10 Best Adobe PDF Reader Alternative in 2025 - Free

Top Picks

• Best for AI-Driven Productivity: Tenorshare PDNob

DeepSeek AI integration enables 300x faster PDF analysis and 30+ format conversions.

• Best for Speed & Portability: Foxit PDF Reader

Lightweight design with instant launch, GPU acceleration, and smooth annotation tools.

• Best for Advanced Security:Nitro PDF Reader

Enterprise-grade encryption and audit trails for sensitive document handling.

1. Tenorshare PDNob PDF Editor

When it comes to PDF editing and viewing, most users rely on Adobe products. However, if you're looking for a powerful, lightweight, and cost-effective alternative, Tenorshare PDNob is a top choice. This feature-rich PDF tool allows you to view, edit, annotate, and convert PDF files effortlessly, making it a must-have for professionals and students alike.

With PDNob PDF Editor, you no longer have to deal with expensive subscriptions or slow-loading files. Whether you need to edit text, add images, sign documents, or convert PDFs to Word, this software does it all. Its user-friendly interface and seamless performance make it the best Adobe PDF Reader alternative for Windows users.

Key Features of PDNob PDF Editor

• Comprehensive PDF Editing: Modify text, images, and formatting with ease.
• Smart Annotation Tools: Highlight, underline, and add comments for better collaboration.
• Seamless PDF Conversion: Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, and other formats without losing quality.
• Built-in OCR Technology: Extract and edit text from scanned documents or images.
• Easy Page Management: Merge, split, rotate, and delete pages effortlessly.
• Quick Digital Signatures: Sign contracts and agreements electronically without printing.

Also Read:

How to Use Tenorshare PDNob

2. Foxit PDF Reader

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Foxit PDF Reader is a powerful and best Adobe PDF Reader alternative, offering a feature-rich experience without the bulk. Designed for individuals and businesses, it provides multi-platform support across Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, making it a versatile option for professionals on the go. Foxit’s strong reputation in the industry, with endorsements from Amazon, Google, Dell, and Intel, speaks to its reliability and efficiency.

This PDF reader goes beyond basic viewing and annotation, offering advanced editing tools, document security, and seamless collaboration. Users can fill and sign forms, highlight text, scan documents, and even utilize text-to-speech features for better accessibility. Foxit PDF Reader integrates Trust Manager for enhanced security, ensuring safe handling of PDFs.

3. Nitro PDF Reader

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Nitro PDF Pro is a highly capable Adobe Acrobat alternative that delivers professional-grade PDF editing, e-signature workflows, and integrations. Designed for both Windows and macOS, this software provides businesses and individuals with an advanced toolkit for document creation, conversion, annotation, and security. With an interface modeled after Microsoft Office’s ribbon-style layout, Nitro PDF Pro offers an intuitive user experience.

One of Nitro's standout features is its powerful OCR (Optical Character Recognition) tool, which allows users to create searchable PDFs from scanned documents. Additionally, it supports over 300 file formats for PDF conversion, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Security features like password protection, redaction, and permissions ensure confidential documents remain protected.

4. Sumatra PDF Reader

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Sumatra PDF Reader is a free, open-source Adobe Acrobat reader alternative, designed for users who need a fast, lightweight, and efficient PDF viewer. Unlike Adobe's resource-heavy software, Sumatra PDF is known for its minimalistic interface and speed, making it ideal for those who prioritize performance over extensive features. It supports multiple formats, including PDF, EPUB, MOBI, XPS, CHM, and DjVu.

While Sumatra PDF lacks advanced editing or annotation tools, it excels as a no-frills, high-speed document viewer. The software is portable, meaning users can run it without installation, and it consumes very little system memory, making it perfect for older or low-spec devices. However, the lack of PDF editing, form-filling, and annotation features may not suit users who require a more interactive experience.

5. Slim PDF Reader

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Slim PDF Reader is one of the smallest and fastest Adobe reader alternative free, designed for users who need a minimalist, no-frills PDF viewer. With its tiny download size and quick loading speed, Slim PDF is perfect for users with limited storage space or older devices. Unlike bloated PDF readers, this software focuses solely on viewing and printing PDFs without unnecessary tools that slow down performance. While it lacks advanced features like editing, annotation, and form-filling, it offers a clean, distraction-free reading experience.

If you’re looking for a simple, lightweight PDF reader that gets the job done without extra complexity, Slim PDF is a great choice. It supports basic functions like searching, rotating pages, and printing PDFs, making it ideal for users who just need to open and read documents. However, if you require PDF conversion to Word, you’ll need to download additional software.

6. WPS Office

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WPS Office is a free and powerful Adobe reader alternative for linux, offering a full suite for document creation, editing, and viewing. It includes a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation software, making it a complete office solution. With PDF viewing, editing, and conversion, it ensures seamless document management. Cloud integration allows access across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Its Microsoft Office compatibility ensures an easy transition, and low system requirements make it ideal for older devices. While 1GB free cloud storage is limited, it’s useful for essential documents. Occasional ads unlock premium features, but overall, WPS Office remains a versatile, cost-effective open-source alternative with strong functionality and accessibility.

7. KDAN PDF Reader

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KDAN PDF Reader is a powerful alternative to Adobe Acrobat reader for Mac. It lets you edit, sign, scan, convert, and fill out PDF forms easily. With AI-powered tools, you can extract key information, chat with PDFs, and redact sensitive text automatically. Designed for Mac, iPhone, and iPad, it helps users manage, organize, and secure their documents effortlessly.

The app also supports cloud storage, so you can access your PDFs from anywhere. Its free version covers basic features, while premium upgrades unlock advanced tools. With an easy-to-use interface and AI-powered functions, KDAN PDF Reader is a smart choice for professionals, students, and businesses who need a fast and efficient way to handle PDFs.

8. PDF-XChange Viewer

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PDF-XChange Viewer is a good Adobe Acrobat reader alternative that offers a feature-rich experience for users who need to read, edit, and annotate PDFs efficiently. It provides a fast and lightweight interface, making it ideal for those who want a reliable PDF viewer without the bulkiness of larger software. With features like text editing, OCR (optical character recognition), and annotation tools, it stands out as a solid choice for both personal and professional use.

One of the biggest advantages of PDF-XChange Viewer is its fully functional free version, which includes most essential tools without requiring a purchase. While the free version does add watermarks to some advanced editing features, many users find it sufficient for everyday tasks. Whether you need to highlight text, add comments, or extract pages from a PDF, PDF-XChange Viewer offers a smooth and efficient experience.

9. DocHub

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DocHub is a simple online tool for creating, editing, signing, and storing PDFs. It works entirely on the web, so there’s no need to install software. You can access it from any device and integrate it with Google Drive and Dropbox. The platform also supports multiple file formats like DOC, PPT, and XLS, making document management easy and efficient.

While the free plan includes basic features, the Pro version unlocks advanced tools like unlimited signatures, password-protected documents, and extra storage. Whether for personal or business use, DocHub makes document editing and collaboration smooth and hassle-free.

10. OnlyOffice PDF Editor

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OnlyOffice PDF Editor is a powerful, free tool for viewing, editing, and filling PDFs. As part of the OnlyOffice suite, it offers seamless compatibility with Microsoft Office formats, making it a reliable choice for businesses and individuals. The editor includes essential features like text and image editing, annotation tools, and the ability to create fillable PDFs. Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, it ensures accessibility across all devices.

One of its standout features is its open-source nature, which means users benefit from continuous improvements and transparency. The platform offers a free version with robust functionality, while the premium plans include advanced security, password protection, and cloud-based collaboration. While OnlyOffice excels in integration and security, it lacks some modern features and customization options found in premium competitors like Adobe Acrobat.

FAQs of Adobe Acrobat Reader Alternative

1. Are there free alternatives to Adobe Reader?

Yes, options like Sumatra PDF Reader, Slim PDF Reader, and Tenorshare PDNob PDF Editor offer free versions with essential features.

2. Can I find an Adobe Reader alternative for Linux?

Sumatra PDF Reader is not natively available for Linux, but alternatives like WPS Office and PDF-XChange Viewer can be used through compatibility layers.

3. What are some open-source alternatives to Adobe Reader?

While not all listed options are open-source, Sumatra PDF Reader and WPS Office offer functionalities that can serve as open-source alternatives.

4. Do these alternatives offer secure PDF viewing?

Tenorshare PDNob prioritizes security, offering features like secure viewing modes and protection against malicious content in PDFs.

Conclusion:

If you're looking for the best Adobe PDF Reader alternative, there are many great options available in 2025. Whether you need a simple viewer or a full-featured editor, the right choice depends on your needs. Among them, Tenorshare PDNob stands out as a powerful and user-friendly solution. It offers advanced editing, annotation, and conversion tools, making it an excellent choice for both e.

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PDNob PDF Editor Software- Smarter, Faster, Easier

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• Instantly read, summarize, and extract insights from PDF
• Convert PDF to 30+ formats like Word, Excel, and images
• Edit text, images, watermarks, links, and backgrounds for PDF
• 99% OCR precision for making scanned PDFs editable and searchable