ReaddleDocs Versus GoodReader

by Paul Colligan on July 11, 2010

One of the biggest complaints of most iPad users is the lack of a file management system. The solution to this issue, in this revision at least, are file/reader programs.

The 800 pound gorilla in this space is the very sleek, sexy and cheap GoodReader app. For 99 cents it’s a no-brainer for many and the default go to for making it all happen. It is also very iPad/Apple like in the interface.

I was recently given a preview copy of ReaddleDocs. She’s not as sexy or as cheap and is probably more “Windows” than Mac like … but … I really dig the flow here. It somehow just feels more powerful and faster.

Honestly, there is nothing I can put my finger on here but I find myself managing files inside ReaddleDocs instead of EasyReader. You can tell the apps I use most on my machine by what I’ve placed on the first page of apps – ReaddleDocs is there, EasyReader is on another page.

I guess in short, it just “feels” more business like. Since that is a theme of this Blog, I thought I’d make a note accordingly.

Put a gun to my head and I couldn’t tell you what one does that the other doesn’t – I’ve really made a choice based on “feel.” I’d love comments below if you’ve got them. I hate writing something this vague but I wanted to see what thoughts you had – and let you know that there are options.

Prefer one over the other? Know something that one does that the other doesn’t? Please post in the comments below.

  • Robb Chadwick

    Yes, I prefer ReaddleDocs. It seems more polished; and you are right. It's more a perception than feature thing. However, I think more people would choose ReaddleDocs over GoodReader if they tried it. My opinion is that GoodReader gets a lot of buzz because it's so cheap; but in my mind, the look and feel of ReaddleDocs is worth the $4.99 price tag.

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/6HFWTPRG2375AXMNANKQGZUWTY LaForce

    I have both and started out with GoodReader. After a while I switched to ReaddleDocs because of the 'cleaner' UI. I'm not 100% sure I stay there, because I'm urgently missing ftp-access and pdf-indexing (and Spotlight-type searching over all documents). Otherwise I'm highly satisfied with the software.

    BTW: I use my iPad in conjunction with PadSync, which makes file-syncing from your Mac to the iPad a cinch (at least after they fixed the sub-folder syncing issue ;) )

  • paulcolligan

    And GoodReader gets more people because it is cheaper so they automatically are going to get more buzz.

  • paulcolligan

    Will look at PadSync – thanks for the heads up.

  • http://mosaicbooks.org Norman Clark

    Any locations where I can read up on these things? Thanks

  • paulcolligan

    Not that I know of, sorry.

  • Mimkr

    The unique feature of ReaddleDocs is the ability to copy a bunch of files or entire folders to or from a WebDAV server in one go. Neither GoodReader nor all the other apps I've tried can manage that. This, along with clear and business style UI and workflow made me move from Goodreader to ReaddleDocs for iPad.

  • paulcolligan

    Awesome. Didn't realize or know that.

  • Sas3692

    The next version of Readledocs promises page flow like Goodreader. Readledocs is my used app to date.

  • paulcolligan

    Mine too.

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