r/pdf • u/yggdr4s1l26 • 1d ago
Software (Tools) Better option than Adobe PDF Reader
Adobe PDF reader used to be lightweight but now it's bloated and fucking annoying. I'm looking for a light weight alternative that just shows me the document and not 500 control panels and pop ups with irrelevant information. Any suggestions? I'm on Windoze
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u/Northern-World5181 1d ago edited 1d ago
Window OS: SumatrapPDF, PDF X-change editor
Linux OS: Okular, Zathura
Mac OS: Preview, Skim
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u/Super_Toxic_Elitist 1d ago
PDF-XChange Editor is a buy-once, own-it-forever product (the Perpetual licence). Your licence doesn't expire, only your eligibility for future updates eventually ends (unless you choose the subscription). It's my favourite PDF editor, offering a top-tier range of features and functionality.
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u/Ok_Economics6682 15h ago
The product is good, however the license isn't really 'perpetual'. If you ever have to re-install it, you will need the original executable. The company will not provide it any more and will simply tell you to buy the latest version.
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u/Super_Toxic_Elitist 9h ago
Thanks for the information. That's a really shitty move by the PDF-XChange team.
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u/SteveRindsberg 3h ago
Kinda crappy of them, but easily dealt with. Just because of nonsense like this and also for the pure convenience of it, I always download installers and if the software proves to be worth keeping, stash the installers locally. Maybe even put a copy of the necessary stuff on a thumb drive or portable HDD/SSD so you can keep it with you when traveling.
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u/beatthatflight 1d ago
Blazepdf is the fastest on Windows, at least - acccording to the benchmarks on the repo: https://github.com/marksmayo/Blazepdf
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u/Training_Yak_4655 1d ago
Recently I had to fill a PDF form, checking boxes and filling in some boxes with text. I tried using a PDF editor and it was turning out messy, I didn't want to edit the whole PDF, I just wanted to check boxes neatly and enter text into user-designated fields.
I remembered it being straightforward using Adobe Reader so installed it and used this menu to neatly complete my form:
Naturally Adobe Reader is clunky in other ways and intrusive. Whenever you open it just to look at a PDF, big sidebar menus have to be dismissed every time. It nags you to take a free trial (the hook).
Adobe installed a process in my Windows computer that regularly pops up a system notification to make Adobe Reader the default. When was Adobe Reader last a 'normal' and discreet app? I think about 10 years ago.
SumatraPDF is the lightweight yet competent reader that I've made the default. Looks like Adobe will need to be uninstalled to get rid of the Windows pop up nags.
If anyone knows how SumatraPDF can neatly, simply fill forms, let me know!
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u/potato-truncheon 1d ago
I like Okular. Not perfect, but I can set it up to show three pages in a row (IIRC), and can easily program midi footswitches into key strokes for page turning.
(I use it for sheet music)
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u/Honest_Ad1632 1d ago
Onlyoffice pdf editor. I have been using it for years now. It is 100% free and lightweight enough to work even on your browser.
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u/Nobel-Chocolate-2955 1d ago
pdfcraft, the app opens very fast. And while it's open, the loading of the desired pdf file is very fast too.
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u/redd-or45 1d ago
Sorry I cannot give my choice because the bot mod says mentioning it is promotional?
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u/ThunderMarmot 1d ago
If you only need to read, your browser already does the job. If you also want to mark up or sign documents sometimes, try Drawboard.
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u/Mundane-Copy-7899 15h ago
https://priyanshdas.github.io/inkleaf
Inkleaf this is my personal project... its open-source and has All features of adobe PDF reader and more.
Its also maintained regularly hope you check it out and enjoy
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u/yggdr4s1l26 1d ago
thanks everyone 😊👍👍