyone (almost) has gone to a subscription model
  16. [R4] PDF Expert 1/5 · US Poor customer service: I have purchased this software multiple times because no one will help me restore the purchase. Buyer beware
  17. [R28] PDF Expert 2/5 · US Used to be a great product. What happened?: UPDATE: With months of emails to PDF Expert complaining of constant freezing and crashing while always referencing my purchase of their original grandfathered one-time fee app, PDF Expert just completely severed my original features that were purchased years ago before they converted to a subscription service and now challenges whether my purchase ever e
  18. [R31] PDF Expert 1/5 · US Not free: It's listed among free apps but it's not free. They ask you to log in and get your information. This is the era of selling user data, and I, in turn, ask users to rate the app one star. They could have listed the app under paid apps or told us it wasn't free, but after registration! They tell us it's not completely free. · translated
  19. [R61] Documents 1/5 · US Undisclosed Fees After First 7 Days!: Listing in AppStore said only “In-App Purchases,” implying that it’s a free app with possibly optional add-ons that would cost extra; standard model I’ve encountered in MANY APPS over years. Instead, when I opened your Documents app, I was summarily informed that I had 7 days free trial period, after which I would be charged monthly fees!! I never agreed to th
  20. [R30] PDF Expert 3/5 · US Doesn’t support Apple Pencil Pro: I’ve used this app for probably a decade but I’m going to have discontinue it until there is support for the Apple Pencil Pro “squeeze to eraser” function. I’m now using this feature in all my other apps and no longer have double tap set to erase. This slows down my work in PDF Expert considerably because 1) I wind up squeezing and then scribbling when I try to
  21. [R56] PDF Expert 4/5 · US iOS so-so: Using a doc an hour on my iPhone & can’t find on iPad

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