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Adobe Reader VS Foxit Reader

Compare Adobe Reader VS Foxit Reader and see what are their differences

Adobe Reader logo Adobe Reader

Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free tool for viewing documents that have been stored in Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF).

Foxit Reader logo Foxit Reader

Foxit Reader is a free and light-weight multi-platform PDF document viewer.
  • Adobe Reader Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-17
  • Foxit Reader Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-05

Adobe Reader features and specs

  • Compatibility
    Adobe Reader is compatible with a wide range of operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. This makes it accessible for a broad audience regardless of their device preferences.
  • Features
    It supports a variety of advanced features such as text highlighting, annotations, and form filling. These features can be useful for both personal and professional use.
  • Security
    Adobe Reader comes with built-in security measures to protect against malicious PDFs. This helps ensure that your device and data remain safe.
  • User Interface
    The user interface is generally intuitive and user-friendly, making it easy for users to navigate through documents and use its various features.
  • Frequent Updates
    Adobe frequently updates Adobe Reader with new features and security patches, which improves functionality and enhances security over time.

Possible disadvantages of Adobe Reader

  • Performance
    Some users have reported that Adobe Reader can be slow to load, especially when opening large documents. This can be a hindrance for those who need quick access to their PDFs.
  • Resource Intensive
    Adobe Reader tends to use a considerable amount of system resources, which can be problematic on older or less powerful devices.
  • Bloatware
    The application can be seen as bloated by some users, with many features that are redundant or unnecessary for basic PDF viewing.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Adobe's Data Collection Policies have raised privacy concerns. Users may be uneasy about the amount of data that Adobe collects and how it is used.
  • Advertisements
    Free versions of Adobe Reader occasionally prompt users with advertisements for other Adobe products, which can be intrusive and disrupt the user experience.

Foxit Reader features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Foxit Reader is known for its fast performance and low resource consumption, making it suitable for older computers.
  • Feature-Rich
    It offers a wide range of features including annotation tools, form filling, digital signatures, and integration with cloud services.
  • Security
    Foxit Reader includes robust security features such as sandboxing, which helps protect against malicious PDF files.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, with customizable toolbars and a ribbon-style menu similar to Microsoft Office.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Foxit Reader is available on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Possible disadvantages of Foxit Reader

  • Advanced Features Require Paid Version
    Many of the more advanced features, like advanced editing and OCR, are only available in Foxit PDF Editor, a paid version of the software.
  • Regular Updates Required
    Frequent updates can be disruptive for some users and can sometimes require reconfiguration of settings.
  • Complex for Beginners
    The abundance of features can be overwhelming for new or basic users who only need simple PDF viewing capabilities.
  • Occasional Performance Issues
    While generally lightweight, some users have reported occasional performance lags when handling very large or complex PDF files.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There are occasional compatibility issues with certain PDF files, which may not render or function properly in Foxit Reader.

Analysis of Adobe Reader

Overall verdict

  • Adobe Reader is generally considered a good choice for users who need a robust and feature-rich PDF reader. It is reliable and functionally comprehensive, making it suitable for both personal and professional use. However, some users may find it resource-intensive compared to lightweight alternatives.

Why this product is good

  • Adobe Reader, also known as Adobe Acrobat Reader, is a well-established PDF reader that offers a wide range of features. As an industry standard, it provides reliable and consistent performance for viewing, printing, and annotating PDF files. It integrates seamlessly with Adobe's suite of tools, allowing for advanced PDF functionalities such as form filling, digital signature support, and PDF editing when paired with Adobe Acrobat Pro. Additionally, its widespread usage and compatibility on various platforms make it a convenient choice for many users.

Recommended for

  • Users who regularly deal with complex PDFs requiring advanced features such as annotations and digital signatures.
  • Professionals in need of a robust, industry-standard tool for managing and viewing PDF documents.
  • Individuals who already use other Adobe products and need seamless integration across Adobe's ecosystem.

Analysis of Foxit Reader

Overall verdict

  • Foxit Reader is generally regarded as a reliable and efficient PDF reader. While it may not have all the premium features of Adobe Acrobat, it offers more than sufficient functionality for most users' needs. Compared to some other PDF readers, its performance and range of features make it a strong competitor.

Why this product is good

  • Foxit Reader is considered good because it is lightweight, fast, and packed with features such as annotation tools, form-filling capabilities, and secure file sharing options. Its interface is user-friendly, and it offers multi-platform support, which is appealing to users who work across different devices and operating systems. Additionally, it provides robust security features to protect your documents.

Recommended for

    Foxit Reader is recommended for users who need a versatile and efficient PDF reader that is not resource-intensive. It is particularly useful for professionals, students, and anyone who frequently works with PDFs and values having annotation and security tools without the need for extensive editing capabilities or higher-cost software solutions.

Adobe Reader videos

Adobe Reader Review

Foxit Reader videos

Foxit Reader Free PDF Reader Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Adobe Reader and Foxit Reader)
PDF Tools
27 27%
73% 73
PDF Editor
25 25%
75% 75
PDF Readers And Editors
31 31%
69% 69
PDF Creator
16 16%
84% 84

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Adobe Reader and Foxit Reader

Adobe Reader Reviews

5 alternatives to Adobe Acrobat Reader
If you are looking for an alternative to Adobe Reader for Windows, first check out the Geekersoft PDF Editor, which provides free access to PDF documents and includes PDF creation, editing, conversion, OCR, and PDF signature. This Acrobat Reader alternative is cheap and considered to be the most cost-effective PDF editing tool on the market.
Top 10 Adobe Reader Alternatives for Windows
While the aforementioned programs are all excellent choices as Adobe Reader alternatives, they are not the only choices you have. If you’re running Windows 8 or 8.1, you also get a native PDF viewer that’s simply named ‘Reader’. Most Office suites, like MS Office and Libre Office, also allow users to read, create, annotate and edit PDF files, so if you have either installed...
Source: beebom.com
8 Best PDF Readers Available For Windows PC
Foxit Reader is another free PDF reader for Windows. Foxit Reader was once the first alternative to the Adobe Acrobat reader and it’s still one of the best PDF readers available, it offers the most features with no strings attached. From tabbed browsing to a range of advanced options, the Foxit PDF reader is yet another PDF reader to try on your Windows PC.

Foxit Reader Reviews

  1. Comparatively better than other apps


The Most Recommended 9 Free PDF Readers in 2023
Foxit Reader is a reader with many functions. It is perfectly compatible with all Windows systems and is a PDF reader for Windows.
10 Best PDF Expert Alternatives for Various Tasks in 2022
If compared, the functionality of these two products, Foxit Reader proves to possess tools, which are more effective for editing text in PDF docs. Such features as adding quick markup, highlighting text, underlining, and strikethrough, are the reasons, wherefor diverse users often prefer to choose this PDF Expert alternative product.
Source: fixthephoto.com
3 Ways to Add Image to PDF for Free
Foxit Reader is a tool similar to the above 2 products. Foxit Reader and adobe have almost the same functions, the difference between them is the pricing of their advanced features. Foxit Reader is cheaper than Adobe, but not comparable to GeekerPDF, which is free.
5 alternatives to Adobe Acrobat Reader
Foxit Reader is a very smooth PDF reader and a good alternatives to Adobe Reader. In addition to reading, it also provides annotation, form filling and signature functions.
Top 5 Best Free Alternatives to Adobe Acrobat DC
Foxit Reader has a safe reading mode which helps control things like internal links and javascript integration. This is because the Foxit Reader has ubiquitous nature, it makes it a popular target for malware and virus developers.
Source: whatvwant.com

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Adobe Reader and Foxit Reader, you can also consider the following products

Sumatra PDF - Sumatra PDF is a slim PDF/DjVu/EPUB/XPS/CHM/CBR/CBZ/MOBI viewer for Windows.

Adobe Acrobat DC - Make your job easier with Adobe Acrobat DC, the trusted PDF creator. Use Acrobat to convert, edit and sign PDF files at your desk or on the go.

MuPDF - MuPDF is a lightweight PDF and XPS viewer.

Foxit PhantomPDF - Edit PDF files with our feature-rich PDF Editor. Download Foxit PDF Editor to convert, sign, scan / OCR & more. A speedy PDF Editor alternative to Adobe Acrobat.

Xodo - Try easy-to-use PDF tools that keep your documents safe. Work with your important files across all platforms and devices with the ultimate all-in-one document solution. Your productivity lives at Xodo!

Wondershare PDFelement - All-in-one PDF editor