Best PDF Reader Alternatives in 2025
Looking for alternatives to PDF Reader? In this comparison, we take a closer look at PDF Reader alongside similar software solutions including PDF Reader, PDF-Creator, soft Xpansion Perfect PDF Premium, FlexiPDF, PDFCreator, Nitro PDF Professional, Ashampoo PDF Pro, Adobe Acrobat Standard, PDF-XChange Editor, PDF-XChange Viewer and Adobe Reader.
Our detailed comparison table highlights key features, pricing, and performance of these leading solutions, empowering you to make an informed decision. Whether you're seeking robust functionality, user-friendly design, or cost-effective alternatives, explore how PDF Reader, PDF-Creator, soft Xpansion Perfect PDF Premium, FlexiPDF, PDFCreator, Nitro PDF Professional, Ashampoo PDF Pro, Adobe Acrobat Standard, PDF-XChange Editor, PDF-XChange Viewer and Adobe Reader stack up to find the perfect software for your goals.
Pricing Model
 PDF Reader
|
Free trial available; one-time payment for full version. |
 PDF-Creator
|
Paid software. |
 soft Xpansion Perfect PDF Premium
|
Paid software with free trial. |
 FlexiPDF
|
Free trial available. |
 PDFCreator
|
Free and open source version; also has a paid version. |
 Nitro PDF Professional
|
Paid software with free version. |
 Ashampoo PDF Pro
|
Paid software with free trial. |
 Adobe Acrobat Standard
|
Paid application with subscription option and free trial. |
 PDF-XChange Editor
|
Free version and paid version available. |
 PDF-XChange Viewer
|
Free PDF viewer. |
 Adobe Reader
|
Free software. |
Operating System Support
|
PDF Reader
|
Windows only. |
|
PDF-Creator
|
Windows only. |
|
soft Xpansion Perfect PDF Premium
|
Windows only. |
|
FlexiPDF
|
Windows and Mac versions available. |
|
PDFCreator
|
Windows only. |
|
Nitro PDF Professional
|
Windows only; Mac not supported. |
|
Ashampoo PDF Pro
|
Windows only. |
|
Adobe Acrobat Standard
|
Windows, Mac OS X, Android, iOS. |
|
PDF-XChange Editor
|
Windows 7/8/10 operating systems only. |
|
PDF-XChange Viewer
|
Windows and Mac OS (some limitations). |
|
Adobe Reader
|
Windows, Mac, Android, iOS; multiple platforms supported. |
Key Features and Capabilities
|
PDF Reader
|
Basic annotations, basic editing tools, print and search functions, supports multiple file formats, limited customization options. |
|
PDF-Creator
|
Batch conversion feature, optimization, password protection, encryption, OCR capabilities, supports multiple file formats including Excel and PowerPoint conversions. |
|
soft Xpansion Perfect PDF Premium
|
Comprehensive PDF editor with OCR technology, image editing, annotation, digital signatures, supports multiple formats (EPUB, MOBI), user-friendly interface with learning curve for beginners. |
|
FlexiPDF
|
Reliable and versatile PDF editor with OCR technology, image editing, form creation and filling, supports multiple languages and platforms (Windows and Mac), integration with cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive. |
|
PDFCreator
|
Open source PDF creation from any printable document, features include merging, splitting PDFs, encryption with various methods, customizable settings and network environment support. |
|
Nitro PDF Professional
|
Powerful PDF editing features including text editing, image editing, page manipulation, advanced security features (digital signatures and encryption), collaboration tools. User-friendly interface suitable for all skill levels. |
|
Ashampoo PDF Pro
|
Intuitive interface with OCR technology, digital signatures, annotation tools, password protection, supports common file formats including Microsoft Word and Excel documents. |
|
Adobe Acrobat Standard
|
Advanced editing features including form creation and filling, digital signatures, password protection and encryption. Integration with Adobe Document Cloud for mobile devices. Steep learning curve. High system resource usage. |
|
PDF-XChange Editor
|
Feature-rich PDF editor with advanced editing tools including digital signatures support, OCR technology for scanned documents, customizable interface. Supports cloud services integration (Dropbox, Google Drive). Fast performance on Windows 7/8/10. |
|
PDF-XChange Viewer
|
Free PDF viewer with annotation tools including stamps and comments export features. Portable version available. Limited advanced features compared to editors. Supports multimedia elements and collaboration features. |
|
Adobe Reader
|
Free PDF viewer with annotation tools such as highlighting and comments. Supports multiple languages and platforms. Regular security updates but lacks editing capabilities of paid Adobe Acrobat versions. |
Choosing the right software isn’t just about features. Size, license type, user ratings, and popularity also matter.
This quick comparison shows how PDF Reader stacks up against PDF Reader, PDF-Creator, soft Xpansion Perfect PDF Premium, FlexiPDF, PDFCreator, Nitro PDF Professional, Ashampoo PDF Pro, Adobe Acrobat Standard, PDF-XChange Editor, PDF-XChange Viewer and Adobe Reader in these key areas—helping you find the best alternative for your needs.
Size
|
PDF Reader
|
2MB |
|
PDF-Creator
|
2.3MB |
|
soft Xpansion Perfect PDF Premium
|
99MB |
|
FlexiPDF
|
252.4MB |
|
PDFCreator
|
42.1MB |
|
Nitro PDF Professional
|
2.3MB |
|
Ashampoo PDF Pro
|
900.4MB |
|
Adobe Acrobat Standard
|
|
|
PDF-XChange Editor
|
377.2MB |
|
PDF-XChange Viewer
|
15.8MB |
|
Adobe Reader
|
36.1MB |
License
|
PDF Reader
|
Freeware |
|
PDF-Creator
|
Demo |
|
soft Xpansion Perfect PDF Premium
|
Commercial |
|
FlexiPDF
|
Commercial |
|
PDFCreator
|
Commercial |
|
Nitro PDF Professional
|
Demo |
|
Ashampoo PDF Pro
|
Commercial |
|
Adobe Acrobat Standard
|
Commercial |
|
PDF-XChange Editor
|
Commercial |
|
PDF-XChange Viewer
|
Freeware |
|
Adobe Reader
|
Freeware |