5 Free Alternatives: Is It Finally Time to Kiss Adobe Reader Goodbye?

Portable document format entered the scene back in 1993. Before it came into play, sharing documents wasn’t exactly a straightforward process. There was no guarantee that recipients would be able to see shared documents in their original formats. In fact, there was no way to ensure they’d be able to see them at all. Aside from being unable to view documents as their creators intended, sending and storing them could also be a problematic.

PDF changed all that. It gave documents an entirely new level of consistency and compatibility. It allowed people to share documents across operating systems and devices without worrying that their fonts, layouts, and other characteristics would get lost in translation. Adobe Acrobat Reader came out at the same time as PDF and was created by the same company. It was the first software of its kind, designed specifically to work with PDFs.

Taking a Closer Look at Adobe Acrobat Reader

Adobe Acrobat Reader gave people the power to create, share, and open PDF files more seamlessly than they could before its invention. It also offered an array of built-in tools, such as highlighting, annotating, adding comments, and making minor changes to images. It continues to do its job to this day. With its paid version, users can take matters even further with the capabilities to add images and text, rearrange pages, change fonts, add links, and much more.

That being said, it’s not perfect. Those who want the more advanced features Adobe Acrobat offers have to pay for them, and they can be costly. Some people feel that its user interface could be simpler as well. At the same time, quite a few users say that its updates can bring more problems than benefits. As such, many people are now looking for an Adobe Acrobat alternative. Several of them are available at this point, and the following five are among the best.

1) Xodo PDF Studio

One alternative to Adobe Acrobat is Xodo PDF Studio. It’s a fantastic choice for people who want or need more than basic document viewing capabilities but don’t want to pay dearly for premium-level subscriptions. It’s fair to mention that its paid subscriptions cost about half what people pay for Adobe Acrobat’s premium version. It’s available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux. It offers fast load times, and it’s not quite as cumbersome as Adobe Acrobat. Its interface isn’t as cluttered as that of its counterpart, either, which makes it more user friendly.

Xodo offers a range of features, including real-time collaboration, several built-in editing tools and options, OCR capabilities, and cross-platform availability. Like other solutions, it allows for form filling and signing and a variety of other actions. Furthermore, it offers security features, and it works offline for those times when internet isn’t available or users don’t want to work online. It’s a fantastic option for businesses because of its extensive features and capabilities.

Though Xodo isn’t yet as popular other alternatives for enterprise-level use, it has amassed a sizable following of satisfied users. It’s a wonderful option for both individuals and teams who work with PDF documents. Experts consider even its free version it to be one of the best PDF tools available at this point, and it’s certainly a popular alternative to Adobe Acrobat.

2) PDFescape

PDFescape is another alternative for those who’d like to veer away from Adobe Acrobat. It’s versatile and available across multiple platforms. Its primary functions include PDF viewing and reading, annotation and markup, document sharing and collaboration, and form creation and filling. Beyond those features, it includes text editing, drawing tools, and image and shape inserts. It offers password protection and other security features as well.  

This PDF reader and editor offers most of its features for free. Users say it works well for simple PDF editing needs, and in most cases, it doesn’t leave watermarks on edited documents. Though it does have a premium version with more capabilities than the free option, it’s reasonably priced compared to some of the other solutions on the market. Critics note that it doesn’t have quite as many features as some of its counterparts, and its collaborative functionality can be lacking. Its free version has certain file size limitations too.

PDFescape is mainly recommended for people who need occasional editing capabilities without having to install software. It also does well for those who usually work with forms and annotations. It’s not as functional as more expensive tools, but it’s not as costly, either.

3) PDF-XChange Editor

Next on the list is PDF-XChange Editor. Developed by Tracker Software, it comes in both free and paid versions. Even its free version offers impressive functionality. It has exceptional rendering capabilities, markup and annotation tools, editing options, and document security features. It also offers basic OCR capabilities with its free version, and they’ve been deemed more functional than some of the other alternatives on the market. .

This alternative uses fewer resources than Adobe Acrobat despite its far-reaching capabilities. It offers impressive search functionality across multiple PDFs as well as user friendliness and customizable toolbars. That said, its free version tends to add watermarks to some edited documents. Additionally, some people find its more advanced features a bit difficult to use. It’s mainly designed for use with Windows, so it’s not as functional with other OSs.

Overall, users say that PDF-XChange Editor offers a nice balance between features and performance. It’s great for businesses that need advanced PDF manipulation capabilities. Another of its strong suits is that it costs less than Adobe Acrobat without forcing users to sacrifice a great deal of features and functionality.

4) Okular

An open-source document viewer, Okular allows users to view documents in multiple formats. including PDF, EPUB, XPS, CBR, and DjVu to name a few. It has a presentation mode for slideshows, annotation and markup tools for PDFs, bookmarking and form filling capabilities, and several other features. It’s a free software with good compatibility and no ads. It also has accessibility features, such as high contrast and text-to-speech.

Okular is mainly used for Linux systems, but macOS and Windows versions are available. They have fewer features than the Linux version, but they’re still highly functional. Many users say Okular’s non-Linux versions are a bit more difficult to use. Some consider their advanced features to be somewhat limited compared to other alternatives. While this isn’t necessarily the best option for enterprise use, it’s a highly capable solution for businesses and individuals alike.

Experts are saying that Okular is one of the most versatile document viewers and editors on the market. It’s also efficient and effective with plenty of the features many people need. Since it’s mainly geared toward Linux, its main following lies in that arena. Still, many Windows and Mac users also appreciate it.

5) Sumatra PDF

Made mainly with Windows users in mind, Sumatra PDF offers basic navigation and search functionality, printing capabilities, and PDF viewing. It supports multiple document formats, including PDF, ePub, MOBI, CHM, XPS, and DjVu. It loads quickly and doesn’t use up a great deal of memory. It has a simple interface without a lot of unnecessary clutter as well. At the same time, it’s an ad-free alternative, and it has regular security updates.

Users point out that Sumatra PDF works well even with large documents. That said, its functionality is limited, and it doesn’t have quite as many features as some other options. It’s a basic solution without collaboration tools, form filling, or cloud integration. It’s made for people who prefer speed and simplicity over advanced features. As such, it’s not the best choice for businesses, and some people find it to be a bit too simple. Its basic functionality is exactly what others are looking for, though.

Sumatra is best for users who mainly need to open and read PDFs; it’s not the best option for in-depth editing. Its simplicity and small footprint make it a nice choice for people with older and less powerful computers that can’t handle other editors. In short, it’s a decent PDF reader with basic capabilities, and it’s simple to use.

Bottom Line

Adobe Acrobat has long been a leader in the field of PDF readers and editors. It was the first of its kind, and it helped to usher in an entirely new era of document sharing and editing. It has served its purpose well for more than three decades now, and it’s still one of the most feature-rich solutions available. Still, many people have grown frustrated with it. It uses a lot of power, space, memory, and bandwidth. It’s also a bit cluttered, and it can be slow to start. Besides those downsides, its most feature-intensive version is expensive.

Other options are available. Each one offers its own range of features and capabilities, and many of them are entirely free or available in free versions. Some are designed for minimal needs and use whereas others are made more for extensive editing requirements. Consider the points mentioned here to help with finding a suitable alternative to Adobe Acrobat. Keep in mind that an array of solutions are out there. Though the ones listed here have been deemed some of the best, they’re not the only ones.