17 Best Adobe Acrobat Alternatives in 2023 [Free/Paid]
Matthew Martin
Following is a handpicked list of the Top Adobe Acrobat Pro alternatives, with popular features and latest download links. This list includes commercial(paid) as well as open-source (free) software.
Best Alternatives to Adobe Acrobat (PDF Viewer, Editor & Creator)
| Name | Free | Platform | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 👍 Icecream Apps PDF Editor | Lifetime Free Basic Plan | Windows, Mac and Android | Learn More |
| 👍 PdfFiller | 30-Days Free Trial | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS | Learn More |
| Ashampoo PDF Pro | Lifetime Free Basic Plan | Windows | Learn More |
| Wondershare PDFelement | Lifetime Free Basic Plan | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | Learn More |
| Nitro Pro | 14-Days Free Trial | Windows, Mac and Android | Learn More |
#1) Icecream Apps PDF Editor
Icecream Apps PDF-Editor is an intuitive software that enables you to create and make changes in the PDF file. This application helps you to edit, manage pages, annotate, and more.
Fill out PDFs Online: Yes
PDF Editing: Yes
Supported Platform: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
Free Trial: 30-Days
Features:
- Combine PDF pages.
- It allows you to move, rotate, and resize objects.
- This application allows you to set a password to protect PDF files.
- Offers built-in forms in PDF documents.
- Add notes in the PDF.
- You can search through the document before making changes in it.
- You can export in your edited PDF in JPG, PNG, TIFF, or RTF formats
- Supports Add notes, Highlight, Strikethrough or Highlight text, Comments, and more.
- Supported Platform: Windows, Mac and Android
- Price: $49 One-time Payment, No Time Limit
- Free Trial: Lifetime Free Basic Plan
Lifetime Free Basic Plan
#2) pdfFiller
pdfFiller is a web-based PDF management solution that doesn’t require installation. It is fully compatible with most operating systems and devices. Unlike most of the alternatives to Adobe Acrobat, pdfFiller offers multiple features for professional PDF editing, signing, converting, team collaboration, and sharing. It offers users a free 30-day trial to test drive its functionality.
Fill out PDFs Online: Yes
PDF Editing: Yes
Supported Platform: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
Free Trial: 30-Days
pdfFiller vs Adobe Acrobat features comparison:
| Capabilities | pdfFiller | Adobe Acrobat |
|---|---|---|
| Fill out PDFs online | Yes | No |
| PDF editing | Yes | Yes |
| Sign PDFs online | Yes | No |
| Unlimited cloud storage | Yes | No |
| Annotate PDF | Yes | Yes |
| Free mobile app | Yes | No |
| Track sent documents | Yes | No |
Features
- You can Print, Email, Fax, or Download your PDF
- Supports Highlight and Annotate Documents
- Supported Platform: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
- Price: Plans start at $8 a month. 67% Discount on Yearly Payment.
- Free Trial: 30-Days
30-Days Free Trial
#3) Ashampoo PDF Pro
Ashampoo PDF Pro is an editor to make changes in PDF files. It enables you to manage your documents with ease. The application can create the exact size of the document that you can read on any device. This tool can also be used to merge two PDFs.
Fill out PDFs Online: Yes
PDF Editing: Yes
Supported Platform: Windows
Free Trial: Lifetime Free Basic Plan
Features:
- You can design and edit forms.
- Compare PDFs side by side.
- You can split the document with ease.
- It enables you to take screenshots.
- The tool has simplified text formatting dialog.
- Ashampoo offers settings for line and paragraph.
- You can export in your edited PDF in Microsoft Word, RTF, HTML, EPUB, or JPEG formats
- Supports Text, Drawings and Audio Commentary.
- Supported Platform: Windows
- Price: $49 One-time Payment, No Time Limit
- Free Trial: Lifetime Free Basic Plan
Lifetime Free Basic Plan
#4) Wondershare PDFelement
Wondershare PDFelement is a software tool which makes creating, editing, converting, and signing PDF files easy. It runs on both Windows and Mac operating system. There are three plans: 1) Individual 2) Team and 3) Education.
Features:
- You can control your PDF file with no hassle.
- This software provides a simple way to distribute forms and combine them for analysis.
- Protect your file from unintended access.
- Collaborate your team efficiently using a comment feature.
- Express yourself verbally and visually word processor so that you can easily edit PDFs.
- You can export in your edited PDF in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, HTML, text and image file formats
- Supports Highlight, Underline, Strikethrough, Note, Shapes, Callout, and more
- Supported Platform: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
- Price: Plans start at $49.99 a month. 50% Discount on Yearly Payment.
- Free Trial: Lifetime Free Basic Plan
Lifetime Free Basic Plan
#5) Nitro Pro
Nitro Pro is a replacement for Adobe PDF Editor. This software allows the business team to work in a better way with various documents and each other. This software comes with OCR engine for scanning paper documents. It makes working with digital documents stress-free.
Features:
- Helps you to convert PDF to Excel and PowerPoint faster.
- Quickly share documents securely via the cloud.
- Access and share file quicker with your colleagues.
- It is an excellent alternative to printed documents.
- Multitasking feature allows you to modify PDF files easily
- Provides a simple way to verify digital signatures.
- You can export in your edited PDF in Word, Rich Text Format (.RTF), Image, or Excel formats
- Supports Highlight, Cross-out, Underline, and Replace.
- Supported Platform: Windows, Mac
- Price: Plans start at $60.87 a month.
- Free Trial: 14-Days
14-Days Free Trial
#6) ABBYY FineReader/FineReader Pro
ABBYY FineReader is an OCR and PDF software. It is easy to use PDF tool to increase business productivity with documents. You can access and make changes in the content locked in pdf files and paper-based documents.
Features:
- Create, edit, comment, and annotate PDF files.
- Use the latest OCR technology to scan and convert paper documents to Word, Excel, or PDF.
- It is a faster way to identify changes between various versions of the documents.
- Hot folder helps you to streamline document conversion.
- You can export in your edited PDF in Microsoft Word, Excel, etc formats
- Supports Text, Images, Chart, and Captions
- Supported Platform: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
- Price: Plans start at $19 a month.
- Free Trial: 7-Days
7-Days Free Trial
#7) PDF Fusion
PDF Fusion is a PDF creator software that allows you to assemble, edit and create PDFs. This Adobe Acrobat alternative helps you quickly assemble new documents using pages from existing material. It also allows you to export and email PDF documents with ease.
Features:
- Provides an easy drag and drop feature to combine multiple file types in one PDF document.
- You can edit or add text anywhere in a PDF document.
- It allows you to share the file with anyone by converting it to PDF, XPS, or Microsoft Word formats.
- It helps you to markup documents using highlighting and sticky notes.
- You can export in your edited PDF in PDF, DOC and XPS formats formats
- Supports Sticky-notes, Highlighting, Freehand lines, and Arrows.
- Supported Platform: Windows
- Price: Plans start at $54.99 a month. 15% Discount on Yearly Payment.
- Free Trial: 30-Days
30-Days Free Trial
#8) PDFexpert
PDFexpert is a robust PDF editor. You can use this software to read, comment, edit PDF files, change images, and text. This software available free of charge and can be used on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. The PDF editor allows a user to view, annotate, edit PDFs, and change images.
Features:
- It provides smooth scrolling and faster way to search for any layout.
- With the advance setting feature, you can you will have an amazing reading experience.
- Use Apple pencil to add annotate or notes.
- It uses search indexing to find required things very quickly.
- Automatically detects font size and opacity of written text so that you can edit document easily.
- It has a crop tool to crop pages.
- Highlight text, write in the margins, add stamps, shapes, and comments
- You can export in your edited PDF in Text, Images, Links, Signatures, Pages, and Files formats
- Supported Platform: iPhone, iPad and Mac
- Price: Plans start at $7.2 a month.
- Free Trial: 30-Day Money Back Guarantee
30-Days Money Back Guarantee
#9) Able2Extract Professional
It is a software tool to convert, create, and edit PDF files. This Adobe Acrobat alternative free software converts PDF file to Word, PowerPoint, Excel, AutoCAD, Images, and Publisher. This PDF editor tool is a cross-platform editor for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Features:
- This software allows you to customize conversation by selecting the desired page, paragraph, or line.
- A large volume of PDF documents can be automated easily using this software.
- Allows you to convert PDF files to many open-source formats like Writer (ODT), Impress (ODP), and Calc (ODS).
- You can export in your edited PDF in MS Office (Word, Excel, PPT), AutoCAD, HTML, or an image formats
- Supports Sticky Notes, Underline, Highlighter, Stamp, Caret, Squiggly Line, Strikethrough, Attachment, Link, and Watermark
- Supported Platform: Windows, Mac, and Linux
- Price: Plans start at $34.95 a month.
- Free Trial: 30-Days
30-Days Free Trial
#10) Dochub
Dochub is an online free tool to edit, send, and sign PDF file. You can use this online tool to simplify document workflow. The editor can also be used to annotate and sign PDF document digitally. It is one of the best alternatives to Adobe Acrobat Pro that can be integrated with Gmail, Dropbox, and Google Drive.
Features:
- You will get PDF file signed with Sign Requests, DocHub, and eSignatures.
- Insert images, make a comment, and create fields.
- It is a faster and easy way to create various templates and forms.
- You can open a file directly from your Gmail, drive, or dropbox.
- It allows OAuth 2.0 authentication and 256-bit SSL encryption for security.
- You can export in your edited PDF in Doc format
- Supports Whiteout Redact and Highlight Underline Strikeout
- Supported Platform: Android, iOS, and. Windows
- Price: Plans start at $6 a month. 2% Discount on Yearly Payment.
- Free Trial: Lifetime Free Basic Plan
Lifetime Free Basic Plan
#11) Foxit PhantomPDF
Foxit PhantomPDF is a PDF editor to generate and manage PDF document. It is one of the best Adobe Acrobat alternative that offers an efficient way to create and manage documents after you publish them. Three available versions of this editor are 1) Standard 9, 2) Business 9, and 3) Mac.
Features:
- Easy to create and edit fillable forms and documents.
- It allows adding headers, footers, and export PDF documents.
- Easy to collaborate with the team.
- It helps you to protect your content in a better way.
- It offers ECMs and cloud storage facility to share your documents.
- You can export in your edited PDF in Word, Excel, and other formats
- Supports Note, Line, and Highlight
- Supported Platform: Windows, Mac, Android
- Price: Plans start at $128.84 a Year.
- Free Trial: Lifetime Free Basic Plan
Download link: https://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf-editor/
#12) Sejda PDF Editor
Sejda PDF Editor is a free online PDF tool. It also provides direct links to open PDF documents with the editor. You can also use this editor to fill and sign PDF. The editor is alternative to other PDF creating and editing software such as Adobe acrobat. Use this alternative to Adobe Acrobat software to compress PDF files.
Features:
- Files are automatically deleted after 2 hours.
- Documents will stay private.
- It is an online tool, so you do n’t require any installation.
- Easy to make changes in a file online.
- You can export in your edited PDF in Doc format
- Supports Strikethrough and Highlight text
- Supported Platform: Windows, Linux or Mac
- Price: Plans start at $7 a month. 21% Discount on Yearly Payment.
- Free Trial: Lifetime Free Basic Plan
Link: https://www.sejda.com/pdf-editor
#13) PDFescape
PDFescape is an online PDF editor tool. It is also available for windows. This software is an excellent alternative to Adobe Acrobat. Using an online editor, you can create and edit PDF files anytime, anywhere. Two versions of this tool are 1) online and 2) premium. Available with more options to work with PDFs.
Features:
- Edit PDF files without any hassle.
- It is very easy to annotate PDF Documents.
- An excellent way to create PDF forms.
- Share and view PDF files online.
- Carets, Sticky notes, Highlight, Strikeout, Underline PDF Text, Stylable Popups
- You can export in your edited PDF in Word, Powerpoint, Excel, and Image formats
- Supported Platform: Online, and Windows 11, 10, 8, & 7
- Price: Plans start at $2.99 a month.
- Free Trial: 7-Days
Download link: https://www.pdfescape.com
#14) SmallPDF
SmallPDF is an online PDF tool. It is all in one software tools to compress, edit, convert, split, and merge PDFs online. Users can use it to convert Gmail attachment into various files to and from PDF. The trial version of this tool is available for seven days.
Features:
- Compress PDF with no problem.
- Convert Excel, Word, and PowerPoint files to PDF.
- This Adobe Acrobat pro alternative has a simple way to remove multiple pages.
- Split one PDF file to multiple files.
- Remove encryption, permission, and password from your PDF document.
- Protect PDF document using password and encryption.
- You can export in your edited PDF in Word, Excel, PPT, and image formats
- Supports Text, Shapes, Images and Freehand
- Supported Platform: Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android
- Price: Plans start at $9 a month.
- Free Trial: 7-Days
Download link: https://smallpdf.com/
#15) Xodo
Using Xodo, you can make changes, annotate, sign, and share PDF file on computer, web, and mobile. This software makes working with PDF file easy. Intuitive design of this software allows you to focus on the content. It is designed for highlighting text written in the documents.
Features:
- You can sign documents quickly on the fly.
- This Adobe Acrobat pro alternative software allows you to complete forms on the go from your tablet or smartphone.
- Easy to annotate PDFs.
- Collaborate with others in real time.
- You can work with PDFs on your Google Drive, Dropbox and with Xodo.
- Text, Create annotations, Add signature & more.
- You can export in your edited PDF in JPG, PNG, Word, Powerpoint, Excel, and HTML formats
- Supported Platform: Web
- Free Trial: Lifetime Free
Download link: https://www.xodo.com/
#16) Ilovepdf
IlovePDF is free and easy to use tool to work with PDFs. It is one of the best free Adobe Acrobat alternatives which allows you to split, merge, convert, watermark, and compress, PDF files easily. This Adobe Acrobat DC alternative app offers you to manage PDF document, in bulk or alone, over the web.
Features:
- Combine, and merge PDF in the way you want.
- Reduce PDF file size to improve PDF quality.
- Convert PDF to JPG or vice versa in seconds.
- Add page number in your PDF.
- Add watermark in any PDF file.
- Delete and add pages to PDF at your convenience.
- You can export in your edited PDF in Word, Powerpoint, Excel, PDF, or JPG formats
- Supports Add text, Import images or photos, Insert shapes, emojis, symbols, Freehand drawing, and annotating
- Supported Platform: Windows or Mac
- Price: Plans start at $2.50 a month.
- Free Trial: Lifetime Free Basic Plan
Download link: https://www.ilovepdf.com/
#17) Novapdf
NovaPDF allows you to create industry-standard PDF files easily. Just open your file and click on Print and select novaPDF to generate PDF. It is a simple and quick way to generate PDFs. It includes features for beginner and advanced user.
Features:
- Convert any documents to PDF.
- Easy to use add-ins for Microsoft Office.
- 256-bit AES encryption to secure your PDFs.
- Effectively manage the license for the printer driver.
- Insert the text or paragraphs of a PDF file in another PDF file to create one PDF document.
- You can export in your edited PDF in DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, PUBX, HTML, or TXT formats
- Supported Platform: Windows
- Price: $29 One-time Payment, No Recurring Fees
- Free Trial: 30-Days
Download link: https://www.novapdf.com/
FAQs
❓ What is Adobe Acrobat?
Adobe Acrobat DC is software that helps you to create, view, manipulate, manage, and distribute files in PDF (Portable Document Format) format. It allows you to change content or images in PDF files. It also helps you to stay connected with your team with simple workflows across different devices.
💻 Which are the Best Adobe Acrobat alternatives?
Here are some of the best Adobe Acrobat alternatives:
❗ Why look for an Adobe Acrobat alternative?
The main drawback with Adobe Acrobat is the cost and lack of some features. On the other hand, some good Adobe Acrobat alternative tools offer similar or more benefits for free or less cost. These alternative tools offer users multiple functionalities and features for PDF files with lesser cost compared to Adobe Acrobat.
✅ Which factors to consider while choosing a PDF Viewer, Editor & Creator Software?
You should consider the following factors while choosing a PDF viewer, editor, or creator software:
- Functionalities and features offered
- Easy to use
- Ability to create, edit, print, and share PDF files
- Pre-design templates and backgrounds offered for easy document creation
- Scanning and OCR (Optical Character Recognition) features
- Support for multiple platforms
- Security features
- Customer support
- Multitasking features
- Collaboration features
- File conversion features
Best Adobe Acrobat Alternative (Pro/DC)
| Name | Free | Platform | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 👍 Icecream Apps PDF Editor | Lifetime Free Basic Plan | Windows, Mac and Android | Learn More |
| 👍 PdfFiller | 30-Days Free Trial | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS | Learn More |
| Ashampoo PDF Pro | Lifetime Free Basic Plan | Windows | Learn More |
| Wondershare PDFelement | Lifetime Free Basic Plan | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | Learn More |
| Nitro Pro | 14-Days Free Trial | Windows, Mac and Android | Learn More |