Adobe Acrobat Reader Alternatives for Windows

There are many alternatives to Adobe Acrobat Reader for Windows if you are looking for a replacement. The best Windows alternative is SumatraPDF, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Adobe Acrobat Reader and many of them are available for Windows so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Windows alternatives to Adobe Acrobat Reader are Okular, Foxit PDF Reader, MuPDF and Xournal++.

filter to find the best alternatives

Adobe Acrobat Reader alternatives are mainly PDF Readers, but if you're looking for PDF Editors or Text to Speech Services you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Open Source, Windows, Linux, Windows + Open Source, Free, Android and PDF Editor. 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.
More about Adobe Acrobat Reader
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
Adobe Acrobat Reader alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. SumatraPDF icon

    SumatraPDF

     1669 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.

    109 SumatraPDF alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    SumatraPDF screenshot 1
     
    |
    35
    358
    Comments about SumatraPDF as an Alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader
    Comment summary: SumatraPDF is praised for being lightweight, fast, and efficient, with a straightforward, clutter-free interface. It's seen as a great alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader due to its minimal system resource usage, lack of bloatware, and open-source nature. However, users note that it lacks certain features such as annotations, editing forms, and printing in a booklet format. Users highlight its speed and ability to run from a USB drive, but remark that its user interface is dated.
    Top Positive Comment
    Atoshi
    12

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

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    47

    Sumatra does not support editing forms and adding annotations.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    taggg
    Positive
    0

    No bloat. Open source. Just read PDFs like the static documents they are meant to be.

    3 of 35 comments
    Adobe Acrobat Reader Icon
    SumatraPDF icon

    • Most users think SumatraPDF is a great Adobe Acrobat Reader alternative.

    • SumatraPDF is the most popular Windows alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader.

    • SumatraPDF is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader.

    • SumatraPDF is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • SumatraPDF is Privacy focusedAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
  2. Okular icon

    Okular

     480 likes

    Multi-platform document viewer offering extensive format support, including PDF, comics, images, EPUB, and Markdown, with annotation tools, sidebar previews, text-to-speech, DRM management, cross-platform compatibility, and integration with KDE Frameworks libraries.

    114 Okular alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • Snapcraft
    • Linux Mobile
    • Flathub
    • Haiku
    Okular screenshot 1
     
    |
    11
    112
    Comments about Okular as an Alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader
    Top Positive Comment
    karlossss1996
    4

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

    Top Negative Comment
    Notiz_Me
    1

    Doesn't have the ability to print in booklet format.

    KimiBCN
    Positive
    0

    It's a good alternative to Acrobat Reader. But it doesn't have any PDF editing features. You can't rotate images either.

    3 of 11 comments
    Adobe Acrobat Reader Icon
    Okular icon

    • Most users think Okular is a great Adobe Acrobat Reader alternative.

    • Okular is the most popular Linux alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader.

    • 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

     1376 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.

    121 Foxit PDF Reader alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Bundleware

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • ReactOS
    Foxit PDF Reader screenshot 1
     
    |
    14
    208
    Comments about Foxit PDF Reader as an Alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader
    Comment summary: Foxit PDF Reader is favored for its strong annotation tools, ease of use, and customizable interface. Users note its effective performance on Linux systems, particularly in comparison to Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is outdated on this platform. Foxit also receives praise for its ability to print in booklet format and create fillable forms. While it offers a wide range of features, some users find its user interface outdated compared to Adobe, yet find it a reliable choice for comprehensive PDF viewing.
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    4

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

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    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.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 14 comments
    Adobe Acrobat Reader Icon
    Foxit PDF Reader icon

    • Most users think Foxit PDF Reader is a great Adobe Acrobat Reader alternative.

    • Foxit PDF Reader is the most popular Mac alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader.

    • Foxit PDF Reader is Free Personal and ProprietaryAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    iTop PDF icon
    iTop PDF

    Comprehensive PDF tool for viewing, editing, annotations, and conversion between formats like Word, Excel, or PPT. Features include encryption, redaction, and fast batch processing.

    https://pdf.itopvpn.com
    Learn More
  6. MuPDF icon

    MuPDF

     157 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.

    90 MuPDF alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • F-Droid
    • Xfce
    MuPDF screenshot 1
     
    |
    3
    40
    Comments about MuPDF as an Alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader
    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

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

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    malcmerlyn
    Negative
    -4

    Not available on Apple Store (Ipad 6, ios 17.5.1)

    Adobe Acrobat Reader Icon
    MuPDF icon

    • Most users think MuPDF is a great Adobe Acrobat Reader alternative.

    • MuPDF is the most popular Android alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader.

    • MuPDF is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • MuPDF is Privacy focusedAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
  7. Xournal++ icon

    Xournal++

     187 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.

    55 Xournal++ alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Xournal++ screenshot 1
     
  8. PDFgear icon

    PDFgear

     55 likes

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

    47 PDFgear alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    PDFgear screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    Comments about PDFgear as an Alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader
    malcmerlyn
    Negative
    0

    Doesn't show my RPG PDF bookmarks

    Adobe Acrobat Reader Icon
    PDFgear icon

    • Most users think PDFgear is a great Adobe Acrobat Reader alternative.

    • PDFgear is the most popular Web-based, iPhone, iPad & Android Tablet alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader.

    • PDFgear is Free and ProprietaryAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
  10. Xodo icon

    Xodo

     71 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.

    116 Xodo alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    Xodo screenshot 1
     
    |
    5
    20
    Comments about Xodo as an Alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader
    Top Positive Comment
    Steven
    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.

    malcmerlyn
    Positive
    0

    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

    Guest
    Positive
    -2

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

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 5 comments
    Adobe Acrobat Reader Icon
    Xodo icon

    • Most users think Xodo is a great Adobe Acrobat Reader alternative.

    • Xodo is the most popular commercial alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader.

    • Xodo is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
  11. Linwood Butterfly icon

    Linwood Butterfly

     41 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.

    44 Linwood Butterfly alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

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

    • Linwood Butterfly is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader.

    • Linwood Butterfly is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Linwood Butterfly is Customizable and Privacy focusedAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
  12. Sioyek icon

    Sioyek

     22 likes

    Sioyek is a PDF viewer with minimal interface optimized for reading research papers and technical books.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Main view
     
    |
    1
    Comments about Sioyek as an Alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader
    Barrett
    Positive
    1

    It's a minimalist PDF reader for programmers and other such nerds. Includes dark mode, keyboard navigation, and a minimalist UI that allows for great focus.

    Adobe Acrobat Reader Icon
    Sioyek icon
    • Sioyek is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
  13. Qoppa PDF Studio icon

    Qoppa PDF Studio

     83 likes

    Create, Convert, Review and Edit PDF Documents on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

    171 Qoppa PDF Studio alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    Annotate
     
    |
    1
    Comments about Qoppa PDF Studio as an Alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    it has ability to paste highlighted text in comment automatically like adobe acrobate pro or foxit pdf reader.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Adobe Acrobat Reader Icon
    Qoppa PDF Studio icon
    • Qoppa PDF Studio is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
  14. Drawboard PDF icon

    Drawboard PDF

     15 likes

    The top AEC PDF app to markup and manage drawings and documents. Ideal for replacing pen and paper, avoid printing documents again by using our intuitive feature set that makes marking up a PDF easy. Open or create a new PDF, markup using our extensive array of tools, then save...

    57 Drawboard PDF alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Android Tablet
    Drawboard PDF screenshot 1
     
  15. Chrome PDF Viewer Plug-in icon

    Chrome PDF Viewer Plug-in

     58 likes

    In version 8, Google Chrome introduced a free PDF viewer, installed by default. While this plug-in lacks many features of the Adobe Acrobat Plug-in, it is much faster and lighter, and updates with the browser rather than an external utility.

    74 Chrome PDF Viewer Plug-in alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Google Chrome
    Chrome PDF Viewer Plug-in screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    20
    Comments about Chrome PDF Viewer Plug-in as an Alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    it is proprietary and I ask for open source app

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Adobe Acrobat Reader Icon
    Chrome PDF Viewer Plug-in icon

    • Some users think Chrome PDF Viewer Plug-in is a great Adobe Acrobat Reader alternative, some don't.

    • Chrome PDF Viewer Plug-in is Free and ProprietaryAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
12 of 49 Adobe Acrobat Reader alternatives