Customer Reviews (113)

vcb • 2025-03-16T12:21:54-07:00

Nice app

JimsDeb-UPDATE • 2025-01-05T09:53:01-07:00

I’ve been using PDF PRO for years but after the update to IOS 18, my files have disappeared. Years worth of documents are GONE!!! Unbelievable!!! I thought maybe I needed to just update the app so like an idiot I paid for the new app…but no joy-still no files. This is a disaster. UPDATE: I was able to recover my files via my cloud but what a mess—none of the organization folders were maintained so everything is a jumbled up mess. Although there is some functionality with the app itself, it has lost all of its document sorting functions. So unless you are REALLY good at remembering all of your document names, look elsewhere or you will never find anything ever again.

Aleni Innet • 2024-12-15T19:09:02-07:00

I have reposted the issue almost a month ago and no reaction from dev team. The issue appeared after the latest update, which implemented the new subscription mode. The issue is: the app is crashing when trying to use the Convert feature.

Summary of Key Insights

PDF Reader Pro is a feature-rich PDF editor and reader app for iOS. Overall sentiment is positive, as indicated by the high number of 5-star reviews. However, a significant minority of users have reported critical issues, particularly related to recent updates, data loss, and specific functionalities like converting and editing. The app is praised for its comprehensive features, ease of use, and one-time purchase option, but criticized for bugs, crashes, and misleading advertising. The app needs to address stability issues, improve editing functionality, and enhance customer support to maintain user satisfaction.

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 113 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly stated, but reviews span multiple iOS versions and several years.
  • Analysis Methods: Sentiment analysis (based on star ratings and review text), keyword extraction (identifying frequently mentioned features, issues, and requests), and thematic analysis (grouping reviews by common themes).

Key User Pain Points

  • Data Loss After Update: A major concern is the loss of files after updating to iOS 18, indicating potential compatibility or migration issues. (High Severity)
  • App Crashing: Crashing during specific functions like conversion is a recurring problem, hindering usability. (High Severity)
  • Editing Limitations: Users find the editing capabilities limited, especially the inability to easily select and modify text. The lack of true PDF editing capabilities, despite being advertised, is a major source of frustration. (High Severity)
  • Highlighting Issues: Recent updates have negatively impacted the highlighting feature, making it less precise and more prone to errors. (Medium Severity)
  • Dropbox Integration Problems: Some users experience issues with accessing all folders and files within their Dropbox account. (Medium Severity)
  • Unreliable OCR Function: The OCR function frequently fails, limiting the app's usefulness for scanned documents. (Medium Severity)
  • Flattening Errors: Flattening documents leads to errors and text corruption, rendering the app unusable for specific workflows. (High Severity)
  • Lack of Documentation/Help: Users find the app lacking in documentation, making it difficult to utilize all features effectively. (Medium Severity)
  • Misleading Advertising: The booklet feature being exclusive to the Mac version is perceived as misleading. (Medium Severity)
  • Unexpected Ads: The appearance of full-page ads, even after purchasing the app, is highly disruptive and negatively impacts the user experience. (High Severity)

Frequently Requested Features

  • Improved Text Editing: Users want more robust and intuitive text editing capabilities.
  • Translation Function: A translation function within the reading mode is desired.
  • Customizable Search Engines: Ability to select search engines for the translation function.
  • Brush Tool Sensitivity Adjustment: Users want more control over the brush tool's sensitivity, particularly on iPads with Apple Pencil.
  • Split PDF by Outlines/Bookmarks: The ability to split PDFs based on outlines or bookmarks.
  • Browser History and New Tab Feature: Users want browser history and the ability to open links in a new tab within the app's browser.
  • Booklet Creation on iOS: Users want the booklet creation feature, currently only available on Mac, to be added to the iOS version.
  • Merge Files Order Specification: Users need the ability to specify the order of files when merging PDFs.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Comprehensive Feature Set: The app offers a wide range of features, including reading, annotating, editing, converting, and signing PDFs.
  • Ease of Use: Many users find the app easy to use and intuitive.
  • One-Time Purchase Option: The availability of a one-time purchase is appreciated compared to subscription-based models.
  • File Compatibility: Supports various file types, including MS Office, iWork, and compressed files.
  • Cloud Integration: Integrates with popular cloud storage services like iCloud Drive, Dropbox, and Google Drive.
  • Text-to-Speech: Natural-sounding text-to-speech feature.
  • Responsive Support (Sometimes): Some users have reported positive experiences with customer support.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Address Data Loss Issue: Investigate and resolve the data loss issue experienced after updating to iOS 18. Implement robust backup and migration mechanisms.
  • Fix App Crashing: Identify and fix the causes of app crashes, especially during conversion and other core functions.
  • Improve PDF Editing Capabilities: Enhance the text editing functionality to allow for easier selection, modification, and formatting of text within PDFs.
  • Resolve Flattening Errors: Fix the errors that occur when flattening PDF documents.
  • Remove Unexpected Ads: Eliminate full-page ads from the paid version of the app.
  • Improve Highlighting Function: Revert or improve the highlighting feature to ensure accurate and precise text selection.

Medium Priority:

  • Enhance Dropbox Integration: Ensure seamless and complete integration with Dropbox, allowing users to access all folders and files.
  • Improve OCR Accuracy and Reliability: Enhance the OCR function to improve accuracy and reliability.
  • Provide Comprehensive Documentation: Create detailed documentation and help resources to guide users on how to use all the app's features.
  • Clarify Feature Availability: Clearly indicate which features are available on which platforms (iOS vs. Mac) to avoid misleading users.
  • Implement Split PDF by Outlines/Bookmarks: Add the ability to split PDFs based on outlines or bookmarks.
  • Address Performance Issues on Older iOS Versions: Ensure compatibility and stable performance on older iOS versions that are officially supported.

Low Priority:

  • Add Translation Function: Implement a translation function within the reading mode.
  • Allow Customizable Search Engines: Allow users to select search engines for the translation function.
  • Add Brush Tool Sensitivity Adjustment: Add more control over the brush tool's sensitivity, particularly on iPads with Apple Pencil.
  • Implement Browser History and New Tab Feature: Implement browser history and the ability to open links in a new tab within the app's browser.
  • Implement Merge Files Order Specification: Implement the ability to specify the order of files when merging PDFs.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • PDF Editor with AI-Powered Editing: A PDF editor that uses AI to automatically detect and correct errors in text, improve formatting, and suggest better layouts.
  • Collaborative PDF Annotation Platform: A platform that allows multiple users to annotate and edit PDF documents in real-time, with features for version control and conflict resolution.
  • PDF Conversion Service with Guaranteed Accuracy: A service that guarantees accurate conversion of PDFs to other formats, with manual review and correction options.
  • Document Management System with Advanced PDF Features: A document management system that integrates advanced PDF editing and annotation features, along with robust search and organization capabilities.

Trends and Observations

  • Recurring Bug Reports After Updates: Updates frequently introduce new bugs or break existing functionality, suggesting a need for more thorough testing.
  • Emphasis on Editing Capabilities: Users consistently seek more powerful and intuitive editing features, indicating a gap in the market for a truly comprehensive PDF editor on iOS.
  • Desire for Feature Parity Across Platforms: Users expect feature parity between the iOS and Mac versions of the app.
  • Mixed Support Experiences: While some users praise the responsive support, others report a lack of helpful responses, indicating inconsistency in support quality.

Conclusion

PDF Reader Pro has the potential to be a leading PDF editor and reader app for iOS. However, the app needs to address critical issues related to data loss, stability, and editing functionality to maintain user trust and satisfaction. By prioritizing bug fixes, improving editing capabilities, and enhancing customer support, PDF Reader Pro can solidify its position as a valuable tool for professionals and casual users alike. A focus on thorough testing before releasing updates is crucial.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pdf-reader-pro-sign-edit-pdf/id883101890?uo=2