On the iPad, I use both
GoodReader and
PDF Expert.
At first, I thought PDF Expert would be better than GoodReader, but I have now changed my mind and prefer GoodReader. I can't find the option to use iCloud syncing in PDF Expert -- anyone know how to do this?
(
Note: PDF Expert is the "advanced" counterpart to the free Documents by Readdle, discussed above.)
PDF Expert seems to be displaying PDF files quicker than GoodReader, but GoodReader's iCloud syncing seems much preferable to me. Also, the access to freehand annotation tools is easier in GoodReader than in PDF Expert.
An irritating thing about PDF Expert on the iPad is, there's no option to switch off the display of iOS's status line (with time/battery status). I love how GoodReader completely switches off the display of
everything except the current page of the PDF file that you're viewing. That's how it should be.
However, possibly the biggest reason why I still prefer GoodReader over PDF Expert, is that PDF Expert for the iPhone is a complete disaster.
It offers something like 30% of the functionality of the iPad version, and is completely unusable for me on the iPhone. Which is all the more outrageous, because the iPhone version of PDF Expert is priced the same as the iPad version, despite offering much, much less in terms of functionality. So, you pay double, and end up getting very little on the iPhone. I complained to Readdle customer support, and I hope they will improve the situation in future.
In contrast,
GoodReader for iPhone is just as fabulous as GoodReader for iPad, which is why I think GoodReader is the no. 1 PDF app on iOS.
