If you’re looking to find the best free PDF reader, you’ve come to the right place! Here, we’ll look at the top five most promising free PDF readers on the market in 2022, and provide an explanation of why each of them is so great and what they do best. Of course, it’s always possible that something better will come along before 2022 (it happens all the time!), but this list should give you a good idea of what to expect!
Which operating system?
When it comes to choosing a PDF reader, the first thing you need to consider is which operating system you’re using. If you’re on a Mac, you have a few different options. The built-in Preview app is a good choice if you just need basic features. For more advanced features, like signing or filling out forms, you’ll want to download Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. Windows users have a few different options as well.
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is a good choice if you need advanced features. If you just need basic features, though, you can use the built-in Microsoft Edge browser or even the Windows 10 Photos app. Linux users have a few different options as well. Okular is a good choice if you want advanced features.
What kind of file formats do you need to open?
When you’re looking for a PDF reader, the first thing you need to think about is what kind of file formats you need to open. Do you just need to open PDFs, or do you also need to be able to open other types of files, like Word documents or Excel spreadsheets? If you only need to open PDFs, then any PDF reader will do.
However, if you need to open other types of files as well, then you’ll want to make sure that the PDF reader you choose can handle those file types as well. That’s why it’s important to think about what kinds of files you need to open before deciding on which PDF reader you should use.
For example, Acrobat Reader has the ability to open both PDF and Word files; but Adobe Reader can only open PDFs. If you primarily need to work with PDFs but occasionally need to work with other types of files, then Acrobat Reader might be better for you than Adobe Reader.
How do you share files from that program?
PDFs are a great way to share documents because they can be opened on any device and are easy to print. But what if you need to edit a PDF? Or fill out a form? For that, you’ll need a PDF reader with more features. We recommend Foxit Reader for Windows or macOS (you can also get it as an app for iOS). If you’re looking for something without all the extra bells and whistles, try SumatraPDF. It’s free and doesn’t have much of a learning curve, but you may not want to use it for anything other than basic tasks like opening, printing, or editing PDFs.
You should also check out Preview on MacOS: Preview has some cool features like exporting PDFs as images. And while it isn’t really made for reading PDFs, sometimes when I’m trying to search through my inbox, I just open up my most recent email and then scroll down through the whole thing until I find what I’m looking for. The ability to bounce back up to see older emails is really useful.
What other features are important?
When it comes to PDF readers, there are a few key features to look for. First and foremost, you’ll want a program that can open all types of PDFs. Additionally, you’ll want a program with annotation capabilities, so you can highlight and take notes on your documents. You’ll also want a program that has built-in security features, so you can encrypt your PDFs and protect them from prying eyes. And finally, you’ll want a program that’s easy to use and has a clean, intuitive interface. With those things in mind,
Here are our top five picks for the best free PDF reader in 2022:
- Nitro Pro – An industry favorite and one of the most popular PDF readers out there. It offers annotation capabilities, encryption tools, and an easy-to-use interface. Nitro Pro is available for Windows only.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader DC – The ubiquitous Adobe Acrobat Reader is still worth checking out if you’re looking for a solid option that can handle any type of document—including faxes and scans—and has strong security features to boot. It may not be as intuitive as some other options out there but it gets the job done well enough. Acrobat Reader is available for Windows or MacOS devices only.
- Foxit Reader – A solid choice if you need a free PDF reader that works across multiple platforms. Foxit Reader’s user-friendly interface makes it quick and easy to navigate between pages and annotations. Foxit is available for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android (beta), iOS (beta), Chrome OS (beta), Firefox OS (beta).
- SumatraPDF – A lightweight PDF viewer perfect for computers with limited processing power or memory. While SumatraPDF doesn’t have many bells and whistles like annotation capabilities or encryption tools, it does its job admirably well and should be considered by anyone who wants something simple but reliable. In addition, while SumatraPDF is available for Windows only, they do offer Linux and macOS versions. So even though it lacks versatility, we’ve found that SumatraPDF excels at being just what it advertises itself as: a good PDF viewer.
- gzdoom Builder – If you’re trying to find the best free PDF reader for working with scanned documents and text files then this might be your pick. gzdoom Builder offers outstanding compatibility when opening text files like .txt and .docx formats. Unfortunately it doesn’t offer any annotation tools or protections against privacy invasions so keep that in mind before downloading gzdoom Builder if these features are important to you.
Is it safe?
There are a lot of PDF readers out there and it can be hard to know which ones are safe to use. Here are a few things to look for when choosing a PDF reader:
- Make sure the software is from a reputable source. You can check reviews online to get an idea of what other people think of the software.
- See if the software has been updated recently. This shows that the developers are still actively working on it and that it is likely to be compatible with new versions of Windows and macOS.
- Check to see if the software has any security features, such as password protection or encryption. -A big part of this decision will depend on whether you’re looking for a desktop program or an app. Some browsers, like Chrome, have built-in PDF viewers that may be enough for some users.
- PDF files are most often read-only but some programs allow you to edit them by adding notes or highlighting text.
- Some programs come with editing tools, like commenting and redaction tools. Others also let you add audio notes, video notes, and links within the document.
