Best Adobe Reader Alternatives in 2025
Looking for alternatives to Adobe Reader? In this comparison, we take a closer look at Adobe Reader alongside similar software solutions including Adobe Reader, FlexiPDF, Adobe Acrobat Standard, FoxitReader, PDF-XChange Viewer, PDFCreator, soft Xpansion Perfect PDF Premium, PDF-XChange Editor, Nitro PDF Professional, PDF-Creator and Foxit PDF Reader.
Our detailed comparison table highlights key features, pricing, and performance of these leading solutions, empowering you to make an informed decision. Whether you're seeking robust functionality, user-friendly design, or cost-effective alternatives, explore how Adobe Reader, FlexiPDF, Adobe Acrobat Standard, FoxitReader, PDF-XChange Viewer, PDFCreator, soft Xpansion Perfect PDF Premium, PDF-XChange Editor, Nitro PDF Professional, PDF-Creator and Foxit PDF Reader stack up to find the perfect software for your goals.
Pricing Model
 Adobe Reader
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Free software with some features only in paid version. |
 FlexiPDF
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Free trial available; paid software with more advanced features. |
 Adobe Acrobat Standard
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Paid software with a free trial and subscription options. |
 FoxitReader
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Free PDF reader with limited functionality; premium features require payment. |
 PDF-XChange Viewer
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Free PDF viewer with some advanced features available in paid versions. |
 PDFCreator
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Free and open source software; also offers a paid version with more features. |
 soft Xpansion Perfect PDF Premium
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Paid comprehensive PDF editor with free trial. |
 PDF-XChange Editor
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Free version available; paid version provides full feature set. |
 Nitro PDF Professional
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Paid software with free version available; subscription pricing options exist. |
 PDF-Creator
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Paid software with batch mode capabilities. |
 Foxit PDF Reader
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Free PDF viewer with optional paid premium features. |
Supported Platforms
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Adobe Reader
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Available on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, multiple platforms including mobile devices. |
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FlexiPDF
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Available on Windows and Mac versions only. |
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Adobe Acrobat Standard
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Supports Windows, Mac OS X v10.11, Android, iOS devices. |
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FoxitReader
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Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android mobile devices, multiple platforms. |
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PDF-XChange Viewer
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Available on Windows only; portable version available; mobile app available on iOS and Android separately. |
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PDFCreator
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Windows application supporting all Windows operating systems. |
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soft Xpansion Perfect PDF Premium
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Windows platform only. |
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PDF-XChange Editor
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Windows 7/8/10 operating systems supported. |
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Nitro PDF Professional
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Windows-based computers and Macs supported; mobile devices also supported. |
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PDF-Creator
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Windows operating systems including Vista, XP supported. |
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Foxit PDF Reader
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Supports Windows, Mac, Linux platforms, iOS and Android devices. |
Key Features
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Adobe Reader
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Viewing PDFs, annotation tools (highlighting, underline), offline use, security fixes, supports various languages and multimedia formats. |
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FlexiPDF
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PDF editing including text and image editing, OCR technology for scanned documents, redaction feature, encryption options, digital signatures integration with cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive. |
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Adobe Acrobat Standard
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Advanced editing including text edit and image manipulation, digital signatures, password protection, form filling and creation features, document merging and organizing. |
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FoxitReader
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Annotation tools including comment and highlight features, digital signature support, ConnectedPDF document management system integration, user guides and community forums for support. |
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PDF-XChange Viewer
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Annotation tools including highlighting and comments, OCR functionality for scanned documents, multimedia element support (audio/video/images), digital signatures support. |
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PDFCreator
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Convert any printable document to PDF format with customizable options including encryption and image compression; supports network environment for multiple clients; open source project with community contributions. |
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soft Xpansion Perfect PDF Premium
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Comprehensive PDF editor with OCR technology, image editing, creation of new PDFs from various formats (EPUB, Excel), encryption and password protection features. |
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PDF-XChange Editor
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Feature-rich PDF editor with annotation options, complete digital signature support, OCR for searchable text from scans, cloud services integration (Dropbox, Google Drive), customizable interface. |
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Nitro PDF Professional
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Powerful editing tools including text and image editing, strong security features including encryption and digital signatures; efficient conversion tools; collaboration tools for shared document editing. |
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PDF-Creator
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Batch conversion of multiple files to PDFs with optimization features; security via encryption and password protection; supports multiple file formats including Excel and PowerPoint documents; annotations included. |
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Foxit PDF Reader
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Form filling capabilities, annotation tools (stamps, highlights), enhanced security against malware threats; fast lightweight application suitable for multiple languages and platforms; supports fillable forms and keyboard shortcuts. |
Choosing the right software isn’t just about features. Size, license type, user ratings, and popularity also matter.
This quick comparison shows how Adobe Reader stacks up against Adobe Reader, FlexiPDF, Adobe Acrobat Standard, FoxitReader, PDF-XChange Viewer, PDFCreator, soft Xpansion Perfect PDF Premium, PDF-XChange Editor, Nitro PDF Professional, PDF-Creator and Foxit PDF Reader in these key areas—helping you find the best alternative for your needs.
Size
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Adobe Reader
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36.1MB |
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FlexiPDF
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252.4MB |
|
Adobe Acrobat Standard
|
|
|
FoxitReader
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43.3MB |
|
PDF-XChange Viewer
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15.8MB |
|
PDFCreator
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49.6MB |
|
soft Xpansion Perfect PDF Premium
|
99MB |
|
PDF-XChange Editor
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377.2MB |
|
Nitro PDF Professional
|
2.3MB |
|
PDF-Creator
|
2.3MB |
|
Foxit PDF Reader
|
License
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Adobe Reader
|
Freeware |
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FlexiPDF
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Commercial |
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Adobe Acrobat Standard
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Commercial |
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FoxitReader
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Commercial |
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PDF-XChange Viewer
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Freeware |
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PDFCreator
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Commercial |
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soft Xpansion Perfect PDF Premium
|
Commercial |
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PDF-XChange Editor
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Commercial |
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Nitro PDF Professional
|
Demo |
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PDF-Creator
|
Demo |
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Foxit PDF Reader
|
Freeware |