Adobe Acrobat Reader
Adobe's free PDF viewer for reading, commenting on, filling in and signing PDFs.
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About Adobe Acrobat Reader
Acrobat Reader is the free viewer that ships with or gets installed on a huge number of computers. It opens PDFs faithfully, including complex forms, layers and embedded fonts, and handles the everyday jobs most people need: reading, searching, printing, highlighting and adding comments, filling in forms and adding a typed or drawn signature. It is the safest choice when a government or bank form refuses to work in anything else. Reader cannot edit the text of a document or convert files, and those buttons in the interface lead to the paid Acrobat subscription, which some people find pushy. The desktop app is also heavier than lightweight viewers and prompts you to sign in to an Adobe account for some features. It is available for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, and the same features are offered in a browser through Adobe's website. People who only read PDFs often prefer a lighter viewer, but Reader is worth keeping around for stubborn forms.
Best for: Anyone who needs a reliable free viewer for forms and signatures that other apps struggle with.
Pros and cons
What works
- Handles complex forms and odd PDFs very reliably
- Free commenting, highlighting, form filling and signing
- Available on every major desktop and mobile platform
Why people leave
- Frequent prompts to upgrade to paid Acrobat
- Heavier and slower to open than lightweight viewers
- Cannot edit text or convert documents
Top Adobe Acrobat Reader alternatives
See all 6- 1
Sumatra PDF66.5A tiny, fast, open-source viewer for Windows with no ads or upgrade prompts.
- 2
Okular62.6A free, open-source viewer with strong annotation tools that also runs on Linux.
- 3
PDFgear59.6Free reader that can also edit, convert and sign, with no account required.
- 4
Xodo57.2Free mobile and web viewer with annotation, plus paid editing if you need it later.
- 5SkSkim55.3
A free Mac reader built for annotating and taking notes on papers.
Why people left Adobe Acrobat Reader
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Adobe Acrobat Reader: common questions
Is Adobe Acrobat Reader free?
Yes, Adobe Acrobat Reader is free to use.
Is Adobe Acrobat Reader open source?
No, Adobe Acrobat Reader is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Sumatra PDF, Okular and Skim.
What platforms does Adobe Acrobat Reader run on?
Adobe Acrobat Reader is available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Web.
What are the best alternatives to Adobe Acrobat Reader?
The highest-ranked Adobe Acrobat Reader alternatives right now are Sumatra PDF, Okular and PDFgear. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.