Best Alternative PDF Readers for Windows
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These days, PDF files are so commonplace that you may view them with a wide variety of programs. Although Adobe Acrobat is still the most popular free PDF reader for Windows, it has grown bulky and challenging to use. If you’re looking for a more user-friendly PDF reading application.
1. Sumatra PDF
Price: Free
Users who need to work with complicated PDF files or who need sophisticated functionality could find the software unsuitable. You might want to look at some of the other possibilities on our list if that sounds like you.
2. PDFgear
Price: Free
With PDFgear, you can quickly add or remove pages from your PDF. Additionally, you can apply a password for security, divide or merge a PDF, and create forms. If that’s still not enough, PDFgear also comes with a few other tools, like fill-in forms, compress features, and PDF conversion options.
3. PDF-XChange Viewer
Price: Free with premium options
Another free PDF reader for Windows that you might want to look at is PDF-XChange Viewer, despite having a somewhat dated UI. Nevertheless, a plethora of capabilities are included in this free PDF reader for Windows, such as the ability to annotate documents, manipulate text, enable OCR, and add digital signatures. Even while certain features—like converting files or adding video to PDFs—require a paid subscription, the free edition is still quite beneficial.
4. Google Docs
Price: Free
Although it can open and display PDF files, Google Docs is not mainly intended to be a Windows PDF reader. Even though Docs isn’t as feature-rich as other PDF readers, its cloud storage makes it a great tool for times when you need a PDF viewer but can’t find one on your machine. The PDF must be uploaded via Google Drive, and you may then choose to view it in Google Docs.
5. Slim PDF
Price: Free with premium options
With a file size of about 15MB, Slim PDF Reader & Viewer is a free and small PDF reader for Windows. It allows you to use a number of editing tools and loads your PDFs really quickly. It is easy to use and has a sleek, contemporary-looking UI.
6. DocFly
Price: Free
Use an online tool instead of installing another software if that’s more your style. One of the many capabilities available to you with DocFly, for example, is the ability to sign documents and add photos to PDFs.