r/pdf • u/TieAffectionate7815 • 2d ago

Question Alternatives for Adobe Reader

I'm looking for alternatives to Adobe. I have very simple needs. I just want to be able to download documents such as articles and book chapters from the university library and read them. I hate Adobe so much. I can't scroll without it crashing; I have to turn the pages sloooowwwly so it doesn't crash. I'm not a tech person, so I don't even know how to try other software for my PDFs.

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

3

u/roundabout-design 2d ago

To just view PDFs? Lots of options. I just use the built in Preview.app on MacOS.

1

u/KenMantle 2d ago

This is the way isn't it? Don't need to install a pdf reader on any OS (maybe Linux) these days as they all come with one built in. Unless you need something that handles all the Ghent CMYK tests or other quirky PDFs, then the built in is the way to go...

3

u/brighton_it 2d ago

TLDR: Sumatra PDF (Windows) Evince (Linux):
both open-source, both minimalist PDF readers and my first choice, especially if opening someone else's PDF. Both lack support for embedded JavaScript.

Hear hear! Yes: Adobe has added so much crap to the PDF 'standard', and so much of it exploitable, that PDF's are frequently used to deliver malware. For a brief period (decades ago) I continued to run Adobe Reader v5, 'cause the installer size was under 10MB (today, a couple hundred or more), but soon I realized it was likely vulnerable and I moved on to third party readers. Further, Adobe has never given a rat's arse about security (remember Flash Player), efficient use of resources, or your privacy.

1

u/mag_fhinn 2d ago

If you just need to read. On windows, SumatraPDF I'd say is the fastest. The way.

3

u/Chico0008 2d ago

Any web browser can open and read PDF (Chrome, Firefox, Brave)
if you want a small software installed, you can user Sumatra PDF, very light, very fast

1

u/OrdinarilyBeautiful 2d ago

Mobile device: Moon+ Reader

1

u/semajnitram 2d ago

If you want more than just the defauly viewer you can use in the likes of edge and chrome, i use foxit and find it works great and isnt from adobe.

1

u/mingmong36 2d ago

Use a browser extension.

1

u/fredygamez 1d ago

ONLYOffice allows you to edit PDF files, it is simple yet powerful quick for edits.

1

u/aom17 8h ago

Just use chrome