2024-02-29 15:30:05
The great advantage of the PDF format is that it preserves the layout of a document, whatever the hardware and software configuration of the computer station. This file is therefore displayed in the same way on a Windows PC equipped with Foxit Reader as on a Mac equipped with Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.
From Windows 10Windows 10, MicrosoftMicrosoft provides native support for the PDF format through its Microsoft Edge browser, within which these files can be read. The most recent versions of competing browsers such as Mozilla Firefox or GoogleGoogle Chrome also offer this functionality. However, it is often an additional tool intended primarily for consulting documents retrieved online.
To annotate files, export content or use other advanced functions, you need a dedicated viewer. Acrobat Reader DC is Adobe’s official tool for reading PDF files, some web pages recommend downloading it to benefit from optimal compatibility with these files. Other lighter and sometimes open source alternatives exist, we present them to you in the next paragraphs of this article.
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC — The dinosaur of PDF reading
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is the softwaresoftware Adobe’s flagship for reading and printing PDF files. Distributed since 1993 under the names Adobe Acrobat Reader, then Adobe Reader, it has significantly contributed to the development of the PDF format once morest its competitors. Initially, Adobe separated its different products from the Acrobat range (Reader, Elements, Standard, Professional). Through updates and developments, Adobe Acrobat Reader DC became in 2015 a complete software for managing PDF files and many other formats, integrated into the Adobe Cloud.
Benefits of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC:
- The historical reference for reading PDF files
- A modern and neat interface
- Optimal compatibility with the PDF format and numerous files office automationoffice automation (XMLXMLRTF, BMP, GIFGIFTIFF, PNG, PSD, DWG, XPSXPSetc.)
- The ability to unlock editing features directly in the software (paid)
Disadvantages of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC:
- The program is too heavy to run on computerscomputers old
- Software includes lots of ads to unlock paid features
- It should be updated regularly to keep pace with security patches
Foxit PDF Reader — An effective and free alternative, under proprietary license
Foxit Reader is a free and modern PDF reader, regularly updated by its development studio Foxit Software. This software offers a superior ribbon similar to that found in the office suite Microsoft OfficeMicrosoft Office. It provides access to practical features for adding comments, annotating or highlighting parts of the document. It is perfectly compatible with form-type documents, which can be completed directly in the Foxit Reader interface. It supports the addition of plug-insplug-ins to easily connect to major cloud services and make it easier to share documents and collaborate with others.
Advantages of Foxit PDF Reader:
- Good integration with other office software such as Microsoft OneNote
- Relatively light and fast
- Integrates a PDF printer that allows you to convert any document into this format
Disadvantages of Foxit PDF Reader:
- No editing functionality, aside from form filling
- The ribbon may seem confusing and complex to new users
- Does not support advanced PDF features containing 3D models CADCAD
- Few supported formats besides PDF
Sumatra PDF — The fastest open source PDF reader
Sumatra PDF gives pride of place to lightness and speedspeed. It thus offers a particularly stripped down and basic interface. It allows you to consult PDF documents, but also electronic books in ePub and Mobi format as well as CBZ and CBR comics. Shortcuts keyboardkeyboard are supported for easy navigation and searching.
Sumatra PDF is intended for all users who only need to view PDF documents, without advanced features. This software is perfectly trustworthy, since it is open source and is one of the programs recommended by the French State as part of the overall modernization of information systems. It also has the support of the Free Software FoundationFree Software Foundation.
Advantages of Sumatra PDF:
- The program is extremely fast and lightweight, usable on all configurations
- The software is entirely open source and recommended by the French State and the Free Software Foundation Europe
- It offers convenient keyboard shortcuts for navigating eBooks
Disadvantages of Sumatra PDF:
- The interface is particularly rustic
- The display of fonts is less smooth than in competing programs
- Sumatra PDF is based on simplicity, it does not offer features other than reading documents
UPDF – An AI-powered PDF viewer and editor
UPDF is not just a PDF file viewer. This is editing and modification software for your PDF documents, which includes a free viewer. UPDF also has the advantage of allowing access to editing features and only imposing a watermark on modified documents. In addition to benefiting from a user-friendly and intuitive interface, it also provides you with tools powered byIAIA allowing you to summarize text or answer all your questions. Different display modes are available to easily navigate the pages of your document and the other editing, character recognition, form filling, signing, conversion, and protection tools are practical and well thought out.
Advantages of UPDF:
- Intuitive navigation between pages
- Many features to comment, annotate and convert for free
- AI-powered tools and others for character recognition (OCROCR)
Disadvantages of UPDF:
- AI tools are part of an extension and therefore a separate subscription
- Watermark and conversion limitation in the free version
To download on your Windows PC, but also on your device mobilemobile AndroidAndroid, iPhoneiPhone or iPadiPadPDF Extra is a challengerchallenger. Less known, it nevertheless offers many practical features that allow it to compete with other more popular and more expensive PDF editors. Of course, as with UPDF, users can benefit from a free viewer and some other tools such as comments and annotations, but to have the editing and creation functionalities, it will be necessary to go through the subscription or license for life. Small, significant advantage that is not offered by all publishers: PDF Extra gives you 5 GB of free cloud storage space on MobiDrive. And more depending on the paid subscription chosen.
Benefits of PDF Extra:
- 5GB of free MobiDrive storage
- An intuitive ribbon interface
- Different page display modes for the viewer
Disadvantages of PDF Extra:
- Reading and commenting are the only 2 features available for free
- A windowwindow is displayed each time the user clicks on a paid feature, which happens frequently, because all features (both free and paid) are displayed, without visible distinction.
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