The Best Adobe Acrobat Reader AlternativesTop PDF Readers and other similar apps like Adobe Acrobat Reader

Adobe Acrobat Reader is described as 'View, annotate, and collaborate on PDFs, utilize cloud storage and freehand tools. Upgrade for editing and converting to other formats' and is a very popular PDF Reader in the office & productivity category. There are more than 100 alternatives to Adobe Acrobat Reader for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Web-based, Linux and Android apps. The best Adobe Acrobat Reader alternative is SumatraPDF, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Adobe Acrobat Reader are Okular, Foxit PDF Reader, Evince and Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js).

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Adobe Acrobat Reader alternatives are mainly PDF Readers, but if you're looking for PDF Editors or Ebook Readers you can filter on that. Other popular filters include PDF Editor, Open Source, Windows, Linux, Android, Free and Windows + Open Source. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Adobe Acrobat Reader.
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Alternatives list

  1. SumatraPDF icon

    SumatraPDF

     1701 likes

    This free, open-source viewer for Windows supports multiple formats like PDF, eBooks (ePub, Mobi), CHM, and Comic Books (CBZ, CBR). Prioritizing simplicity and speed, it offers a lightweight, portable design with a minimalist interface, catering to users seeking fast and efficient document viewing.

    128 SumatraPDF alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    SumatraPDF screenshot 1
     
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    36
    SumatraPDF vs Adobe Acrobat Reader Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Atoshi
    13

    It's nowhere as vulnerable to attacks as Adobe Reader, doesn't execute embedded JS, and renders documents blazingly fast

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    48

    Sumatra does not support editing forms and adding annotations.

    Ramzi M
    Positive
    0

    For me it is the best alternative to Acrobat Reader. Very light no fuss software that allows you to work on PDF files.

    3 of 36 comments
    • SumatraPDF is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • SumatraPDF is Privacy focused and CustomizableAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
  2. Okular icon

    Okular

     509 likes

    Multi-platform document viewer supporting PDF, ePub, comics, images, and Markdown with annotation, digital signature verification, tabbed interface, sidebar navigation, text selection, text-to-speech, magnifier, search, dark mode, and plugin support.

    130 Okular alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • Snapcraft
    • Linux Mobile
    • Flathub
    • Haiku
    Okular screenshot 1
     
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    12
    Okular vs Adobe Acrobat Reader Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    karlossss1996
    4

    It's very fast free pdf reader with some useful editing functions.

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    1

    There's no form filling tools

    bam121944
    Positive
    0

    I like to manage pdfs as well as read them

    3 of 12 comments
    • Okular is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Okular is Privacy focusedAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
  4. Foxit PDF Reader icon

    Foxit PDF Reader

     1383 likes

    Foxit Reader offers a lightweight PDF viewing experience across multiple platforms with features such as annotation, form filling, signing, cloud storage integration, collaborative review options, heightened security via Trust Manager, and organizational tools like Group Policy and XML Configuration.

    146 Foxit PDF Reader alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Bundleware

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • ReactOS
    Foxit PDF Reader screenshot 1
     
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    14
    Bundleware

    The installer tries to install McAfee WebAdvisor and PhantomPDF Business. These can be skipped by clicking Decline on each.

    Foxit PDF Reader vs Adobe Acrobat Reader Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    4

    This one has the ability to mark PDFs for highlighting books and etc.

    beng tang
    Positive
    1

    In Linux Mint, Foxit is better than Adobe Reader. The version of Adobe Reader for Linux is very old and out of date (and thus may be a security risk) and does not support annotating / commenting on PDF files. Foxit supports commenting / annotating very well with a lot of tools to do various types of anotations. It also opens and displays PDF files very well. So Foxit is not only an alternative to, but better than Adobe, in Linux at least.

    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Better than SumatraPDF because of Form field.

    3 of 14 comments
    • Foxit PDF Reader is Free Personal and ProprietaryAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Foxit PDF Reader icon
    Foxit PDF Reader

    Foxit Reader offers a lightweight PDF viewing experience across multiple platforms with features such as annotation, form filling, signing, cloud storage integration, collaborative review options, heightened security via Trust Ma...

    https://www.foxit.com
    Learn More
  6. Evince icon

    Evince

     465 likes

    Supports viewing and editing PDF annotations, displays multiple formats such as PDF, Postscript, DjVu, comic books, TIFF, DVI, XPS, remembers per-document zoom and position, features search, table-of-contents navigation, SyncTeX integration, and printing.

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • GNOME
    Evince screenshot 1
     
    |
    5
    Evince vs Adobe Acrobat Reader Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Jatan Mehta
    3

    Fast and simple. Allows images to be saved from the right-click context menu.

    guoiewbvc923
    Positive
    0

    For me this is the best PDF reader as it allows you to view PDF files and not much more. If you need more features than just viewing PDF's this is not for you.

    Hasan Yildiz
    Positive
    0

    Free, easy-to-use interface. Easily edit files.

    3 of 5 comments
    • Evince is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Evince is Minimalistic and Privacy focusedAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
  8. Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js) icon

    Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js)

     169 likes

    PDF Viewer (aka pdf.js) is a new revolutionary extension using web standard technologies that allows you to display within Mozilla Firefox almost all PDF files found on the web without a plugin.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Google Chrome
    • Opera
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js) screenshot 1
     
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    5
    Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js) vs Adobe Acrobat Reader Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    ab1
    1

    It takes dozens of seconds to open a 20MB PDF on a mid-class smartphone.

    Top Negative Comment
    Joseph Cameron
    -1

    pdf.js cannot be used to annotate documents or fill forms.

    ulahcherubim
    Positive
    1

    pdf.js now supports annotating and filling forms.

    3 of 5 comments
    • Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js) is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js) is Privacy focusedAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
  9. MuPDF icon

    MuPDF

     163 likes

    MuPDF offers a highly versatile PDF, XPS, and eBook interpreter, customizable as a renderer, viewer, or toolkit. Features include digital signatures, redactions, form filling, annotations, and page manipulation, ideal for mobile, eBooks, and embedded apps supporting Java, C++, and Python.

    108 MuPDF alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • F-Droid
    • Xfce
    MuPDF screenshot 1
     
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    4
    MuPDF vs Adobe Acrobat Reader Comments
    Pro Daddy
    Negative
    3

    It doesn't have several major features that adobe reader has. MuPDF just open files that's all. no options at all, no resizing, no editing, no change in view, there is nothing.

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Unlike other FOSS PDF viewers, it lets me scroll through the doc & search for text.

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    If reading PDFs is all you need, this app is just wonderful. No editing tools or other bloat.

    3 of 4 comments
    • MuPDF is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • MuPDF is Privacy focusedAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
  10. Xournal++ icon

    Xournal++

     199 likes

    Handwritten note-taking and PDF annotation using pen input and pressure sensitivity, shape drawing, customizable toolbar layouts, image insertion, audio recording, multi-language options, LaTeX integration, and complete export in PDF or PNG formats across all platforms.

    71 Xournal++ alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    Xournal++ screenshot 1
     
  11. PDFgear icon

    PDFgear

     73 likes

    Read, edit, convert, merge, and sign PDF files across devices, for completely free and without signing up.

    84 PDFgear alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    PDFgear screenshot 1
     
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    1
    PDFgear vs Adobe Acrobat Reader Comments
    malcmerlyn
    Negative
    0

    Doesn't show my RPG PDF bookmarks

    • PDFgear is Free and ProprietaryAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
  12. Stirling PDF icon

    Stirling PDF

     63 likes

    Locally hosted web application offering an interactive GUI to merge, split, reorganize, convert, compress, watermark, secure, sign, flatten, repair, extract images, detect blanks, apply OCR, set permissions, and enable file processing or API integration for PDFs.

    121 Stirling PDF alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Cloudron
    • Docker Hub
    Stirling PDF screenshot 1
     
  13. Xodo icon

    Xodo

     72 likes

    Xodo is the ultimate cross-platform PDF viewer and annotator. Powerful, fast, and optimized for all phones and tablets, Xodo makes it easy to access, edit, share, sync, manage, sign, and more.

    133 Xodo alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    Xodo screenshot 1
     
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    5
    Xodo vs Adobe Acrobat Reader Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    malcmerlyn
    1

    Contrary to what has been written by guest, the app isn't totally free anymore. You should pay a subscription for several features like exporting non-watermarked PDF to your drive service

    Steven
    Positive
    0

    It's a free pdf viewer/editior that has all the features that most people use Adobe Reader for. More stable. More secure. The interface feels cleaner to me.

    Guest
    Positive
    -2

    Completely free, clutter-free interface, and easy to use.

    3 of 5 comments
    • Xodo is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
  14. Linwood Butterfly icon

    Linwood Butterfly

     44 likes

    Butterfly is a note-taking app where your ideas come first. You can paint, add texts, and export them easily on every device. This app works on android, windows, linux, and in the web.

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • Self-Hosted
    • Snapcraft
    • AltStore
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Linux Mobile
    Linwood Butterfly screenshot 1
     
  15. LEKTRA icon

    LEKTRA

     19 likes

    High-performance viewer for documents and images offering split tabs, customizable single or book layouts, portals for side-by-side sections, instant search, line highlight, annotation tools, link hints, searchable highlights, session management, and TOML config.

    57 LEKTRA alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    LEKTRA screenshot 1
     
12 of 145 Adobe Acrobat Reader alternatives