The best Adobe Acrobat alternatives

The PDF file celebrates its silver anniversary in 2018 - Adobe first brought it to the market back in 1993. The company wanted to develop a format with it that could reproduce electronic documents as true to the original as possible, regardless of hardware, application, and operating system. To achieve this goal, Adobe adopted the PostScript format, which is often used for vector graphics due to its basic form. As a result, PDFs display the layout with the help of vectors instead of pixels. The format adapts itself to the output medium and remains proportional to the original format.

Adobe made its new format available for public use. This way, Adobe’s competition was also able to develop programs that could display and process PDF files. The software giant reserved the rights to the specifications, though. In 2007, when Adobe Reader entered the market as freeware, the popularity of the PDF increased rapidly. As the developer of the format, Adobe was of course able to quickly and steadily tailor its Acrobat applications to keep up. However, the price for the full version often prevented individuals or small businesses from acquiring it.

In recent months, Adobe rolled out a large number of security updates. Some IT experts had previously warned that the program was almost as vulnerable to hacker attacks as Adobe Flash. Whether all gaps are filled or whether there are more out there remains unknown. With the high distribution of the program, though, it’s not unlikely that more security gaps will come to light in the future. This is also a reason why many users are on the lookout for an Adobe Acrobat alternative.

PDF readers are usually free. Processing software is also partially available as freeware tools, which are usually limited to only specific tasks. But the full versions are usually more stable. For the complete range of functions without watermarks, though, you’ll have to give up some money. If you’re looking for a professional solution, you should make sure that the program contains the following features:

• Convert PDF from other file formats (.doc, .xlsx, .pptx, etc.)
• PDF for scanned print media
• Create your own PDF document
• Convert PDF to various other formats
• Search text and edit using OCR technology
• Optimize texts for reading with tags (e.g. for voice playback)
• Edit PDF like text document (e.g. Add, edit, and delete text, modify images, set links)
• Enable check and commentary of document (popular functions: marker, notepad, comment box, freehand draw, stamp)

For those dealing with confidential documents, security is very important. With a password, you can make sure that only certain people can open the file. Set who has access to the document and may fill it out or edit it. This way, you can prevent unauthorized changes to contracts, for example. To personally verify a document, you can create an electronic signature with the software.

For the safety of individuals, data protection reasons, or confidentiality clauses, some information must be made unrecognizable. Simply blacking it out is not enough. The corresponding tool has to completely remove the information, including the metadata, from the document before publication. Otherwise, hackers can find this data in the digital version without much effort.

Do you also want to read documents on the go? Then be sure to note whether the program is available for mobile devices. Smartphones are not very well suited for editing because of their small screen. An optimized app at least displays the content and allows line breaks so that you can easily read the document. Access your files from anywhere with the help of an interface from your desired cloud storage service.

Adobe Acrobat is a product family for PDF solutions. If you want to use the tools in their full range, you’ll have to buy the quite expensive full version. In the meantime, a subscription system has lowered the price barrier. It’s a practical solution for big business customers – updates and support are even included. If you want to avoid running costs or constant updates, though, you can still find a one-time payment offer with other providers. Alternatives to Adobe Acrobat are oftentimes cheaper – regardless of whether they’re a subscription or purchase version. Many of them offer also offer a similarly large range of functions.

For private users who just want to read PDFs or create them out of other formats, a free PDF reader is often sufficient. In the meantime, office programs are equipped by default with plugins that convert documents into PDFs. Readers usually include most comment functions as well. If you want the entire range of functions, you’ll need either standard or professional versions.

The reader converts popular formats to PDF, recognizes scanned print media, and allows you to create a simple document on your own. Of course, the software also prints without format loss. The intuitively arranged operating interface with ribbon menu lists allows for effortless use by beginners as well. The safe reading mode stops unwanted remote interference by JavaScript or hyperlinks.

PhantomPDF is suitable for users that most often work privately or professionally with PDF documents and want to use functions such as ConnectedPDF, OCR, and overall security features. With ConnectedPDF you can manage access rights, have a constant overview of who is changing the document, and exchange information about the project via the cloud. OCR makes texts within images and scans machine-readable and allows you to edit the content.

The well-designed accessibility features are particularly noteworthy. The reader plays back text in the selected language output and offers various magnification tools. With PhantomPDF, you can also create tagged PDFs, convert in barrier-free formats, and check the document for accessibility before publication. Foxit also attaches the utmost important to security: In addition to access management, you can secure your document using electronic signatures, send them over a secure connection, set time stamps, and black out confidential information. For the latter, the program also strictly deletes metadata. When it comes to security and usability, Foxit is in no way inferior to its competitor Adobe. Linux users can also find with this software an alternative to Adobe Acrobat, which hasn’t supported the operating system for some years now.

Nitro Pro provides all the necessary functions for professional work with PDF documents. In the above image, you can see the tools as well as an example of their use. With Nitro Pro, you can create PDF files – also including tagged PDF – import Word, Excel, or PowerPoint documents, and integrate e-mails. Nitro works cross-platform and has a small tool plugin in the popular Office programs with which you can convert documents to the PDF/A format. Nitro doesn’t support as many formats as Adobe, though for daily use the range is usually sufficient.

The download takes a bit of time. So, during the installation, there’s a short program introduction available. Users who aren’t familiar with Nitro should also have an easy time getting started. A downside, though, is that images added into the document lose quality when converting Word to PDF.

But aside from this drawback, there’s barely anything wrong with the high-quality functions. You can administer access and editing rights and track processing in real time. Electronic signatures and timestamps as well as passwords lend additional security. The erase tool allows for white-outs and complete redaction in the document. With one click, you can delete all metadata and so protect sensitive information.

You can get other functions for accessible work and PDFs with the app TALK & ZOOM. Power PDF has two editing modes: check/comment and advanced editing. In the comment function, you can mark passages, set callouts, or share the document with authorized users. With advanced editing you can modify paragraphs, changes formatting, or add text. The software is one of the few PDF solutions that allows you to edit images directly in the program and add effects. Clip-art and symbols are easily added from the menu, as in Word. Complex image editing can be done with one click using a third-party program.

Thanks to password protection, electronic signatures, and drag-and-drop license distribution, there’s no need to worry about the security of your documents. The standard version unfortunately does not offer the RMS blackout service. It will, though, delete sensitive metadata as desired.

The PDF editor is already a good alternative to Adobe Acrobat. The image above shows some examples of possible editing. With markups and notepads, you can comment on the document. Sensitive information is protected with the blackout tool. For image editing, the PDF editor opens a third-party program. Edit, move, or rotate text passages directly in the program. Text can easily be added, but editing individual words gives the editor some difficulties.

In addition, the program allows you to create clickable links. Stamps and colorful QR codes are also possible. It reads out selected text and can also integrate a translation program. If the menu bar seems a bit overloaded to you, then you can simply modify it to suit your needs. Work with the PDF editor is quite comfortable. If you still have the trial version, you should be sure not to use any functions that are specific to the full version. When you eventually save the document, permanent watermarks appear.

The desktop version can be obtained as a free download. If you only use the program occasionally for individual tasks, then it remains free. There’s a certain day limit, though, after which you’ll be referred to the subscription or purchase licenses. The design of the web application was transferred one-to-one to the desktop program. The only difference: Sejda PDF Desktop processes all tasks locally on your PC, while Sejda Cloud saves documents on the Sejda servers.

The range of functions for free use is adequate. The user interface has a nice and tidy design. In the above image, you see the main page where all of the functions are organized according to action. For example, if you select the PDF editor, you will be prompted to load a PDF file. For editing, there are limited functions available such as markups (highlight and strikeout), blackout (without deleting metadata), signatures, or text additions. The abundance of tools on the homepage is gone, though.

If you want to save a Word document as a PDF file and digitally sign it, for example, then select “Word to PDF” under the “Office & PDF” section. Save the file separately. Then go to “Edit & Sign” > “PDF Editor”. There, upload the PDF file again and sign it in the tool. Do you want to add Bates numbering? Then save the document again, go to “Edit & Sign” > “Bates Numbering” and enter the numbering parameters. For more complex PDF projects, though, other Adobe Acrobat alternatives from this list are more suitable.

With Acrobat, Adobe encourages workflow optimization. The ways in which the software prepares PDF files and makes them both secure and accessible will continue to serve as a model for all other PDF software developers in the coming years. After all, they like to advertise that their PDF applications comply with the Adobe ISO standard. For many private users, though, Adobe Acrobat functions go beyond the scope of their normal use. Others would rather avoid the high subscription costs. From free readers via mobile apps to professional PDF solutions for companies: There are many affordable Adobe Acrobat alternatives that are equipped with similarly good tools and the most important security features.