Ranking updated
Best PDF apps in 2026
To open, read, fill in and sign a PDF for free, Adobe Acrobat Reader does it on any phone; editing text and merging files are among its paid features. On iPhone and iPad, PDF Expert from Readdle reads, annotates and signs, with editing and merging in Premium. To merge, split or compress PDFs, Xodo and iLovePDF have the tools, with a subscription for unlimited use. Details below.
How we picked: most people need a PDF app for one of three jobs, reading, filling in and signing, or editing and merging. We checked each app’s own store description for which of those are free and which need a subscription.
Reading and signing PDFs for free
Adobe Acrobat Reader lets you view, annotate and comment, and its Fill & Sign is free for filling in forms and signing. Editing text and images, merging and splitting files, and the AI Assistant are listed as paid features. PDF Expert, from Readdle, a company founded in Odesa, Ukraine, reads PDFs with day, night and sepia modes and lets you annotate, fill in forms and sign on iPhone and iPad.
Editing and merging PDFs
Xodo edits, signs, redacts, compresses and merges PDFs; Xodo Pro gives unlimited access to its tools. iLovePDF merges several documents into one, splits and compresses PDFs, converts Office files and scans paper to PDF, with more on its Premium subscription. In PDF Expert, editing text, converting and merging come with Premium.
| App | Best for | Platforms | Price | Merge PDFs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Acrobat ReaderApp StoreGoogle Play | reading, filling and signing for free | iOS, Android | free; editing and merging paid | paid feature |
| PDF ExpertApp Store | PDFs on iPhone and iPad | iOS | free to download; Premium | Premium |
| XodoApp StoreGoogle Play | editing and signing | iOS, Android | free to download; Xodo Pro subscription | yes |
| iLovePDFApp StoreGoogle Play | merge, split, compress, convert | iOS, Android | free to download; Premium subscription | yes |
Frequently asked questions
How do I open and sign a PDF for free?
Adobe Acrobat Reader opens PDFs for free, and its Fill & Sign feature fills in and signs forms at no cost.
Which app merges PDF files?
Xodo and iLovePDF both merge several documents into one PDF; in Acrobat Reader and PDF Expert merging is a paid feature.