12 Apps ComparedSeptember 2025

Best PDF Editor Apps for iOS - September 2025

These PDF editor apps for iOS offer powerful tools for editing, annotating, and managing documents on the go, with features like AI assistance and seamless collaboration.

Best PDF Editor Apps for iOS - September 2025

Our Top Pick

The best pdf editor app for iOS

#1
Adobe Acrobat Reader: Edit PDF icon

Adobe Acrobat Reader: Edit PDF

Adobe Inc.

4.7
553,554 ratings

Why It's #1

  • Adobe AI Assistant
  • PDF Spaces
  • Real-time collaboration

About Adobe Acrobat Reader: Edit PDF

Major new update: The new Adobe Acrobat AI Assistant makes it easier than ever to do more with PDFs. โ€ข Work across multiple files in one place with PDF Spaces. Collaborate, store, and use AI Assistant across files โ€ข Use voice or text prompts with AI Assistant chatbot โ€ข Ask questions and get cited answers about details in your document, including charts, graphs, and tables with Figures Q&A โ€ข Easily share the responses you get โ€ข Try voice support to ask queries and have answers read aloud. โ€ข Use new Hands-free to keep the conversation flowing with voice only โ€ข Instantly generate summaries from your PDFs with Generative AI Summaries โ€ข Get content for emails, text, study notes, blogs, and more [Adobe Acrobat AI Assistant is a paid feature*, free for a limited time] The worldโ€™s most trusted PDF reader, PDF editor, and PDF maker with more than 635 million installs. View, share, annotate, add comments, and sign documents - all in one app. You can store your files online and read documents anywhere. Get your 7-day free trial and try all the features of Acrobat Reader. Paid features: Edit PDFs โ€ข With our PDF editor, edit text and images directly in your PDF (mobile only) โ€ข Fix typos or add paragraphs with the PDF editor โ€ข Easily add, delete, or rotate any image โ€ข Use this PDF signer and PDF viewer to get your docs just right Recognize text โ€ข Optical Character Recognition (OCR) turns scanned PDFs into searchable, editable text to use in other formats Merge & organize PDFs with PDF Converter โ€ข Split or combine multiple files into one PDF with PDF converter โ€ข Use the PDF editor to insert, delete, rotate, crop & reorder pages in your PDF file Create, convert & export PDFs โ€ข Easily convert to PDF from any file type including Microsoft, Google Docs, and images โ€ข Export and convert PDFs to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or various image files โ€ข Convert web pages to PDFs Compress & highly secure PDFs โ€ข Compress PDF files for easy saving and sharing โ€ข Password Protect PDF documents Have your PDF read aloud โ€ข Listen to your PDFs on the go, great for reading support โ€ข Choose free voices or upgrade for high-quality options Subscribe now to access all these features and use Acrobat across mobile and web platforms. Free-to-use features: PDF signer: Fill & Sign Adobe Fill & Sign is free & available in Acrobat Reader. A form filler and PDF signer that lets you fill, sign, and send Liquid mode in the optimal PDF viewer โ€ข Get the best PDF reading experience with this PDF viewer โ€ข Search, navigate & adjust font size or spacing to fit your screen Share PDFs & collaborate โ€ข Share files for commenting or viewing, tag others with @mention, and manage all comments in one place โ€ข Receive activity notifications for shared files Annotate PDFs โ€ข Add sticky notes, comments, and highlight text Store & manage files โ€ข Link online storage accounts like Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, or Google Drive โ€ข Star files to quickly open important documents Connect the PDF viewer and reader to Google Drive โ€ข A PDF creator that lets you edit, compress, and export Google Drive files with a subscription Work with scanned documents โ€ข Access scanned PDFs from Adobe Scan in Acrobat to fill, sign, and share The Acrobat Reader mobile app is designed to work with customers who have Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) enabled. *An Adobe Acrobat AI Assistant add-on plan is available to Acrobat Individual customers. iOS 16 or above required. Terms & Conditions: Your use of this application is governed by the Adobe General Terms of Use http://www.adobe.com/go/terms_linkfree_en and the Adobe Privacy Policy http://www.adobe.com/go/privacy_policy_linkfree_en Do not sell or share my personal information www.adobe.com/go/ca-rights-linkfree

Overview

These PDF editor apps for iOS offer powerful tools for editing, annotating, and managing documents on the go, with features like AI assistance and seamless collaboration.

Ideal for students, professionals, and anyone needing to handle PDFs efficiently on their iPhone or iPad, enhancing productivity and document workflows.

We evaluated based on features, ease of use, pricing, user reviews, and innovation in AI and editing capabilities.

Why Adobe Acrobat Reader: Edit PDF is Our #1 Pick

Key Reasons:

Advanced AI Assistant for enhanced productivity

Seamless integration with Adobe ecosystem

High user ratings and reliability

Standout Features:

AI Assistant for smart editing

PDF Spaces for collaboration

Cross-platform compatibility

"Users love its comprehensive features and ease of use for professional document handling."

- What users love most

Our Recommendations

Best Overall

Adobe Acrobat Reader: Edit PDF

Offers the most comprehensive feature set with AI assistance, making it ideal for all user levels.

๐Ÿ’š Best Free

PDF Editor, PDF Book Reader

Provides robust free features with Apple Intelligence integration, great for cost-conscious users.

๐Ÿ’Ž Best Premium

pdfFiller: edit PDF documents

Worth the cost for unlimited document handling and eSign capabilities, perfect for professionals.

Easiest to Use

Microsoft Word

Familiar interface and simple tools make it accessible for beginners, though not solely for PDFs.

Most Innovative

Adobe Acrobat Reader: Edit PDF

Pioneers AI features like the AI Assistant, setting trends in smart document management.

The 12 Best pdf editor Apps

Adobe Acrobat Reader: Edit PDF icon
1

Adobe Acrobat Reader: Edit PDF

by Adobe Inc.โ˜…4.7/5(553,554 reviews)Free
Best for:Professionals and heavy users needing advanced editing

Pros:

  • Free with premium options
  • AI Assistant enhances functionality
  • Excellent for multi-file management

Cons:

  • Can be resource-intensive
  • Some features require subscription
Key Features:Adobe AI Assistant, PDF Spaces, Real-time collaboration

The top choice for its robust AI-powered editing and collaboration tools.

PDF Editor, PDF Book Reader icon
2

PDF Editor, PDF Book Reader

by Milad Fakhrโ˜…4.3/5(21,840 reviews)Free
Best for:Users needing cross-device functionality

Pros:

  • Works on multiple Apple devices
  • Powered by Apple Intelligence
  • Free to use

Cons:

  • May have limited advanced features
  • Interface can be cluttered
Key Features:Apple Intelligence integration, Multi-platform support, Document archiving

A versatile app with broad device support and productivity boosts.

pdfFiller: edit PDF documents icon
3

pdfFiller: edit PDF documents

by airSlate, Inc.โ˜…4.3/5(6,079 reviews)Free
Best for:Business users requiring eSign and document management

Pros:

  • Extensive editing features
  • eSign capabilities
  • Free with options

Cons:

  • Can be overwhelming for beginners
  • Ads in free version
Key Features:Unlimited document handling, eSign functionality, Mobile office suite

A powerful mobile office solution for unlimited PDF management.

Microsoft Word icon
4

Microsoft Word

by Microsoft Corporationโ˜…4.7/5(2,590,359 reviews)Free
Best for:Users already in the Microsoft ecosystem

Pros:

  • High user rating
  • Easy to use
  • Integrates with Office suite

Cons:

  • Not specialized for PDF editing
  • Limited PDF-specific features
Key Features:Word processing capabilities, Email attachment handling, Text-to-speech feature

A trusted app for creating and editing documents with ease.

User Sentiment: Users praise its ease of use and integration, with features like text review helping in writing projects.
CamScanner - PDF Scanner App icon
5

CamScanner - PDF Scanner App

by INTSIG Information Co., Ltdโ˜…4.9/5(1,663,519 reviews)Free
Best for:Scanning and digitizing documents quickly

Pros:

  • Excellent OCR technology
  • High-quality scans
  • Free with good features

Cons:

  • Ads can be intrusive
  • Privacy concerns in past versions
Key Features:Automatic text recognition, Portable scanner functionality, Trusted by large user base

An intelligent scanner app trusted by millions for text recognition.

User Sentiment: Users love its ease of use and lack of pushy ads, with many citing it as a lifesaver for work and school.
iScanner: PDF Document Scanner icon
6

iScanner: PDF Document Scanner

by BPMobileโ˜…4.8/5(1,324,066 reviews)Free
Best for:Quick document scanning and management

Pros:

  • Speed and efficiency
  • Intuitive design
  • High user ratings

Cons:

  • Limited editing features
  • May require premium for advanced tools
Key Features:10+ years of development, High-speed scanning, User-friendly interface

A fast and intuitive scanner app with a decade of experience.

User Sentiment: Users appreciate its efficiency and value, with many calling it the best scanner app they've used.
Foxit PDF Editor icon
7

Foxit PDF Editor

by FOXIT SOFTWARE INCORPORATEDโ˜…4.5/5(4,733 reviews)Free
Best for:Casual users needing simple edits

Pros:

  • Trusted brand
  • Easy to use
  • Free version available

Cons:

  • Not as feature-rich as some competitors
  • Can have performance issues
Key Features:Mobile editing capabilities, Trusted reliability, Cross-platform support

A versatile and easy-to-use PDF editor trusted by millions.

PDF Expert - Editor and Reader icon
8

PDF Expert - Editor and Reader

by Readdle Technologies Limitedโ˜…4.7/5(210,818 reviews)Free
Best for:Users valuing speed and design

Pros:

  • Fast performance
  • Intuitive UI
  • Good for multiple devices

Cons:

  • Some features locked behind paywall
  • Can be pricey for premium
Key Features:Optimized for iPhone and iPad, Easy PDF reading, Vision Pro support

A fast and well-designed app for reading and editing PDFs.

PDF Editor icon
9

PDF Editor

by SMM service, s.r.o.โ˜…4.6/5(20,980 reviews)Free
Best for:Quick edits and signatures

Pros:

  • Free to use
  • Good for basic edits
  • Scan and convert features

Cons:

  • Limited advanced tools
  • May have ads
Key Features:Document scanning, eSign capabilities, Import from various sources

A handy app for on-the-go PDF editing and signing.

PDF Scanner App - Tiny Scanner icon
10

PDF Scanner App - Tiny Scanner

by TinyWork Appsโ˜…4.8/5(160,250 reviews)Free
Best for:Scanning receipts and simple documents

Pros:

  • Long-standing reliability
  • Easy to use
  • Free with good features

Cons:

  • Basic editing only
  • Not for complex tasks
Key Features:10+ years in market, Document recognition, User-friendly design

A simple and professional scanner app trusted for over a decade.

MobiOffice docs & PDF editor icon
11

MobiOffice docs & PDF editor

by MobiSystems, Inc.โ˜…4.7/5(42,702 reviews)Free
Best for:Users needing full office functionality

Pros:

  • Comprehensive office tools
  • Free version available
  • Good for multiple formats

Cons:

  • Can be bloated
  • Learning curve for advanced features
Key Features:Document creation and editing, Format conversion, Protection features

A smart office suite for creating and editing documents.

PDF Reader - Editor & Viewer icon
12

PDF Reader - Editor & Viewer

by Kdan Mobile Software LTDโ˜…4.5/5(2,351 reviews)Free
Best for:Casual users needing simple PDF handling

Pros:

  • Easy PDF viewing
  • Free basic features
  • Good for quick tasks

Cons:

  • Limited editing capabilities
  • May require premium for full features
Key Features:Mobile optimization, Scan and share features, Cross-platform availability

A mobile-friendly app for viewing and managing PDFs on the go.

Comparison Insights

Key Differences

Apps vary from specialized scanners to full editors; some focus on collaboration, others on simplicity. Adobe leads in AI, while others excel in specific niches like scanning.

How to Choose

Consider needed features (e.g., editing, scanning), device compatibility, pricing, and user reviews. Prioritize apps with high ratings and relevant tools.

Common Limitations

Free versions may lack advanced editing, require internet for some features, and have privacy concerns. Not all handle complex PDF forms well.

Emerging Trends

Increased use of AI for automation, better cloud integration, and enhanced mobile editing capabilities are on the rise.

Key Insights

AI integration is becoming standard, free versions often have ads, and scanning features are highly valued. User ratings correlate with ease of use and reliability.

Buying Guide

Essential Features

  • โ€ขText editing and annotation
  • โ€ขPDF scanning with OCR
  • โ€ขFile sharing and collaboration

Nice to Have

  • โ€ขAI-powered tools
  • โ€ขeSign functionality
  • โ€ขCross-device sync

โš ๏ธ Red Flags

  • โ€ขExcessive ads in free version
  • โ€ขPoor user reviews
  • โ€ขLack of updates or support

Pricing Expectations

Free apps often have limitations; expect to pay $5-10/month for premium features, with subscriptions common for advanced tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free PDF editor app for iOS?

PDF Editor, PDF Book Reader offers great free features with Apple Intelligence, but for basic needs, many apps like CamScanner work well.

How do I choose between a free and paid PDF editor app?

If you need advanced features like AI or eSign, go paid; for simple edits, free versions are sufficient but may have ads.

What is the learning curve like for these apps?

Most are user-friendly, with apps like Microsoft Word being easiest, while Adobe Acrobat has more features but is still intuitive.

Conclusion

The best PDF editor apps for iOS in 2025 balance innovation, ease of use, and value, with options for every user from casual to professional.

After careful comparison, the key differentiators in this category are: Apps vary from specialized scanners to full editors; some focus on collaboration, others on simplicity. Adobe leads in AI, while others excel in specific niches like scanning.

Our Final Recommendation

Choose based on your specific needs: Adobe for comprehensive tools, free apps for basics, and consider device compatibility and pricing.

๐Ÿ”ฎ

What We're Hoping to See in the Future

Expect more AI integration, improved mobile editing, and enhanced security features in upcoming updates.

Current Trends: Increased use of AI for automation, better cloud integration, and enhanced mobile editing capabilities are on the rise.

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