When you need to open a PDF file, your choice is usually limited to two options: use the standard application for the Windows 8 or 10 operating system (usually installed by default with the operating system, or available for download in the Windows Store), or use the good old Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Both options are great, but there are many other free PDF readers out there that can do even more. Whether you want to merge documents, convert them to different formats, or extract images, in our review, we will talk about other PDF readers that will do it quickly and easily.

After installation, each application will prompt you to use the default PDF reader. We recommend that you don't change your settings until you've tried the new software and are sure it works for you. If you are satisfied with the result of the application, then in order to set the default PDF reader, you should right-click on the file once, and then select "Open with". Select the .exe file of your new application, check the "Always use this application to open .pdf files" box, and click OK.

Foxit Reader is more flexible and powerful than the built-in Windows PDF reader. Once you install it, you will no longer want to return everything back.

A clean interface and many tools you could wish for in a PDF reader.

Foxit Reader is perhaps the best known alternative to Adobe Reader. It's obvious why Foxit Reader is considered the best free PDF reader.

The Ribbon-style interface is borrowed from Microsoft Office, so you can trust your intuition to easily guess where to find the tools you need. Tabbed document viewing makes it easy to work on multiple PDFs at the same time. There are also great features such as form filling and PDF comments.

Due to its prevalence, the PDF format is a frequent target for virus and other malware developers, so Foxit Reader offers a Safe Browsing mode that allows you to control clicking on links and executing Javascript functions.

Program extensions, which can be downloaded and installed additionally, allow you to convert PDF files to other formats (and vice versa), as well as combine different PDF files into one. Format conversion is easily accessible due to the fact that the function is built into the context menu of Windows Explorer.

Power and versatility make Foxit Reader the best open-source PDF reader available. Try it now, you won't be disappointed.

Nitro PDF Reader does not come close in functionality to Foxit Reader, but text highlighting and the ability to leave comments are very convenient features.

An excellent PDF program that supports change tracking and sticky notes.

Just like the Foxit Reader application, the interface of Nitro PDF Reader resembles that of Microsoft Office software - but that's not bad at all. Initially, the program looks like advanced software that allows you to perform many functions when viewing documents.

But this free reader offers more than just document viewing. In addition to adding text highlights, notes, and comments, Nitro PDF Reader lets you add sticky notes to the documents you're working on.

Nitro PDF Reader lets you convert documents to PDF and vice versa. You can also extract all images from a PDF file with one click, as well as sign an electronic document with your electronic signature. Without a doubt, Nitro PDF Reader is one of the best free PDF readers out there.

Few free PDF programs allow you to not only read, but also edit files. PDF-XChange Editor is just one of them.

A classic free PDF reader, fully adapted to the Windows 10 operating system.

The free version of the PDF-XChange Editor offers accessible features such as comments and the ability to add or extract pages (however, this feature is only available in the paid "Pro" version).

The key and distinctive feature of the free version of PDF-XChange Editor is the OCR function. You have the option to scan a printed document, save it in one of the available formats, and convert the result to PDF.

During installation, we recommend choosing a "Custom" installation rather than "Full" and then selecting the components you don't want to install. They are presented as a tree, so you need to click on the "+" button to display all the components of the installation.

If you don't work with PDF very often, you can ignore the lack of features like text highlighting or leaving comments. SlimPDF Reader does not abound with an arsenal of options, but it contains all the necessary tools for comfortable reading.

The simplest free PDF reader that does not take up much space on your disk.

SlimPDF Reader is perhaps the lightest program that takes up only 1.43MB of free space, the main merit of which is considered to be simplicity.

SlimPDF Reader is really nothing more than a document viewer, but that's not a downside. The control buttons and navigation are easy to use and require no further explanation. One of the main advantages of the program can be called lightning speed.

Search, Print and Rotate are some of the few features of SlimPDF Reader, but you also get a free trial of the PDF to Office converter.

If you want a free, no-frills PDF reader, SlimPDF Reader is the perfect choice. The only drawback of the program is the inability to view a spread of two pages on the screen.

If you want to read PDF documents in two-page format, Icecream Ebook Reader is a great choice.

Icecream Ebook Reader is great not only for formats that e-readers support, but also for reading PDF format.

As the name suggests, Icecream Ebook Reader was originally designed for viewing EPUB and MOBI documents, but this application is great for viewing PDF files.

Since the program is used as an e-book reader, you have the ability to organize your books as a library and sort by searchable type, but no one forbids you from using the application for normal PDF viewing.

The program has an unusual, but still quite pleasant to use interface. Navigating PDF files is striking in its simplicity, there is a choice of viewing modes, including a night mode that is harmless to the eyes. You can quickly add bookmarks and create notes, accessible from the Content drop-down panel.

PDF is a special file format that is designed to represent electronic documents. Most books, magazines and brochures are distributed on the World Wide Web in this format. However, many users have problems opening PDF files. The fact is that operating systems do not have standard means for interacting with this format. Therefore, when you try to open a PDF using the same Notepad, a chaotic set of characters is displayed on the screen instead of the necessary information. How to fix it? A special PDF reader will help.

What program to open a PDF file? If you are constantly working with PDF files, then the best solution would be to download a desktop program that supports this format. There are quite a few such utilities. Consider the popular programs that allow you to open PDF in Windows 10 and other versions of this operating system.

Acrobat Reader

Many PC users are convinced that the best PDF reader is Acrobat Reader from the notorious Adobe company. And this utility received its fame for a reason. The fact is that the creators of PDF is Adobe. This format has been developed since 1993 and was intended for the presentation of printed products. In 2007, PDF succumbed to standardization by ISO. This led to the fact that this format became public and began to be used everywhere.

Acrobat Reader is the most powerful PDF reader. With this utility, you can not only read documents, but also interact with them. For example, it is possible to copy a file, change it, etc. Among the main characteristics of Adobe Reader, it is worth highlighting:

• Ability to play audio and video files;
• Printing documents;
• Ability to read e-books;
• The Strat Meeting function providing multiuser work;
• The ability to enlarge individual elements of the document.

Perhaps the main advantage of Acrobat Reader is the distribution system. You can download this utility from the official website of the developer for free. Another difference between Acrobat Reader and most similar programs is optimization. Experts from Adobe did their best. The utility is picky about hardware. Thanks to this, Acrobat Reader works quickly even on computers with poor technical specifications.

Not to mention backwards compatibility. PDF has been refined over 30 years. During this huge period of time, more than 10 versions of this format have been released. Acrobat Reader is able to work with any PDF file, regardless of its specification. Also, cross-platform cannot but rejoice. Adobe released a program not only for PC. There are versions of the utility for other platforms: Android, iPad, Linux, etc.

Opening a PDF file with Acrobat Reader is very easy. It is necessary to click on the document with RMB, after which a drop-down list will appear on the screen. In it, you need to select the option "Open with". In the window that appears, click on the Acrobat Reader option. The program will start and the document will be opened.

Another program worth paying attention to is PDF-XChange Viewer. The main feature of this utility is the presence of special plug-ins that provide convenient work with browsers. Thanks to them, Change Viewer is able to interact with Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc. This utility, in addition to integrating with popular browsers, has a number of advantages. For instance:

• Support for graphic formats (BMP, JPEG, PNG and TIFF);
• Ability to edit the document;
• Text copying is conveniently implemented.

In addition, the utility has an additional set of small features that make the reading process more convenient. For example, Change Viewer, unlike Adobe Acrobat Reader, supports annotations. Another advantage of the program is optimization. Specialists have been working on algorithms for a long time, thanks to which the program consumes a minimum amount of system resources. Change Viewer is distributed under a free license, and anyone can download the utility.

Hamster PDF Reader

Hamster PDF Reader is a versatile program that allows you to not only view documents, but also print them. In addition to PDF, this utility supports DjVu and XPS formats. Among the interesting features of this program it is worth noting:

• Convenient text scaling system;
• Ability to customize the interface to suit your needs;
• Copying individual fragments of a PDF file to .

The advanced search system cannot but rejoice. Thanks to it, you can find the desired piece of text by key phrases or words. It is impossible not to mention the abundance of additional modes: reading, printing, presentation and full screen display. You can download the program completely free of charge. Hamster PDF Reader works correctly on all Windows operating systems from XP to 10.

Hamster PDF Reader has a number of advantages. But not without a fly in the ointment. If we talk about the shortcomings of the program, then the main disadvantage is speed. The utility opens some files rather slowly. In addition, the lack of labels for text is disappointing. The rest of the utility does not cause any complaints.

It is also impossible not to mention the STDU Viewer. This program is distributed completely free of charge. And its main advantage lies in the fact that it is able to work with a whole bunch of formats. In addition to PDF STDU Viewer, it supports BMP, DjVu, PSD, EMF, JPEG, GIF, WWF, etc. Among the interesting features of this utility, it is also worth noting:

• Working with several documents at the same time;
• Printing files that are protected from printing;
• Setting the screen for reading;
• Separate operating mode for touch screen devices.

The utility is cross-platform. However, STDU Viewer only supports two operating systems: Windows and Android. The program takes almost no space on your computer. STDU Viewer weighs only 7 MB. For comparison, the volume of the same Adobe Acrobat Reader is 110 MB.

The only thing that causes complaints is the print. The program performs this procedure very slowly. This is due to the fact that before printing, the page is converted into a graphic file, which takes a certain amount of time. Another disadvantage is advertising. Starting with version 1.6, developers began to insert banners into their program, which cause irritation.

Online Services

If you need to open a PDF file, but you do not plan to use this format in the future, then in this case you should not download the desktop program. It is better to use special web services that allow you to open . We will talk about the most popular ones in this part of the article.

Google Docs

How to open PDF? The first thing that comes to mind is Google with its service called Documents. With it, you can view various documents, including in PDF format. However, to access the service, you must have a Google account.

How can a PDF file be opened? First you need to upload a document. To do this, go to Google Drive. Then drag and drop the file into the workspace. You can also click on the inscription "My disk", in the drop-down list, click on "Download files" and select the PDF you want to read. The document will start downloading to Google Drive. This will take a certain amount of time.

After downloading the file, it will appear in the workspace. To open a PDF, right-click on it, then select the "Open with" option in the drop-down list and click on "Google Docs". The file will open and become available for reading, editing and other manipulations.

Google Docs, unlike most online PDF services, has no limits on the size of an uploaded document. And this means that with the help of the site you can read magazines and even whole books. However, it should be borne in mind that the larger the file, the longer it will be loaded to disk. For example, a book of 700-800 pages with good Internet will be downloaded for about half an hour.

PDF-OnlineReader

PDF-OnlineReader is a browser-based program designed to open PDF files. In terms of functionality, the service cannot be compared with Google Docs. For example, in PDF-OnlineReader there are no tools for editing files. With this program, you can only read documents in PDF format. Nevertheless, PDF-OnlineReader provides its services completely free of charge and does not require registration.

The interface of the program is completely in English. But this is unlikely to be a problem. After all, navigation is very simple and intuitive. It only takes a couple of clicks to open a file. You must click on the "Download PDF" button and select a document from your PC. If you want to upload another file, then in this case you need to click on "Upload Another Document".

In principle, PDF-OnlineReader has all the functionality you need for comfortable reading. There are several viewing modes, text can be enlarged, etc. Implemented the ability to leave annotations. Also, using the site, you can convert a PDF file to Word or HTML. This will be useful if you want to continue reading on a computer.

docspal

Among the services for reading PDF, one cannot but pay attention to DocsPal. The web program has existed since 2010 and is very popular. One of the main advantages of the site is a modern and at the same time simple interface.

How to work with the service? You need to upload the file to the site. To do this, you need to drag the document into the workspace or click on the "Browse file" button and select PDF. Next, you need to click on "View file". The PDF will open in read mode. It is worth noting that the program supports not only this format. With DocsPal, you can read Word, JPEG, PNG, DjVu, and more documents.

DocsPal has standard functionality for reading PDF documents. You can turn pages, zoom in or out on text. If we talk about interesting features of an Internet resource, then DocsPal allows you to transfer a document as a hyperlink. This is very convenient if you are constantly exchanging files with colleagues at work.

Phone Applications

How to open PDF file on Android phone? For this, there are many applications on the Play Market. We will talk about the most popular right now.

PocketBook Reader

PocketBook Reader is a utility for reading books on a phone based on the Android operating system. This program supports almost all existing book formats. Of course, PDF is also included.

Perhaps the main advantage of PocketBook Reader is easy navigation. When launched, the program will scan the internal memory of the phone and external drives. After that, the application will present the found documents in the form of a list or thumbnails. Managing a library of files is very simple. Navigation is carried out using the volume buttons or touches on the screen.

If we talk about functionality, then in this regard, PocketBook Reader can compete with desktop programs. Among the interesting features of the utility, it is worth highlighting:

• Various reading modes;
• Ability to change the font and background of the PDF file;
• Can document using the sensor.

The program supports searching by PDF file. Thanks to this feature, you can find the desired piece of text using keywords. PocketBook Reader also supports pagination and file navigation. Instead of flipping through the book, you can simply enter the number of the desired page and the program will immediately display it.

We cannot but rejoice at the notes system, which is implemented in PocketBook Reader at a very decent level. In a PDF document, you can highlight lines with multi-colored markers, add text comments, etc. In addition, the program allows you to move to the note you made at any time.

Universal Book Reader is another reader for Android devices. The program is distributed under a free license. Any Play Market user can download it. The app won't take up much space on your phone. The APK file of the program weighs only 20 MB.

UBR can open EPUB and PDF files. The program has several modes. Some are suitable for smartphones, others are convenient to use when reading from a tablet. UBR allows you to leave text notes on pages. In addition, in the application, you can select and copy certain fragments of text to the clipboard.

One of the main features of this program is the ability to open protected files. Few people know, but you can put a password on a PDF document. Using UBR, a protected file can be opened even without a passcode.

In contact with

For convenience, we distinguish four types of programs: viewers (for reading and annotating), editors (for editing text and other content), managers (for splitting, compressing and other file manipulations) and converters (for converting PDF to other formats).

Most applications can be attributed to several types at once.

• Type: viewer, editor, converter, manager.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.

A very intuitive and user-friendly program with an impressive number of features. When you launch Sejda PDF, you will immediately see all the tools grouped by category. Select the one you need, drag the necessary file into the program window and start manipulations. Most of this application can be done in a few seconds, even if you are using it for the first time.

What you can do in Sejda PDF:

• edit text, add images and shapes;
• convert PDF to Excel, JPG (and vice versa), Word (and vice versa);
• merge and split files by pages, compress their size;
• protect documents with a password;
• add watermarks;
• discolor documents;
• crop page area;
• sign documents.

The free version of the program has limitations. For example, files should not be larger than 200 pages and larger than 50 MB. In addition, you can not perform more than three operations with documents during the day. The full version of Sejda PDF is $5.25 per month.

• Type: manager, converter, editor.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, .

PDFsam cannot boast of a polished, user-friendly interface. In addition, the program does not allow you to convert PDF and edit the content of documents for free. But it has several useful managerial functions available to everyone without payment and any restrictions.

What you can do in PDFsam:

• combine PDF in several modes (glue in parts or mix page by page);
• split PDF by pages, bookmarks (in places with the specified words) and size into separate documents;
• rotate pages (if some of them were scanned upside down);
• extract pages with specified numbers;
• convert Excel, Word, PowerPoint formats to PDF;
• convert PDF to Excel, Word, and PowerPoint formats ($10);
• edit text and other file content ($30).

• Type
• Platforms: Windows.

A very functional program with a classic interface in the style of Microsoft office applications. PDF-XChange Editor is not very beginner friendly. To master all the features of the program, you need to spend some time. Fortunately, all internal descriptions and tips are translated into Russian.

What you can do in PDF-XChange Editor:

• add annotations and highlight text;
• edit text and other content;
• recognize text using OCR;
• extract pages from documents;
• encrypt documents (for a fee);
• convert PDF to Word, Excel and PowerPoint formats and vice versa (for a fee);
• compress files (paid);
• sort pages in any order (paid).

These are not all the features you can find in PDF-XChange Editor. The program is available in several versions with a different number of features. Paid versions start at $43.5.

• Type: viewer, manager, converter, editor.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.

A popular universal program for working with PDF from the company. The free version is a very convenient document viewer, other functions are available by subscription at a price of 149 rubles per month.

What you can do in Adobe Acrobat Reader:

• view documents, highlight and comment on text, search for words and phrases;
• sign documents (for a fee);
• edit text and other content (for a fee);
• merge documents into one file (for a fee);
• compress files (paid);
• convert PDF to Word, Excel and PowerPoint formats (paid);
• convert JPG, JPEG, TIF and BMP images to PDF (for a fee).

All these features and more are available in desktop versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Mobile versions of the program only allow you to view and annotate documents, as well as - after subscribing - convert them to different formats.

• Type: viewer, converter.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.

Fast and convenient PDF reader with different viewing modes. Ideal for users who want a simple document reader without too many extras. The program is available on all major platforms.

Most people don't think about PDF readers that can be installed. They simply install their familiar Adobe Reader. But Adobe's PDF Reader is no longer the only option, and there are really high-quality free PDF viewers that work on the Windows operating system and beyond.

Some alternative PDF readers are lightweight applications with a minimal set of features designed to easily view PDF files, while others, on the contrary, have a whole host of additional options and features. There are programs that provide features that are not available in Adobe Reader.

Built-in PDF Readers

If you are using then you already have a PDF reader. It's not feature rich, but it's fast. Display in a browser is perhaps the easiest way to read a PDF document without installing a separate application. It shows any PDF document like a regular web page, the only difference is an additional toolbar that appears when you hover over the document. is also working on its integrated PDF reader, called PDF.js, which is included in Firefox 14 (albeit disabled by default). The Firefox browser should definitely have its own built-in PDF viewer, which the developers have been promising to release for quite some time now. Now there is no doubt that in Firefox 15 or, at worst, in Firefox 16 (if something goes wrong), we will definitely see it.

It also expects its own PDF reader. It turns out that PDF readers are increasingly being integrated into the browsers and operating systems we use every day, gradually eliminating the need to install separate tools for reading PDF documents.

Foxit Reader

Foxit is one of the first names that come to mind when people start thinking about alternative PDF readers. Perhaps this is due to the fact that it was one of the first alternative PDF viewers.

Unfortunately, during installation, this utility tries to install an additional toolbar in and changes your home page. But, unlike lighter options, Foxit has built-in support for features for creating notes, highlighting passages of text, and other PDF editing features. It is a true full-featured alternative to Adobe Reader.

Sumatra PDF

Sumatra PDF can be considered as the lightest PDF reader available. It is very fast and has a simple interface, and is also available as a handy portable version that you can take with you anywhere.

This development, unfortunately, does not have additional editing options or other bonus features, but it loads and displays any PDF files with lightning speed.

Sumatra also supports keyboard shortcuts, which makes quick PDF reading just perfect. supports other file formats, including e-books in ePub and CBZ formats, as well as comics in CBZ and CBR formats.

Nitro PDF Reader

Nitro PDF Reader stands out among its free counterparts with some unique features and a nice interface. The program has separate features that you will not find in another application. For example, the QuickSign feature allows you to capture a digital image of your signature and apply it to any PDF document. Nitro PDF can also convert files from Microsoft Word and other formats to PDF, convert PDF files to text, and even extract images from PDF documents.

PDF-XChange Viewer

PDF-XChange Viewer is a fast, although not as lightweight as some of the other programs reviewed, for reading PDFs. The utility does an excellent job of editing and annotating, although complex changes to documents will require more powerful paid applications such as Adobe Acrobat.

Adobe Reader

Adobe Reader is still the standard for PDF readers, although, admittedly, it is not the fastest application. Most PDF documents open fine in other PDF readers, but there are also files that will only display correctly in Adobe Reader. If you prefer another program to read such files, then don't be surprised if you need to launch Adobe Reader from time to time to view complex PDF files that don't open properly in other applications.

For the same reason, the PDF viewer built into the Chrome browser sometimes offers its users (or download) Adobe Reader to correctly view a single file.

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