# Adobe Acrobat Reader Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra > With the help of Capterra, learn about Adobe Acrobat Reader Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other PDF products and more. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/170833/Acrobat-Reader-DC --- # Adobe Acrobat Reader Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on March 13, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. Independent research methodology Capterra’s researchers use a mix of verified reviews, independent research and objective methodologies to bring you selection and ranking information you can trust. While we may earn a referral fee when you visit a provider through our links or speak to an advisor, this has no influence on our research or methodology. 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[Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/resources/how-we-ensure-transparency/) [Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[Users](#users)[Pros and Cons](#pros-cons)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Integrations](#integrations)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) Adobe Acrobat Reader ## What is Adobe Acrobat Reader? Acrobat Reader is a free PDF viewer software that lets users view, print, share, comment on, and annotate PDF files. Key features include viewing PDFs on small screens, editing PDF text and images, comparing PDFs, redacting sensitive information, sending PDFs for e-signature, converting PDFs to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, adding password protection, and integrating with Microsoft 365. The software works on Windows, Mac, and mobile devices. ## What is Adobe Acrobat Reader used for? [PDF](https://www.capterra.com/pdf-software/)[PDF Editor](https://www.capterra.com/pdf-editor-software/) Overall rating Based on 10,529 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive 95% Neutral 4% Negative 1% Pros & cons Efficient diGital document signing Universal and secure document sharing Frequent crashes and glitches Resource-heavy and slow performance Starting price $1.95 Per Month Free trial not available Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Do you work for Adobe Acrobat Reader?[Manage this product listing](https://digitalmarkets.gartner.com/get-listed/claim-bx?url=https://www.adobe.com/&name=Adobe Acrobat Reader) ## Compare with a popular alternative Capterra selects software alternatives based on relevant features, verified user reviews and user interactions. Placement may be influenced by client status. ### Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.6 (10,529) VS. [### Adobe Acrobat](https://www.capterra.com/p/251329/Adobe-Acrobat-DC/) [4.7 (4,184)](https://www.capterra.com/p/251329/Adobe-Acrobat-DC/reviews/) Starting Price $1.95 Per Month Starting Price $19.99 Per User, Per Month Free Trial Free Version Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version Ease Of Use 4.5 (10,529) Ease Of Use 4.6 (4,175) Value For Money 4.4 (7,014) Value For Money 4.3 (3,063) Customer Service 4.3 (6,135) Customer Service 4.3 (2,745) ## Adobe Acrobat Reader alternatives [iLovePDF](https://www.capterra.com/p/173963/iLovePDF/) [4.7 (1,756)](https://www.capterra.com/p/173963/iLovePDF/reviews/) Starting price $9.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 97% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/173963/iLovePDF/) [Foxit PDF Reader](https://www.capterra.com/p/175376/ConnectedPDF/) [4.5 (945)](https://www.capterra.com/p/175376/ConnectedPDF/reviews/) Starting price $11.22 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 93% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/175376/ConnectedPDF/) Highest Rated [Publuu](https://www.capterra.com/p/214310/Publuu/) [4.9 (757)](https://www.capterra.com/p/214310/Publuu/reviews/) Starting price $7.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 99% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/214310/Publuu/) [Smallpdf](https://www.capterra.com/p/172606/Smallpdf/) [4.6 (960)](https://www.capterra.com/p/172606/Smallpdf/reviews/) Starting price $15.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 95% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/172606/Smallpdf/) [View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/170833/Acrobat-Reader-DC/alternatives/) ## Who uses Adobe Acrobat Reader? Based on Capterra reviews from the past year ## Pros and Cons Efficient diGital document signing 91% positive reviews out of 1362 Most reviewers indicate sign documents features simplify electronic signatures, saving time and streamlining contract workflows. Carly P Accounts Administrator, 51 - 200 employees. "The most I like is the digital signing capabilities, I can sign any document without having to print it out and send it signed." Frequent crashes and glitches 59% negative reviews out of 834 Some reviewers report bugs and issues cause unexpected crashes, freezing, and occasional data loss during document editing. Ireshyn G Scientist, 1,001 - 5,000 employees. "Sometimes the software is buggy and causes the system to hang." Universal and secure document sharing 91% positive reviews out of 420 Most reviewers report document sharing is straightforward, ensuring files remain accessible, consistent, and protected across platforms. Emmeline C Writer and illustrator, 10,001+ employees. "Brilliant software for compressing massive documents, very convenient for sending files by email" Resource-heavy and slow performance 74% negative reviews out of 486 Most users report performance and speed are hindered by high memory usage, slow loading, and lag with large files. Lily G Biostatistician, 10,001+ employees. "Additionally, I find if I have documents That use a lot of data adobe acrobat reader is one of the slowest tools on the market to open and view these types of documents in." Essential tool for daily tasks 99% positive reviews out of 181 Most reviewers describe daily use as seamless, reliable, and vital for handling frequent PDF-related work. Disruptive and frequent updates 58% negative reviews out of 410 Some reviewers describe updates as overly frequent, intrusive, and sometimes causing compatibility problems or workflow interruptions. Ravi G Fashion consultant, 2 - 10 employees. "Frequent updates can feel disruptive, especially if you're in the middle of work." ## Features Features with the highest number of reviews are displayed first. Those that have no reviews appear next, sorted alphabetically. Convert to PDF 4.6 (859) 64.73% of 859 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important It gives you the ability to convert Word, Excel, images, and more into PDFs easily. Users think this saves time, ensures professional formatting, and secures documents for sharing. Some reviewers mention the process is seamless but note full access requires the paid version. PDF Reader 4.7 (840) 67.62% of 840 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important With this capability, you can quickly open, view, and annotate PDFs on any device. Reviewers appreciate its fast loading, user-friendly interface, reliable performance, and options like zoom, highlighting, and various reading modes. Users also value its accessibility and device compatibility. Text Editing 4.3 (779) 58.66% of 779 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Text editing helps you quickly update, correct, or annotate PDF content. Reviewers indicate it's handy for fixing errors, filling forms, and making small changes. Some users say advanced editing is only in the paid version and can be tricky with complex or scanned documents. PDF Conversion 4.5 (700) 58.71% of 700 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important This aspect lets you convert PDFs to and from formats like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Some reviewers find it efficient and easy to use, with batch processing and integration with MS Office. Users note advanced conversion needs the paid version and sometimes accuracy depends on file quality. Digital Signature 4.5 (581) 57.31% of 581 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important With digital signature support, you can sign documents electronically, saving time and reducing paperwork. Reviewers appreciate the convenience, legal validity, and security. Some users report occasional issues with stored signatures and suggest improvements for mobile and free versions. Document Management 4.4 (484) 51.03% of 484 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Store, manage, and track all electronic documents in a centralized location Adobe Acrobat Reader 30 features Highlight content and/or make notations about parts of content Provides a channel for team members to share media files, communicate, and work together Leave comments and notes on documents for others to view Manage and track all internal and external communication conducted via calls, email, text, or chat Reduction in the number of bits needed to represent data It gives you the ability to convert Word, Excel, images, and more into PDFs easily. Users think this saves time, ensures professional formatting, and secures documents for sharing. Some reviewers mention the process is seamless but note full access requires the paid version. Customize data fields to support various needs and use cases Customize contracts and forms to collect specific information Import and export data to and from software applications Delete pages from a document With digital signature support, you can sign documents electronically, saving time and reducing paperwork. Reviewers appreciate the convenience, legal validity, and security. Some users report occasional issues with stored signatures and suggest improvements for mobile and free versions. Store, manage, and track all electronic documents in a centralized location Review and analyze existing information across documents Store and organize documents in a centralized system Assemble applications and processes by dragging over and arranging pre-built components Digitally sign online documents Convert data into a code for security Create, save, and store files Move files across different systems or networks Store, manage and track all forms in a centralized location Compile and organize data into specific metrics Access software remotely via mobile devices Ability to recognize printed or written text within digital images or scanned documents This aspect lets you convert PDFs to and from formats like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Some reviewers find it efficient and easy to use, with batch processing and integration with MS Office. Users note advanced conversion needs the paid version and sometimes accuracy depends on file quality. With this capability, you can quickly open, view, and annotate PDFs on any device. Reviewers appreciate its fast loading, user-friendly interface, reliable performance, and options like zoom, highlighting, and various reading modes. Users also value its accessibility and device compatibility. Rearrange/reorder pages within a document Securely stores data to prevent data loss or breaches Text editing helps you quickly update, correct, or annotate PDF content. Reviewers indicate it's handy for fixing errors, filling forms, and making small changes. Some users say advanced editing is only in the paid version and can be tricky with complex or scanned documents. Set up connections to third-party platforms to improve business processes Add a digital mark to show ownership of an image, video, document, etc. Features 4.4 (10,529) 4.4 Based on 10,529 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.4 (7014) Free Version Basic $1.95 Per Month Value for money 4.4 (7,014) 4.4 Based on 7,014 reviews ## Integrations [ Google Drive](https://www.capterra.com/p/161425/Drive/)[ Dropbox Business](https://www.capterra.com/p/143068/Dropbox-Business/)[ OneDrive](https://www.capterra.com/p/161304/OneDrive/)[ Box](https://www.capterra.com/p/148766/Box/)[ Microsoft SharePoint](https://www.capterra.com/p/1167/SharePoint/)[ Microsoft Word](https://www.capterra.com/p/227146/Microsoft-Word/) ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 4.3 (6135) Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Deployment - Web - Android - iPhone/iPad Typical users - Freelancers - Small businesses - Mid size businesses - Enterprises Customer Service 4.3 (6,135) 4.3 Based on 6,135 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.6 Based on 10,529 reviews Filter by rating 5(7413) 4(2603) 3(449) 2(45) 1(19) Mentioned topic Sorted by most recent Jeremy V. Field Supervisor of Inspections Construction ### "Pros and cons of Adobe" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 April 20, 2026 Very critical tool that is used daily in our organization. Almost all documents are converted to PDF's. Pros This program allows us to export filed that are able to be in the read only status so customers are not able to edit these files. Cons When having the option to edit PDF's, this can be difficult to navigate. It can be complicated to edit the information. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. NH Nikolas H. Quality Engineer Medical Devices ### "Great for Editing Documents!" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 April 15, 2026 Overall, I am very pleased with Adobe Acrobat Reader and its ability to easily read PDF documents and allow me to make necessary changes and edits. Pros What I like most about Adobe Acrobat Reader is the ability to edit and make changes to PDF documents. Cons What I dislike about Adobe Acrobat Reader is the UI/UX, as it is not as visually appealing compared to other services. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. ET eldho t. battery test tecnition Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing ### "nice tool..." 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 April 13, 2026 Features such as highlighting, sticky notes, and the Fill & Sign tool are frequently cited as easy to use and essential for daily digital paperwork Pros It is the industry standard for reading PDFs, ensuring that documents look exactly the same across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.Users often highlight its robustness, noting that it rarely crashes even when handling large or complex files compared to basic browser-based viewers Cons Users frequently report that the application is "bloated," often consuming significant system memory (RAM) and causing slow loading times, even on powerful hardware. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. YM Yasmin M. Administration Education Management ### "Reliable and Essential PDF Viewer for Everyday Use" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 April 10, 2026 My overall experience with Adobe Acrobat Reader has been very positive. It’s a dependable and easy-to-use tool for opening, viewing, and managing PDF documents across different devices. I especially appreciate how consistently it preserves formatting and layout, which makes reading files stress-free. The annotation features like highlighting and commenting are also helpful for studying and reviewing documents. Pros What I liked most about Adobe Acrobat Reader is how reliable and easy it is for viewing and managing PDF files. It opens documents quickly and preserves formatting perfectly, which makes reading and sharing files very convenient. I also appreciated useful features like highlighting, commenting, and filling out forms, which make it more than just a basic reader. Its compatibility across devices ensures I can access important documents anywhere, which is especially helpful for school and work. Cons What I liked least about Adobe Acrobat Reader is that many of its more advanced features, such as editing PDFs or converting files, require a paid subscription. This can feel limiting for users who only use the free version. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. AU Anonymous User Vice President Financial Services ### "Industry standard and very reliable, but not the cheapest." 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 7/10 March 29, 2026 Pros Works everywhere consistently across operating systems. And has a good record of document security. Excellent for signing PDFs and filling out forms. The free version does a good range of basic features making it easy to get started. Cons It does use a fair bit of system resources which makes it feel heavier than some 3d party apps that offer similar functions. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Essence W. Professor Education Management ### "The One and Only" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 5/10 March 23, 2026 Pros I really still like Adobe Acrobat. It is the most convenient yet the only reliable document converter out there Cons The usability of it can be rather difficult. And the formatting does not come out the way I desire the most Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. PS Piotr S. CEO Consumer Services ### "Dissapointed and annoyed" 2.0 Overall Rating 2.0 2.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 1.0 1.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 2/10 March 16, 2026 Not so good. Very annoying pushes and constant info boxes "would you like this, would you like that". I just have to use it and Adobe makes a drama out of it. Pros You have to use it for some administrative/procurment processes. It is recognised in corporate and public sector. Cons It is obligatory for many administrative purposes to use PDF's and that's the only reason I use Adobe Acrobat Reader. The constant pushes: to implement in browser, to implement in files, to use extra features - it's really overwhelming and makes work with it really horrible. It wants you to save file while none changes has been made. It wants you to pay if you want to save WORD file into PDF, whlie this feature in Microsoft is free of charge. I would love to see an alternative, even paid one, just to see this product gone, because it is really not easy to use. The last example - when trying to find a type of signature, you need to pick from several features in menu without any help icons of whatsoever - it is really annoying for a typical user. Maybe, maybe, this product is for top notch specialists in... document signing. IDK. Good luck. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Anthony Z. Oncology Clinician Health, Wellness and Fitness ### "Awful, clunky, obstructive, pervasive and persistent. Avoid if possible." 2.0 Overall Rating 2.0 2.0 Ease of Use 1.0 1.0 Features 2.0 2.0 Customer Service 1.0 1.0 Likelihood to Recommend 1/10 March 7, 2026 Frustrating, and ultimately I switched to PDF Express for the versatility, cost and utility. If I could surgically excise Adobe from my PC and Android phone completely, I would, but it's like a leech. Pros It's widespread and easy to access - most people and companies know it and can format products using it. Cons Everything else. It's pervasive so if I want to use another product, it insists on insinuating into startup. The interface is so different from Microsoft products, and so unhelpfully obstructive or limited, that I found working with it frustrating. Saving files is a pain. Why mess with something that worked (ie the MS Word-like save dialogue, that Acrobat USED to use?). Highlighting function is very glitchy. And updating to the full package Acrobat is glitchy, most functions go unused, and its no better. Switched from [Soda PDF](https://www.capterra.com/p/226942/SODA-PDF/) I wouldn't have, but it was necessitated by a switch into a new laptop and compatability issues. Soda PDF (and what I use now, PDF Express) are so much more versatile and user friendly - and cheaper. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. BN Bre N. Service coordinator Construction ### "Good for what it’s worth" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 0.0 0.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 February 26, 2026 Pros We use Acrobat Reader for document editing and file conversion. They have many customization options. Cons It feels like a hassle just to edit one paper. I also think the subscription rate is a little pricey. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. HJ Heather J. Instructor Construction ### "Adobe Awesome" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 February 25, 2026 The security is secure and string, it is available on many types of computers (android and cloud integration). Pros Ease of use, compatibility, most reliable, robust annotation, secure e-signing, and available on may platforms. Cons It has a cluttered interface, occasional sluggish performance and aggressive upselling of paid features. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. [View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/170833/Acrobat-Reader-DC/reviews/) Popular comparisons [Adobe Acrobat vs Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/compare/170833-251329/Acrobat-Reader-DC-vs-Adobe-Acrobat-DC)[iLovePDF vs Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/compare/170833-173963/Acrobat-Reader-DC-vs-iLovePDF)[Foxit PDF Reader vs Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/compare/170833-175376/Acrobat-Reader-DC-vs-ConnectedPDF)[Publuu vs Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/compare/170833-214310/Acrobat-Reader-DC-vs-Publuu)[Smallpdf vs Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/compare/170833-172606/Acrobat-Reader-DC-vs-Smallpdf)[DocHub vs Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/compare/170833-209856/Acrobat-Reader-DC-vs-DocHub)[ABBYY FineReader PDF vs Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/compare/65868-170833/ABBYY-FineReader-vs-Acrobat-Reader-DC)[Nitro PDF vs Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/compare/167449-170833/Nitro-vs-Acrobat-Reader-DC)[pdfFiller vs Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/compare/162654-170833/PDFfiller-vs-Acrobat-Reader-DC) [Tungsten Power PDF vs Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/compare/170833-198843/Acrobat-Reader-DC-vs-Kofax-Power-PDF)[Conversion Tools vs Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/compare/170833-230262/Acrobat-Reader-DC-vs-Conversion-Tools)[Soda PDF vs Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/compare/170833-226942/Acrobat-Reader-DC-vs-SODA-PDF)[Lumin PDF vs Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/compare/170833-214552/Acrobat-Reader-DC-vs-Lumin-PDF)[PDFelement vs Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/compare/148193-170833/PDFelement-6-vs-Acrobat-Reader-DC)[PDF-XChange vs Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/compare/170833-170838/Acrobat-Reader-DC-vs-PDF-XChange)[Xodo vs Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/compare/170833-210439/Acrobat-Reader-DC-vs-Xodo)[PDFCreator vs Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/compare/170829-170833/PDFCreator-vs-Acrobat-Reader-DC)[Able2Extract Professional vs Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/compare/170833-174072/Acrobat-Reader-DC-vs-Able2Extract-Professional)  Independent research methodology Capterra's researchers use a mix of verified reviews, independent research and objective methodologies to bring you selection and ranking information you can trust. While we may earn a referral fee when you visit a provider through our links or speak to an advisor, this has no influence on our research or methodology. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/resources/proprietary-data-research/) How Capterra verifies reviews Capterra carefully verified over 2.5 million+ reviews to bring you authentic software experiences from real users. Our human moderators verify that reviewers are real people and that reviews are authentic. They use leading tech to analyze text quality and to detect plagiarism and generative AI. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/resources/how-we-verify-reviews/) How Capterra ensures transparency Capterra lists all providers across its website—not just those that pay us—so that users can make informed purchase decisions. Capterra is free for users. Software providers pay us for sponsored profiles to receive web traffic and sales opportunities. Sponsored profiles include a link-out icon that takes users to the provider's website. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/resources/how-we-ensure-transparency/)