GoodReader 5
One of the best iOS PDF apps
$5.99 From Good.iWare, goodreader.com
Made for iPhone, iPad Needs iOS 9.0 or later
GoodReader is one of the most popular PDF apps for iOS. Version 5 is a big upgrade with an overhauled interface, better security, and improved performance. There are also some useful new features for business users.
The core app is $5.99, plus $5.99 for the Pro pack. This adds split–screen PDF viewing on iPad, secure email/export of PDF documents and extracts and a new feature called Secure Photocopy, which removes all traces of hidden or redacted information in a PDF — so for example if you highlight blocks of text in black, GoodReader will render it as black shapes rather than colored text.
Both versions let you crop, annotate, and rearrange pages, and the PDF Reflow feature works much like Safari’s reading mode, pulling out the text for easier reading. When you’re in this mode you can copy the entire page’s text to the clipboard. It’s important to note that GoodReader is for reading and annotating PDFs, not editing the text they contain.
The app supports PDF, docx, HTML and text files, but it isn’t just about text. It can handle embedded audio and video too, with a redesigned video player and graphics viewer.
Version 5 introduces support for the Apple Pencil. The first time you annotate a document you’ll be asked whether you want to edit the existing file or create a new, separate annotated copy. You can also highlight or scribble on the page, and there’s a selection of simple drawing tools you can use to liven up your note–taking and commenting. The app doesn’t currently ignore finger input when you’re using the Pencil, though, so you need to be careful what you do with your fingers.
GoodReader has always been a great way to annotate, convert, share or sign PDFs. Version 5 is faster, more flexible and more useful.
THE BOTTOM LINE. GoodReader 5 is a first–class PDF organizer and annotator.