The best PDF reader software for Windows PC lets you view, edit, annotate, share, and even sign documents with ease. Although nothing can be changed when creating a PDF, there are now a variety of paid and free editors on the market that can help you manage, manipulate, split, merge, and convert PDFs according to your users’ preferences.
If you just want to open and read PDF documents, the first thing that comes to mind is a web browser. They usually have a built-in PDF reader these days! However, if you need to add feature digital signatures, fill out forms, or protect forms, you need this collection of the best PDF readers for Windows.
Best 9 Fastest PDF Readers for Windows 10, 8, 7 PCs
What are the Windows PDF readers? Since the market is flooded with hundreds of desktop PDF management tools, some of which cost close to a thousand dollars per year, we’ve sifted through the internet to introduce you to the best free PDF readers for Windows.
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
Windows PDF Reader Download: Without a doubt, one of the most popular PDF readers for Windows of all time is Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. This program helps users access, view, and edit PDFs anytime and anywhere. Acrobat Reader has a pleasing interface and doesn’t be flooded with flashy features in one place. You’ll find no hassle to fill out forms, convert PDFs to other file formats, add comments, and even sign documents. To take advantage of more tools to manipulate and combine documents, you’ll need to switch to Premium.
Merit:
- Hide any unnecessary menus and switch to full screen.
- Multiple viewing modes are available (to reduce eye strain).
- Settings such as character case, bookmarks, and notes.
- Text and image extraction are supported.
Shortcoming:
- The export feature is slow.
| Price: Free, Pro = $15/month | Try Acrobat Reader DC! |
Foxit Reader
If you’re looking for a powerful and fast PDF reader for Windows 10, 8, 7, and other versions, choose Foxit Reader. The free PDF Manager tool is relatively lightweight compared to Acrobat Reader and offers a plethora of options for creating, sharing, and protecting PDFs on the cloud. It even allows you to collaborate with your friends and colleagues — just by granting access, you can track who has opened the document, edit it, and see all their activity in real-time. Foxit Reader is a Google Doc for PDF Reader for Windows.
Merit:
- Has a full-screen mode for a better viewing experience.
- Provides support for drawing tools and adding signatures.
- Allows you to open multiple PDF files, each in a separate tab.
- The GUI doesn’t look crowded, making it the best PDF reader software.
Shortcoming:
- The trial version is different after the update is launched.
| Price: Free | Try Foxit Reader! |
Javelin PDF reader
Collection of Best PDF Readers for Windows: Javelin is a great PDF reader software that offers a great reading experience and the fastest performanceAs well as all the basic features for working with PDF files. You can launch any PDF file in full-screen mode to enhance your reading experience, and you can utilize the search function to target specific keywords and phrases without any issues. To read multiple pages, you can simply click on the screen to move the file up and down. On the downside, it’s a very basic PDF reader that lacks tools for editing and converting PDFs.
Merit:
- With its mobile version, you can also manage metadata.
- Comes with advanced encryption tools.
- Available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.
- Text-to-speech conversion is supported, making it the best PDF reader software.
Shortcoming:
- Occasional clumsy performance.
- The installation process is complicated.
| Price: Free, paid plans start at $199/year | Try Javelin PDF Reader! |
Google Drive
What are the Windows PDF readers? If you want to access, read, and take notes on PDFs instantly, Google Drive is the best free PDF reader for you. You can open, view, convert, and share any PDF file across clouds on the platform. It’s the best free PDF reader for anyone who has a Google account (probably all of us) and just needs to read, edit, and print PDF files quickly online. In addition, you can rely on this online PDF reader to convert your files into editable document formats in just a few clicks.
Merit:
- The interface is clean and clean.
- Store videos, PDFs, presentations, and photos.
- SSL encryption is supported.
- Allows you to access your documents from anywhere.
Shortcoming:
- While using the drive, we need to be connected to the Internet.
| Price: Free, paid plans start at $1.99 per month| Try Google Drive! |
Slim PDF Reader
Windows PDF Reader Download: Next on our list of the fastest PDF readers for Windows 10, 8, 7 is Slim PDF. It helps users access and read PDF documents without taking up too much space on their computer. The app allows users to edit, share, search for multiple files, and print the desired PDF as needed. Unlike other free PDF readers, Slim supports dark mode, so it won’t strain your eyes even if you read for a long time.
Merit:
- The world’s smallest desktop PDF reader.
- Best portable PDF reader software for every type of user.
- Good response time compared to other PDF viewers.
- Multiple languages are supported, making it the best PDF reader software.
Shortcoming:
- Many popular keyboard shortcuts are not supported.
- Slim PDF Reader can’t highlight text.
| Price: Free | Try Slim PDF Reader! |
Expert PDF Reader
Another free PDF manager you can choose for Windows is Expert PDF Reader. In terms of appearance, it will give you the feel of an old MS Office Apps. Speaking of features, with this simple PDF reader, you can work with almost all types of documents. It also gives you options for annotations, adding rubber stamps, and more. You can easily bookmark your favorite files and view multiple PDF documents in a row with the tag feature.
Merit:
- Lightweight PDF readers don’t consume much
- Allows you to read, edit, annotate, and sign documents.
- Easily print your favorite PDF files.
- Older versions of Windows are also supported.
Shortcoming:
- Limited features compared to other free PDF readers.
| Price: Free | Try Expert PDF Reader! |
Nitro Reader
Windows PDF Reader Download: It is a powerful free PDF reader that is perfectly blended with useful features to read, annotate, and convert files to various formats with ease. Nitro Reader has a clear interface and selectable touchscreen mode, giving it an edge over other fastest PDF reader software for Windows 10, 8, 7. With the program, you can add comments to a document before sharing it with others.
Merit:
- You can highlight, underline, and strikethrough
- Allows you to convert other file types to PDF.
- Support for extracting images from documents.
- Customize the top toolbar for faster access.
Shortcoming:
- Lack of tools to edit document text (free version).
- You are required to register.
| Price: Free version available; Plans start at $159/user | Try Nitro Reader! |
PDF-XChange Editor
Our collection of the best PDF readers for Windows is incomplete and doesn’t mention PDF-XChange Editor. Recently, the tool has been completely revamped and simplified to enhance the user experience when working with multiple PDF documents. It is lightweight and provides the fastest experience when reading, annotating, extracting photos/text, or printing documents. The only downside is that it doesn’t have the basic editing features in the free version.
Merit:
- Feature-rich, yet well-organized and user-friendly interface.
- Allows you to edit PDF files by attaching comments.
- Comments can be added before sharing a file.
- Bookmark and edit images.
- Best portable PDF reader for Windows.
Shortcoming:
- Watermark on the output.
| Price: Free, paid plans start at $46.50 | Try PDF-XChange Editor! |
Sumatra PDF Reader
What are the Windows PDF readers? Individuals who need to be able to view PDFs in various modes should consider using Sumatra PDF Reader. The utility allows users to access and read their documents in a single window, in a book format, or even in a presentation. Not only that, but with this fastest PDF reader for Windows, you can open and manage files like EPUB, MOBI, FB2, CHM, XPS, and DjVu. It doesn’t consume much system resources, but on the downside, it lacks certain useful features such as adding signatures, annotations, etc.
Merit:
- The best open-source PDF reader software.
- The user interface of the program is simple and straightforward.
- Support “drag-and-drop” mode to open PDFs.
- Ability to change the orientation of the file.
- A best-in-class PDF viewer that is also available as a portable application.
Shortcoming:
- Optimization control is not that effective.
| Price: Free | Try Sumatra PDF Reader! |
Conclusion: Tips for Choosing the Right PDF Reader Software for Windows
Well, if you want to provide a reliable and powerful PDF reading app for your Windows system, keep the following factors in mind:
- The free version is only useful for beginners with limited features. Choose if you’re new and want to use the fastest PDF reader for viewing and basic editing
- Choose a PDF viewing and reading tool with a clear interface to simplify the entire navigation process. You can try using Foxit Reader for a great viewing experience.
- For advanced use, choose a free PDF reader that offers editing, annotating, sharing, and more. Expert PDF Reader is the best option to enjoy these features.
- Choose a Windows PDF reader that has high compatibility with all popular file formats. Try using Google Drive or Nitro to work with different types of files.
Hopefully, you found our list of the top 10 best PDF reader software today useful.
FAQ: Collection of Best PDF Readers for Windows
Q1. Which is the best PDF reader for Windows?
Adobe Acrobat Reader is undoubtedly the best free PDF viewer and reader tool. In the paid category, you can choose Wondershare’s PDFElement. It has all the potential features you need to read, edit, annotate, sign PDFs, and more.
Q2. Is there a free PDF reader for Windows 10?
Well, we have shared the full list of the best free PDF reader programs for Windows. The best options for excess are Adobe Acrobat Reader, Foxit Reader, Javelin, Nitro, Slim PDF Reader, etc.
Q3. How do I get Adobe Acrobat Reader for free on Windows 10?
Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free, global standard that makes it easy to view, annotate, print, and sign documents. You can get the tool by clicking here!
Q4. What is the difference between Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader?
Adobe Reader is a free PDF management program that allows users to access and read PDFs and other portable document file formats. Adobe Acrobat, on the other hand, is a paid version of Reader that comes with additional features to print, protect, and manipulate PDF files.
