What Is A Good Pdf Reader For Mac Fre
Having a free PDF reader
Having a free PDF reader is essential at the very least for being able to open your documents containing important information, however there are PDF readers out there that can do much more than this. The high-end PDF readers will split, merge, protect, convert and edit your documents. Most people are only familiar with the popular Adobe Acrobat Reader, so here we will introduce you some other great programs that are available for free. We tried to collect free PDF readers from both ends of the spectrum: from the most basic, lightweight ones to the feature-packed, more advanced tools. You will find both PDF reader online and PDF reader offline applications in the list.
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. Adobe Acrobat’s Reader is one of the few free PDF viewers that has been available since the invention of the PDF format. It has since become the gold standard for managing PDF files. The free PDF opener version of the program allows you to view, print, share and add comments to your documents.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software is the free global standard for reliably viewing, printing, and commenting on PDF documents. And now, it's connected to the Adobe Document Cloud − making it easier than ever to work across computers and mobile devices.
- Mac OS X have default PDF reader called “PDF Viewer” which helps to open the PDF documents. Today I’m going to list you another 12 alternative PDF Readers and PDF Editors for your Mac OS X. I categorized these applications into paid and free versions to let you find the one you need easily.
Adobe Acrobat’s Reader is one of the few free PDF viewers that has been available since the invention of the PDF format. It has since become the gold standard for managing PDF files. The free PDF opener version of the program allows you to view, print, share and add comments to your documents. One of the notable features of the newest release of the program is that you can now also add sticky notes to your document and also highlight text. Adobe Acrobat Reader is also known for its simple interface that significantly shortens the learning curve for the program.
Foxit Reader
One of the most versatile and easy-to-use PDF readers out there. Apart from being able to view your PDFs with Foxit Reader, you will be able to add comments, sign, protect and share your documents. If you want to convert your PDFs to a different format, with Foxit Reader’s downloadable add-ons you will also be able to do this easily. If you are familiar with the interface of Microsoft Word, you will have no trouble using Foxit Reader. The downside of the program, however, is that unless you purchase the Pro version, a watermark is placed on your documents.

Nitro PDF Reader
Nitro PDF Reader is yet another software closely resembling Microsoft Office’s programs and it offers plenty of functions that make it stand out among other PDF file readers. With Nitro you can fill in forms and sign PDFs, add notes, highlight text, and extract images from your documents. Nitro also has a built-in conversion tool that lets you extract the text from your PDF by converting it to a plain text file. Unfortunately, even the free version requires users to register before using the program and it still comes with a number of limitations compared to its paid counterpart.
Nuance PDF Reader
Nuance PDF Reader is a light PDF reader software compared to Adobe Acrobat, but still it does not fall short its functions and capabilities. Nuance PDF Reader lets you view your documents in the program’s interface or in your browser. The additional features Nuance offers are printing, sharing, verifying digital signatures, adding comments and highlights, and conversion to various Office doc formats. A unique feature that must be mentioned is Nuance’s newly developed “Looks Like Search” which lets you search phone numbers and email addresses easily with the built-in pattern recognition technology.
SumatraPDF
SumatraPDF is a minimalist PDF viewer that is only capable of doing the most simple tasks. SumatraPDF opens PDFs and eBook files in a flash in a separate window, so it is a great alternative to viewing your documents in your browser. To speed up the PDF viewing process even farther, SumatraPDF lets you set up shortcuts for the various tasks. SumatraPDF also has a portable app for users that want to open PDFs on the go easily. Overall, SumatraPDF is a great solution for PDF viewing if lightweightness and portability are important factors for you.
PDF-XChange Editor
Winmail.dat converter for mac. PDF-XChange Editor is claimed to be the smallest and fastest PDF management tool. It comes with a number of high-end features that can only be found in the best converters on the market. Some more advanced function are marked “Pro” and are unfortunately only available for paid users, but luckily, the software’s killer feature, the built-in OCR technology is free and lets you convert scanned PDFs to editable text formats. Although the interface of the program is not difficult to familiarize yourself with, the features of the program are well documented and there is a lot of help available online.
Preview
The first software on our list that was designed specifically for Mac users. Preview comes built-in with all computers with a Mac OS X operating system (not PDF viewer Windows), and it boasts a number of advanced features that you will not usually get with standard PDF readers. With Preview you can add comments, rearrange the pages of your document and many more. A unique feature making Preview a premium category PDF reader is its built-in technology capable of capturing electronic signatures directly from your webcam. If you are the owner of a Mac computer, Preview should be your number one choice for viewing and performing basic editing tasks on your documents.
SlimPDF Reader

SlimPDF Reader is the ultimate lightweight and easy PDF reader that takes up only 1.43MB of your memory. In terms of functions though, as we would expect, it cannot do much more than view, print, search and rotate your documents. The program is 100% free and you do not have to download any add-ons once it is installed. Simplicity was also one of the main objectives of the developers, so navigation and controls are well labeled and easy to use. If you are a user that does not need all the fancy editing tools and prefer lightning fast PDF viewing, then SlimPDF Reader is definitely the right tool for you.
SODA PDF FREE READER
SODA’s PDF Reader is a versatile piece of software offering a wide range of functions that let you take full control of your documents. If at first the interface seems familiar to you, it is because it has been design to closely resemble that of the Microsoft Office suite programs. Soda PDF Reader supports multiple document viewing via its tabbed viewing function, you can add various shapes, lines and text to your document and SODA also includes a built-in converter which lets you convert between various document formats. If you are constantly on the go or working online, then SODA has a simplified online version of its PDF Reader as well. Unfortunately, the premium version of the program is quite expensive.
PDFOnlineReader
As the name suggests, PDFOnlineReader is an online tool for viewing your documents in your browser. No fancy functions for this one, but nevertheless it is a useful basic PDF reader if you want to view documents on the go. The three main features that should be highlighted when talking about PDFOnlineReader is that you can add annotations to your documents, you can highlight parts of it and you can add internal or external hyperlinks to the contents of your PDF. After you have finished editing your PDF, you also have the ability to download it directly to your computer. Keep in mind that this is only a beta version of the tool, so we might be expecting some future improvements to PDFOnlineReader.
Conclusion
As you were able to see from the wide range of PDF document readers introduced above, PDF readers come in many different types in terms of their performance and features and therefore it is important that you not only choose one based on the reviews provided here, but you experiment with a couple of them until you find the one that best matches your needs. We hope that we have managed to cover all the best PDF reader software but because there are so many we definitely did not manage to review all free PDF reader software. If functionality is an important factor for you and you are looking for a PDF viewer that incorporates all PDF related functions into one single tool, then be sure to check out AceThinker’s PDF Writer.
A PDF reader is any software that will open a PDF file, probably the most recognizable document format in the world. Your downloadable bank statements, the newsletters from school — they're probably all in PDF format.
More and more operating systems, smartphones, and other devices contain built-in abilities to show PDF files. Even so, a dedicated PDF reader often has a number of advantages over the built-in PDF reader you may already have, like viewing options, better search, and a lot more.
Need to edit or change a PDF file, and not just open it for reading? An easy way to do that is to convert it to Word format. If you want to make PDFs use a PDF creation app.
SumatraPDF
What We Like
Open source and lightweight.
Available in 69 languages.
What We Don't Like
No ability to edit or annotate PDFs.
No anti-aliasing, so some fonts look wonky.
SumatraPDF is an easy to use free PDF reader for Windows. While it is easy and simple to work with, it's also open for heavy customization if you so choose.
Different types of viewing modes are available, like Single Page, Facing, Book View, and Presentation. The latter view is great for distraction-free reading.
There are tons of keyboard shortcuts you can use that make it easier to move around a PDF file, which you can refer to in the SumatraPDF Manual.
What Is A Good Pdf Reader
You can download SumatraPDF in portable form (uses only 6 MB) or install it like a regular program.
PDFlite is another free PDF reader that's based on SumatraPDF. It looks extremely similar and works the same.
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
What We Like
Handy drag-and-drop feature makes it easy to combine PDFs.
Excellent integration with the Adobe Cloud system.
What We Don't Like
Accessibility checker identifies problems, but it doesn't tell you how to fix them.
The free version is very limited in its features.
Adobe Systems, the creator of the PDF file format, has a free PDF reader called Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.
Tons of feature are included in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. You can take snapshots of text and images, view a PDF in Read Mode for a more concise reading pane, and have Adobe Acrobat Reader DC read text out loud.
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC works with Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. The Adobe Acrobat Reader mobile app is also available for Android, Windows Phone, and iOS.
A download manager is used download Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. So while the download manager is really small in size, the actual download for the PDF reader is much larger (possibly around 50 MB).
On the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC download page, you may be asked to install McAfee Security Scan Plus and/or another program alongside Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. You must manually deselect the offer if you don't want it installed as well.
MuPDF
What We Like
Supports XPS and CBZ files as well.
Easy to use.
What We Don't Like
Interface is a little too bare bones.
Zoom feature is less than perfect.
MuPDF is a super-lightweight free PDF reader for Windows and Android.
When you launch MuPDF, you are immediately prompted to choose a PDF file before you even see the program interface. Once you have, there are literally no options to be seen but instead the full program window is dedicated to showing the PDF.
Click the top left program icon on MuPDF's title window, then select About MuPDF to see all the supported shortcut keys you can use to flip through pages, zoom in, and search for text.
When you extract the files from the download, open 'mupdf.exe' to run the program.
Expert PDF Reader
What We Like
Faster than other free options.
* Japanese localization included. Jpeg reader for mac. * Highly streamlined interface, with customizeable keyboard shortcuts.
Intuitive interface.
What We Don't Like
Editing features are rather limited.
Tries to install other software during set up.
Expert PDF Reader is another free PDF reader for Windows.
You can view bookmarks and a list of pages found in the PDF in an easy to read index on the side of the viewing area.
There are also advanced options like signing and adding text to a PDF.
Visit CNET.com if the official download links aren't working for you.
Nuance PDF Reader
What We Like
Adding videos and images to documents is a breeze.
Dictation features makes this app ideal for the visually impaired.
What We Don't Like
No mobile version.
You can only open one PDF at a time.
Another free PDF reader for Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP is Nuance PDF Reader.
A really valuable search function is included in Nuance PDF Reader. The words you search for show up with a bit of context for easier understanding as to where the search terms are at in the text.
You can also highlight text in Nuance PDF Reader, which is great if you're using a PDF for study notes or a reference document.
PDF-XChange Editor
What We Like
Premium version is reasonably priced for what you get.
Adding and placing text is exceptionally easy.
What We Don't Like
PDFs created with the free version often include a big ugly watermark.
Doesn't automatically detect fields when creating forms.
PDF-XChange Editor is another completely free PDF reader for Windows XP and newer.
The program interface can be a bit nauseating to look at because there are buttons, toolbars, and side panels all over the place. You can easily disable most of these, though, for a much cleaner viewing experience.
In addition to opening a PDF from your own local computer, you can also enter a URL of a PDF file for PDF-XChange Editor to open (the PDF will still be downloaded, but the program does it for you).
PDF-XChange Editor also lets you add notes, record and attach audio, highlight text, attach files, and add a strikethrough to words.
Lots of features are only available in the professional version of PDF-XChange Editor, but they're clearly marked as such and aren't difficult to spot.
Evince
What We Like
Also ideal for reading comic books and power point presentations.
Excellent integration with the GNOME desktop environment.
What We Don't Like
Scrolling isn't always smooth.
The window size cannot be adjusted, and there is no full screen mode.
Evince is another free PDF reader for Windows and Linux operating systems.
The interface isn't cluttered and you can customize the toolbar with any of the included tools, like a search function and different view modes.
Evince also supports auto scroll. This is an awesome feature that lets you adjust your mouse position on the screen so as to scroll through a PDF automatically. You can fine-tune the speed for different reading paces.
Sorax Reader
What We Like
Fast and lightweight.
Doesn't even require installation.
What We Don't Like
Limited zooming options.
Doesn't come with help files.
Sorax is available for Windows as a free PDF reader.
You'll find all the basic features of a PDF reader, like the ability to search through text, copy text out of a PDF, zoom, and change the viewing mode.
Sorax also allows you to send the currently opened PDF to someone over email with the Email toolbar button.
A portable version of Sorax is available from the download page that's just around 8 MB and is available for both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows.
Epub reader for mac os x free download. EPUB File Reader by EPUB File Reader is a free to use piece of software that will allow you to open and read your EPUB eBooks. Even though EPUB File Reader for Mac is not available on the Internet, you are welcome to try an alternative EPUB reader for Mac. EBook Reader is an affordable digital book reader compatible with Intel Mac computers running Snow Leopard (OS 10.6) or later. The User is assisted with downloading free eBooks and removing. Jan 21, 2012 Those looking for an epub reader for Mac OS X might want to try one of the free apps mentioned below.
Javelin PDF Reader
What We Like
Mobile version lets you access and manage metadata.
Advanced encryption options.
What We Don't Like
Occasional clunky performance.
The installation process is unnecessarily complicated.
What Is A Good Pdf Reader For Mac Free
Javelin PDF Reader is just that: a free PDF reader. No extra features like editing or converting litters the program interface.
Everything is super clean and easy to read and understand. The search feature isn't the best to be had, but it works well as is.
Javelin PDF Reader can launch a PDF in full screen to make reading easier, and you can just click the screen to move down the PDF pages.
The download size of Javelin PDF Reader is only 2 MB for Windows. It can also be downloaded for Macs and mobile devices like Androids and iPads.
What Is A Good Pdf Converter Software
Cool PDF Reader
What We Like
You can use it to convert PDFs to other formats including TXT, JPG, GIF, and PNG.
Command icons tell you what they do when the mouse hovers over them.
What Is A Good Pdf Reader For Mac Freeware
What We Don't Like
Adobe Pdf Reader For Mac
Very limited features compared to the alternatives.
The help file isn't very helpful.
Pdf Form Reader Mac
At under 4 MB for the portable version, Cool PDF Reader is a free PDF reader for Windows that's light on system resources.
While Cool PDF Reader may not require much disk space, it's not the best PDF reader available. There isn't a search function and scrolling isn't the smoothest.
What Is A Good Pdf Editor
However, it still works as a free PDF reader if you don't like the others on this list.
Free Pdf For Mac
You can install Cool PDF Reader to your computer or use the Standalone Package to use it without installing anything.