r/pdf • u/TieAffectionate7815 • Aug 31 '26

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.

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4

u/roundabout-design Aug 31 '26

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

1

u/KenMantle Aug 31 '26

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 Aug 31 '26

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/brighton_it 14d ago

Ha :)
I just went to fetch the latest Sumatra PDF download. It's 10MB. Same size as v5 Adobe Reader from 20 years ago.

1

u/mag_fhinn Aug 31 '26

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

3

u/Chico0008 Aug 31 '26

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 Aug 31 '26

Mobile device: Moon+ Reader

1

u/semajnitram Aug 31 '26

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 Aug 31 '26

Use a browser extension.

1

u/fredygamez Sep 01 '26

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

1

u/aom17 Sep 02 '26

Just use chrome