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Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free, widely adopted PDF viewer that enables users to open, read, print, sign, annotate, and share PDF files across desktop and mobile devices.
As the original PDF solution from Adobe, it integrates smoothly with Adobe’s ecosystem and cloud services, offering reliable performance, broad format compatibility, and basic collaboration features without requiring a paid subscription.
| Plan | Price | Featured |
|---|---|---|
| Acrobat Reader | $0 (Free) | View and print PDFs, Fill and sign forms, Basic annotations and comments |
Competitor |
Pros |
|---|---|
| Foxit PDF Reader | Compared to Foxit, Adobe Acrobat Reader offers stronger compatibility with complex PDFs and industry-standard rendering. It is easier for non-technical users, integrates better with enterprise workflows, and benefits from Adobe’s long-standing PDF leadership, though it focuses more on reliability than lightweight speed. |
| PDF-XChange Editor | Adobe Acrobat Reader is simpler to use than PDF-XChange Editor, with a cleaner interface and fewer configuration steps. While PDF-XChange offers more free editing tools, Adobe excels in stability, form handling, and consistent behavior across devices, which suits everyday users. |
| SumatraPDF | Against SumatraPDF, Acrobat Reader provides far more features such as annotations, form filling, and signing. Although SumatraPDF is lighter and faster, Adobe’s tool is more practical for professional and collaborative document tasks beyond basic viewing. |
| Nitro PDF Reader | Adobe Acrobat Reader outperforms Nitro PDF Reader in ecosystem integration and mobile support. Adobe’s free version is more widely supported, receives frequent updates, and handles advanced PDFs more reliably, making it a safer default choice for most users. |
| Google Drive PDF Viewer | Compared to Google Drive’s built-in PDF viewer, Acrobat Reader offers richer annotation tools, offline access, and better handling of large or complex files. Google Drive is convenient for quick previews, but Adobe provides a more complete PDF-focused experience. |
Competitor |
Cons |
|---|---|
| Foxit PDF Reader | Compared to Foxit, Adobe Acrobat Reader can feel heavier and slower to launch, especially on older systems. Foxit’s interface is often seen as more performance-focused, while Adobe prioritizes ecosystem integration, sometimes at the cost of speed. |
| PDF-XChange Editor | PDF-XChange Editor provides more advanced editing tools in its free tier, whereas Acrobat Reader restricts editing behind paid plans. Users needing frequent text or object edits may find Adobe limiting without upgrading. |
| SumatraPDF | SumatraPDF is significantly lighter and faster than Acrobat Reader. Adobe’s application uses more system resources, which can be a drawback for users who only need quick PDF viewing without extra features. |
| Nitro PDF Reader | Nitro’s interface can feel more focused on editing workflows, while Acrobat Reader pushes upgrade prompts toward paid plans. This can interrupt the experience for users who want a minimal, distraction-free free reader. |
| Google Drive PDF Viewer | Google Drive’s viewer is instantly accessible in the browser with no installation. Acrobat Reader requires a dedicated app, which may feel unnecessary for users who only need quick, occasional PDF access. |
