Top 10 Adobe Acrobat Alternatives Free[September, 2024]

In this world of digital document sharing, almost everyone is aware of Adobe Acrobat Reader to open and read PDF files. However, the software may not be suitable for specific people because of its paid subscription. This is where you need to find an Adobe Acrobat alternative free.

It may not be possible for most of the users to research a lot and find software from the internet. For all such users, we are here with some software that all of you can use as Adobe Acrobat equivalent free. We have listed someof the best picks with their brief discussion. 

Part 1. What is Adobe Acrobat PDF Editor and What It Can Do?

Adobe Acrobat PDF is a specific program launched by Adobe for various tasks related to PDF. Ranging from reading PDFs to editing a document nicely, you will find a lot of features in this particular program. The best thing that makes it better than other PDF readers is its AI capability of reading aloud.

Using this, you can easily listen to your documents instead of reading them manually. Moreover, its advanced editing features allow users to edit their documents, sign contracts and do many other tasks.

This software allows professionals to remove watermarks from the document and share a clear picture. In short, Adobe Acrobat includes a comprehensive toolkit that makes it a better and more reliable pick than other PDF readers and editors.

The only drawback of this software is its limited trial period. It allows you to use it for free for only 7 days after which you have to get its premium subscription. This is the reason why it is important for you to find Adobe Acrobat replacement free before your trial period expires.

Part 2. 10 Free Alternatives to Adobe Acrobat

On the internet, you can find multiple software to read your PDF files with comfort. However, it may not be easy to find a free alternative to Adobe Acrobat. The reason is most of those software or online resources are paid.

To help you in the selection of the right Adobe Acrobat alternative free, we have compared multiple ones. In our study, we have found the following 10 picks the best over the others. Let us share a quick overview of the software to help you find which one is better and why.

1. Afirstsoft PDF

When looking for an Adobe alternative free, no other software can be listed on the top except Afirstsoft PDF. It is rather a newly launched software but it is equipped with a complete toolkit. You can find multiple tools for editing your PDF.

It enables you to entirely change the preview of the PDF file by changing its color, adding elements, and inserting text. In short, it offers multiple options to edit a PDF and give it a unique look. Additionally, you can also use this Adobe Reader alternative free for reading your PDF with comfort.

Afirstsoft pdf reader view

This software allows you to change the preview size of the PDF file using its Zoom-in and Zoom-out facility. Moreover, you can also set its preview to “Full Screen” for focused reading. Due to all these features, we have ranked it as the best Adobe Acrobat alternative free.

2. Nitro PDF

Another good free alternative Adobe Reader is the Nitro PDF. It is a specific software that can help you do wonders on your file and make it perfect for your usage. This program is compatible with multiple file formats including Word, PPT, and Excel.

nitro pdf file preview

So, you can convert your document into any of these formats and use them easily. Along with this, it has an annotation feature using which you can bookmark your PDF files or leave specific notes. The best feature of this software is to remove or erase any sensitive information from the document before sharing.

The only drawback of this software is its compatibility with Windows only. You can’t use this software on your IOS devices which restricts a lot of users from using it.

3. PDFelement

With cross-platform compatibility, PDFelement is an Adobe Acrobat equivalent free alternative. You can use this program for something extra instead of editing files only. It allows you to merge PDF documents and get a single file in the end.

file preview in pdf element

Unlike previous editors, it can be installed and used on devices with Windows & MacOS. With its advanced features, you can easily put your digital signatures on the document without damaging its quality.

Last but not least, it offers cloud storage where you can keep storing your documents. It will be easy for you to access your documents seamlessly without facing complications.

4. PDF Expert

With a user-friendly interface, PDF Expert is a dedicated IOS application that you can use to view, read, and edit PDF files. Unlike other standard applications, it comes with advanced capabilities like deleting pages, merging documents, and decorating files.

pdf expert file preview

You can easily understand all its functions because of its simple interface. Almost all its features and tools are available on the home screen. To help users access their documents from anywhere, the application has been integrated with Dropbox, iCloud, and other storage platforms.

The only limitation of this software is that it is available for IOS users. Being a Windows and Android user, you need to find another software such as Adobe Acrobat alternative free.

5. Google Drive PDF Viewer

If your aim is to read PDF documents only, you don’t need any additional software as you can use Google Drive PDF Viewer. It is a good Adobe Acrobat replacement free that can help you read your documents. Using this, you can view your document in different screen preview sizes.

google pdf viewer

But the main problem with this viewer is that it can be used as only a PDF viewer. You can’t edit your documents using this service by Google. You have to look for another resource to go ahead with the editing of the document.

6. Foxit PDF

With an advanced algorithm based on OCR, Foxit Reader can be another free alternative to Adobe Acrobat. This PDF reader is famous in the field because of its advanced functions. Unlike other readers, it doesn’t only enable you to view the documents in different sizes.

foxit pdf reader preview

You can organize your document to get a perfect preview while looking at it. Moreover, the software has been made capable of working with different operating systems. Among its advanced features, its most beneficial feature is to add watermarks on the document.

It means that you can justify the ownership of the document by placing a watermark on the document.

7. Evince

Sometimes, you might be interested in getting a lightweight software for reading PDF files. Evince is the required one that you should consider with this feature. It is a lightweight program that supports multiple languages.

evince pdf reader preview

Doesn’t matter whether you are a native English speaker or not, you can use this software fearlessly. Moreover, it doesn’t ask you to register with the platform for reading PDFs and doing available editing tasks.

Last but not least, it doesn’t show any advertisements which makes it suitable for those who are looking for uninterrupted experience. The only problem with this is its compatibility with limited operating systems. You can’t use this software on a Windows-operated device.

8. Kdan PDF Reader

For those who are looking for Adobe alternative free on their iPhone or Android, Kdan PDF Reader is your required solution. You can install this application on any of these handy devices to quickly open your documents when you receive them.

kdan pdf reader interface

Like Adobe Acrobat, it enables you to sign PDF files, scan documents, split files, and other basic editing tasks. The best facility in this application is the dark mode availability. It means that you can set the preview to dark mode and read your documents easily.

In short, this reader will help you scan documents and do basic edits. The only drawback of this software is the registration. You can’t access most of its functions without registration. This makes it capable of ranking lower in the Adobe Acrobat alternative free.

9. Chrome PDF Viewer

Another free alternative to Adobe Acrobat is Chrome PDF Viewer which can help you see your files in different preview ratios. You can even set the document to full screen preview which means that you can focus on your document.

file preview in chrome pdf viewer

Like other browser’s PDF viewers, it will enable you to view the document only. You can’t edit your document or perform other advanced features like you can do in Afirstsoft PDF. However, it is a completely Adobe Reader alternative free that can be used by anyone with or without registration.

10. MuPDF

On the last position of our list, we have MuPDF which is a versatile solution for PDF readers. Unlike other free alternatives to Adobe Acrobat, you will not see any advertisement banners on the screen. It will help you read documents without interruption.

mupdf file preview

You can download this lightweight software on your device and start reading your files freely. Moreover, the basic editing features like PDF annotation and bookmarking will help you customize your file.

Part 3. How to Pick Up the Best Free Alternative Adobe Reader?

While looking for the best Adobe Acrobat alternative free, you will see a lot of choices. It may be hard for you to select which one is better and which one should be avoided. To help you out with the right selection, we have listed some factors here that you should consider while picking an Acrobat alternative free.

Available Features

First of all, you should go through the list of features available in that specific Adobe Acrobat alternative free. It is good to keep your needs in your mind while analyzing that particular software. With this, you will be able to make sure that you are choosing the right software for your purpose.

For example, if you are looking for a free alternative Adobe Acrobat for reading purposes, you can rely on a PDF reader. However, it is not enough to go with that software if you want to edit your files efficiently and use them in your field.

Pricing

Another factor that you should consider is the pricing of the software. Undoubtedly, you are looking for a free alternative to Adobe Acrobat. But it may not be possible to find fully free software. Mostly, you will find software with a limited free trial and then upgrade to the premium version.

It is recommended to choose a software like Afirstsoft PDF as your Adobe Acrobat alternative free. Such software will help you access most of the features for free and upgrade the subscription when it is required.

Ease of Use

The last factor that we suggest you keep in mind is the interface of the Adobe Acrobat replacement free. It is good to choose a program that is easy to use for everyone. You will feel comfortable while using such software for reading or editing your documents.

If you have picked complex software, you will not be able to perform many tasks using it. The reason behind this is the complex interface that makes it difficult for you to find an option and proceed with it.

Part 4. Conclusion

From the above list of alternatives, you must have found the best Adobe Acrobat alternative free. It is up to you which of those programs you want to go ahead with. We suggest you pick Afirstsoft PDF because of its full access without registration or subscription.

Emily Davis

Editor-in-Chief

Emily Davis is one of the staff editors of Afirstsoft PDF Editor team. She is a dedicated staff editor with a keen eye for detail and a passion for refining content.

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