The 10 Best Free PDF Readers: Compare the Top PDF Editors for Your Needs

There are many reasons why you might need a PDF reader. Perhaps you need to fill out an application form that can only be completed in PDF format, or maybe you want to read a book that has been converted into a PDF. Whatever the reason, there are plenty of PDF readers available to choose from. However, not all PDF readers are created equal, like the best PDF editors. Some are very basic and only allow you to view the contents of a PDF, while others come with a range of features such as the ability to add annotations and sign documents electronically. If you’re looking for a free PDF reader with all the bells and whistles, we recommend Foxit Reader. Foxit Reader is available for both Windows and Mac, and it offers a host of features such as the ability to fill out forms, add annotations, and sign documents electronically. Plus, it’s free to download and use.

Also read: 9 Tips and Tools to Simplify Working with PDF Files.

When it comes to PDF readers, there are a lot of options to choose from. However, not all PDF readers are created equal. Some lack basic features, while others are loaded with unnecessary bells and whistles. So, what is the best free PDF reader? Our top pick is Foxit Reader. Foxit Reader is a lightweight and fast PDF reader that includes all of the essential features you need, such as annotation tools, bookmarking, and text search. Plus, it’s easy to use and supports a wide range of file formats. If you’re looking for a no-frills PDF reader that will just get the job done, Foxit Reader is the perfect choice.

Why Should I Need Free PDF Reader?

PDF documents are becoming increasingly popular as a way to share information electronically. Whether you’re distributing a manual, digital books, sharing research findings, or providing product specifications, PDFs offer a versatile way to deliver your message. However, in order to view PDF files, you need a PDF reader. While there are a number of different PDF readers available on the market, some of them are quite expensive. Fortunately, there are also a number of free PDF readers available for download. Here are just a few reasons why you might want to consider using a free PDF reader:

1. Free PDF readers are usually lighter weight and faster than their paid counterparts. This means that they take up less memory on your computer and load documents more quickly.
2. Free PDF readers often have more features than paid ones. For example, many free PDF readers allow you to add annotations and highlights to your documents.
3. Free PDF readers can be a good choice if you only need basic functionality. If you don’t need advanced features such as OCR or annotation tools, then there’s no sense in paying for a more expensive program.
4. Free PDF readers support all major operating systems, so you can use them regardless of whether you’re running Windows, MacOS, or Linux.
5. Free PDF readers are frequently updated with the latest security patches and features, so you can be confident that your software is always up-to-date.

10 Best Free PDF Reader for Your Needs

While there are many paid PDF reader programs available, there are also some excellent free ones. Here are 10 of the best free PDF readers:

1. Adobe Reader: Adobe Reader is one of the most popular PDF readers and is available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. It offers a variety of features including commenting, annotation, forms filling, and signature.
2. Foxit Reader: Foxit Reader is another popular PDF reader that offers a variety of features such as annotation, text to speech, and Bates numbering. It is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android.
3. Nitro Reader: Nitro Reader offers similar features to Adobe Reader and Foxit Reader but also includes functionality for creating and converting PDF files. It is available for Windows and macOS.
4. SumatraPDF: SumatraPDF is a lightweight PDF reader that offers basic features such as viewing, printing, and annotating PDFs. It is available for Windows and Linux.
5. PDFCreator: PDFCreator allows you to create PDF files from any printable document or image. It is available for Windows only.
6. PDFsam Basic: PDFsam Basic is a free and open source tool that lets you split, merge, extract pages from, rotate, watermark, and secure your PDF files. It is available for Windows only.
7. qpdfview: qpdfview is a lightweight PDF viewer that offers basic features such as viewing, printing, and annotating PDFs. It is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS.
8. Okular: Okular is a document viewer that supports a wide range of file formats including PDFs. It offers advanced features such as text-to-speech and annotations. It is available for Linux only.
9. Evince: Evince is a document viewer that supports multiple file formats including PDFs. It offers basic features such as zooming and bookmarking of documents .It is available for Linux only .
10. LibreOffice Draw: LibreOffice Draw can open and edit PDF files as well as other common file formats such as JPGs ,PNG s ,and ODGs .It offers basic editing capabilities along with some advanced features such as export to SVG .It is available for Windows ,macOS ,and Linux .These are just some of the best free PDF readers; there are many more options available depending on your needs.”

1. Adobe Reader

Adobe Reader is a software program that allows users to view, print, and annotate PDF files. The program is available for free from Adobe, and it can be used on both desktop and mobile devices. Here are five key features of Adobe Reader:

1. Viewing PDF Files: Adobe Reader lets users open and view PDF files. The software includes a variety of features for viewing PDFs, such as zooming and page navigation.
2. Printing PDF Files: Adobe Reader also lets users print PDF files. The program includes a number of options for printing, such as paper size and page orientation.
3. Annotating PDF Files: Adobe Reader lets users add annotations to PDF files. The annotations can include text notes, highlighting, and drawing tools.
4. Signing PDF Files: Adobe Reader lets users sign PDF files electronically. This feature is useful for filling out forms or signing documents remotely.
5. Collaborating on PDF Files: Adobe Reader includes a variety of collaboration tools, such as commenting and document sharing. These features make it easy to work on PDF files with others.

Here’s the link.

Adobe Reader is a free software program that allows users to view, print, and annotate PDF documents. While Adobe Reader has many features, some users may find the software cumbersome and difficult to use. Here are some pros and cons of Adobe Reader:

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Pros:

• Adobe Reader is available for free.
• The software can be used on a variety of devices, including computers, smartphones, and tablets.
• Adobe Reader offers a range of features, such as the ability to add annotations and comments to PDF documents.
• The software can be integrated with other Adobe products, such as Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Photoshop.

Cons:

• Adobe Reader can be slow to load.
• The user interface may be confusing for some users.
• Adobe Reader does not offer as many features as some paid PDF software programs.

2. Foxit Reader

Foxit Reader is a free PDF reader that offers a range of features to make reading, editing and annotating PDFs easy. Here are five key features of Foxit Reader:

1. Foxit Reader allows you to open, view and annotate PDFs quickly and easily.
2. The software has a clean and intuitive interface that makes working with PDFs straightforward.
3. Foxit Reader provides a range of tools for annotating PDFs, including the ability to highlight text, add comments and insert images.
4. The software also allows you to fill in PDF forms and sign documents electronically.
5. Foxit Reader is available for both Windows and MacOS, making it a convenient option for users of all platforms.

Here’s the link.

Foxit Reader is a free PDF reader that offers a number of features beyond simply viewing PDF files.

Some of the pros of using Foxit Reader include:

• The ability to add annotations and notes to PDF files
• The ability to fill out PDF forms
• The ability to sign PDF documents electronically
• The ability to view multiple pages side-by-side
• The ability to create bookmarks

On the downside, some users have reported problems with stability and crashes when using Foxit Reader. Additionally, while the free version offers a good selection of features, some advanced features are only available in the paid Pro version. Overall, however, Foxit Reader is a good PDF reader for those who need more than just basic viewing features.

3. Nitro Reader

Nitro Reader is a free PDF reader that offers a number of features to make working with PDFs easier. Here are five of the key features that Nitro Reader offers:

1. First, Nitro Reader offers a sleek and intuitive interface that makes it easy to find the features you need.
2. Second, Nitro Reader includes tools for annotating and commenting on PDFs, making it easy to collaborate with others.
3. Third, Nitro Reader offers powerful search features that make it easy to find the information you need in a PDF.
4. Fourth, Nitro Reader includes support for digital signatures, making it easy to sign documents electronically.
5. Finally, Nitro Reader offers a variety of security features to help protect your PDFs from unauthorized access or modification.

Here’s the link.

Pros:

• Nitro Reader is a free PDF reader that offers a number of features that are useful for both personal and professional users.
• Nitro Reader supports a wide range of file formats, including PDF, JPEG, PNG, and TIFF.
• Nitro Reader includes a number of security features, such as the ability to password-protect PDF files.

Cons:

• Some users have reported that Nitro Reader can be slow to load, and that it may not work properly with all types of PDF files.
• Some users have found that the interface is not as intuitive as they would like.

4. SumatraPDF

SumatraPDF is a free PDF, ebook, and comic book reader for Windows. Some of its key features include: the ability to view PDFs, XPSs, and DjVus; support for a wide range of ebook formats; an intuitive and user-friendly interface; and integration with popular comics readers. SumatraPDF is also notable for its small size and low resource usage, making it a good choice for users with older or less powerful computers. In addition, SumatraPDF is available in both portable and installable versions, making it convenient for users who wish to keep their PDF reader on a USB drive or other removable storage.

Here’s the link.

Pros:

SumatraPDF is a free and open-source PDF reader for Microsoft Windows. It’s a small, lightweight program that can open PDFs very quickly. And, it doesn’t require any installation, so you can easily carry it around with you on a USB drive. SumatraPDF also has some unique features, like the ability to annotate PDFs, that make it worth considering as your default PDF reader.

Cons:

However, there are also some disadvantages to using SumatraPDF. For example, it doesn’t include many of the advanced features that you’ll find in other PDF readers. And, because it’s so lightweight, it can be a bit unstable at times.

Overall, SumatraPDF is a good choice for a basic PDF reader. But, if you need more features, you might want to consider one of the other options out there.

5. PDFCreator

PDFCreator is a free and open source PDF Converter software for Windows. It lets you create PDF files from any printable document or image, and you can also convert PDF to various popular formats. Here are some of the key features of PDFCreator:

1. PDFCreator lets you create PDF files from any printable document or image. This means that you can use it to convert your Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other office documents to PDF.
2. PDFCreator lets you convert PDF to various popular formats such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and JPEG. This allows you to share your PDF files with others who may not have a PDF reader installed on their computer.
3. PDFCreator is very easy to use. All you need to do is select the file that you want to convert and click on the “Convert” button. The software will do the rest for you.
4. PDFCreator is free and open source software. This means that anyone can use it and distribute it freely without having to pay anything.
5. PDFCreator is constantly updated with new features andbugfixes . This ensures that you always have the latest version of the software which is less likely to cause any problems on your computer.

6. PDFsam Basic

PDFsam Basic is a free and open source PDF split and merge tool. It is released under the Affero GNU General Public License version 3. Key features include:

• split PDF documents into single pages or by page ranges.
• merge multiple PDFs into a single document.
• mix alternate pages from two PDFs in alternating fashion (odd pages of the first document followed by even pages of the second document, etc.).
• extract pages from a PDF as a new PDF document.
• rotate pages of a PDF document individually or in groups.

PDFsam Basic is available for Windows, Linux and macOS. translated versions are also available in Chinese, French, Italian, Polish and Portuguese.

PDFsam Basic is a free and open source PDF splitter that runs on Java. Although it lacks some features of the paid versions, it is still a very useful tool.

Pros:

• Freeware: PDFsam Basic is available for free, making it an attractive option for those on a budget.
• Cross-platform: PDFsam Basic works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
• User-friendly: The software has a straightforward user interface that makes it easy to split PDFs.

Cons:

• Limited features: PDFsam Basic only offers basicPDF splitting features. Paid versions of the software offer more advanced options such as merging and rotation.
• Requires Java: PDFsam Basic requires Java to be installed on your computer in order to run. This may be a drawback for some users.

Overall, PDFsam Basic is a good choice for those looking for a free and user-friendly PDF splitter. However, its lack of advanced features may be a dealbreaker for some users.

7. qpdfview

qpdfview is a lightweight PDF viewer that enables you to open and view PDF files quickly and easily. Some of the key features that qpdfview offers include:

1. Support for PDF documents of any size and complexity – qpdfview is able to open and render PDF documents of any size and complexity, making it an ideal tool for viewing large or complex PDF files.
2. Fast and responsive – qpdfview is designed to be fast and responsive, even when opening and rendering large or complex PDF files.
3. High quality rendering – qpdfview offers high quality rendering of PDF documents, making it ideal for viewing documents with intricate details or layout.
4. Support for Annotations – qpdfview supports annotations, making it easy to annotate PDF documents for later reference.
5. Cross-platform support – qpdfview is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS, making it easy to use regardless of your operating system.

Qpdfview is a free, open source PDF viewer that offers a number of features not commonly found in other PDF viewers. One notable feature is the ability to crop pages. This can be useful when you only need to view a small section of a PDF document. Another useful feature is the ability to add annotations. This can be handy when you’re collaborating on a document with others and need to leave comments. qpdfview also supports password-protected PDFs, which is a nice touch.

However, there are a couple of drawbacks worth mentioning. First, qpdfview doesn’t offer any way to organize your PDFs into folders or collections. This can make it difficult to keep track of your PDFs if you have a lot of them. Second, qpdfview isn’t available for mobile devices. So if you need to view PDFs on your phone or tablet, you’ll need to look elsewhere. Overall, qpdfview is a decent PDF viewer with some useful features. However, it’s not perfect and may not be the best choice for everyone.

8. Okular

Okular is a powerful document viewer that supports a wide range of file formats. Here are five key features that make Okular an essential tool for document management:

1. Support for a wide range of file formats: Okular can open PDF, PostScript, DjVu, CHM, XPS, ePub and more. This makes it an ideal tool for viewing documents in a variety of formats.
2. Annotation support: Okular allows users to annotate documents with text notes, highlight passages and add bookmarks. This makes it easy to collaborate on document projects with others.
3. Powerful search features: Okular comes with powerful search features that make it easy to find the information you need in a document. You can search by keyword or phrase, and you can also use regular expression searches.
4. Accessibility features: Okular includes a number of accessibility features that make it easier to view documents if you have vision impairments. These features include the ability to zoom in on text and change the contrast levels.
5. Extensibility: Okular is highly extensible, allowing users to install plugins to add new features and functionality. There are plugins available for adding support for additional file formats, enhancing accessibility features and more.

Okular is a popular PDF reader that offers a variety of features and options. Here are some pros and cons of using Okular:

Pros:

1. Okular can open PDFs from a variety of sources, including email attachments and websites.
2. It offers a variety of annotation tools, so you can highlight and comment on text.
3. You can customize the way Okular looks and feels, so it’s easy to use.
4. It integrates with a variety of other applications, making it easy to share PDFs.
5. Okular is free and open source software, so anyone can use it without paying.

Cons:

1. Some users have reported problems with opening PDFs in Okular.
2. Okular doesn’t offer as many features as some commercial PDF readers.
3. The interface can be confusing for some users.
   Ultimately, whether or not Okular is the right PDF reader for you depends on your needs and preferences. If you’re looking for a straightforward way to view PDFs, Okular may be a good option. However, if you need more advanced features, you may want to consider another PDF reader.

9. Evince

Evince is a powerful document viewer that supports a wide range of file formats. Some of the key features of Evince include:

1. Support for a wide range of document formats: Evince can open PDF, PostScript, DjVu, XPS, and various other types of documents.
2. “Continuous” view mode: Evince’s continuous view mode enables users to scroll through documents smoothly, without the need to page forward or backward.
3. Sidebar: The sidebar in Evince provides an overview of the document’s structure and allows users to quickly navigate to specific pages or sections.
4. Text selection: Evince’s text selection tool makes it easy to select and copy text from documents.
5. Print support: Evince includes print dialogs and options for printing documents directly from the application.

Evince is a free and open source document viewer for Linux, Unix, and Microsoft Windows. It is designed to support multiple document formats, including PDF, PostScript, DJVU, XPS, and DVI. Evince is the default PDF viewer for the GNOME desktop environment and is also available for macOS.

Evince has a number of features that make it a popular choice for PDF viewing:

• It includes a sidebar that allows you to easily navigate through long documents
• You can add bookmarks for easy reference
• It has built-in support for search engine integration
• You can rotate and crop pages for better viewing
• It allows you to annotate PDFs with notes and highlights

There are also a few potential drawbacks to using Evince:

• The interface can be somewhat cluttered and overwhelming
• Some users have reported stability issues when opening large PDFs
• There is no support for password-protected PDFs
• The text selection tool can be glitchy and difficult to use
  overall, Evince is a reliable and feature-rich PDF viewer that is worth considering for your needs.

10. LibreOffice Draw

LibreOffice Draw is a powerful vector graphic editor that can be used to create everything from simple diagrams to complex illustrations. Here are five key features that make LibreOffice Draw an essential tool for anyone who needs to create high-quality graphics:

1. LibreOffice Draw offers a wide range of shapes and objects that can be used to create any type of graphic.
2. The software includes a variety of tools for manipulating objects, including the ability to change their size, color, and position.
3. LibreOffice Draw supports multiple layers, allowing users to create complex graphics with ease.
4. The software can export graphics in a variety of formats, making it easy to share them with others.
5. LibreOffice Draw is free and open source, making it an affordable option for anyone who needs to create quality graphics.

Here are some of the pros and cons of using LibreOffice Draw:

• Pro: LibreOffice Draw is free and open source, which makes it accessible to a wide range of users.
• Con: The interface can be confusing for new users, and some features are hidden behind complex menus.
• Pro: LibreOffice Draw offers a wide range of features, including support for multiple layers, transparency, and graduating colors.
• Con: The learning curve can be steep, and it may take some time to master all of the features.
• Pro: LibreOffice Draw is compatible with a variety of file formats, making it easy to share documents with others.
• Con: The program is resource-intensive and may run slowly on older computers.

Overall, LibreOffice Draw is a powerful vector drawing tool that can be used for everything from simple diagrams to complex illustrations. However, the interface can be confusing for new users, and some features are hidden behind complex menus. Additionally, the learning curve can be steep, and it may take some time to master all of the features. Despite these weaknesses, LibreOffice Draw is still an excellent choice for those who need a free and open source vector drawing program.

In what occasions i need to view PDF files?

PDF files are commonly used for document sharing and printing because they preserve the original formatting of the document regardless of the software, hardware, or operating system it is viewed on. In addition, PDFs are often password protected for increased security. As a result, PDFs are an ideal format for documents that require a high degree of accuracy or security, such as legal contracts, eBooks or financial reports. PDFs can be viewed on a variety of devices, including computers, smartphones, and dedicated e-readers. In most cases, all that is needed to view a PDF is a PDF reader, which can be downloaded for free from a number of sources. As you can see, there are many occasions when viewing PDF files is necessary.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Free PDF Reader is a great tool for reading PDF files. It has a variety of features that make it easy to use, including the ability to bookmark pages, add notes, and search for text. It also offers a variety of view modes and customizations that allow you to optimize your reading experience. Overall, the Free PDF Reader is a great choice for anyone who needs to read PDF files on a regular basis.