Best Software for Opening PDFs in 2026: 9 Tools Compared

Adobe Acrobat Reader is the free standard for opening PDFs, and it handles forms, digital signatures, comments and complex layouts more reliably than most rivals. It runs on Windows, Mac, mobile and web, with cloud storage and sharing built in.

The app is heavier than lightweight readers, so very old machines may prefer SumatraPDF. Editing, conversion and advanced tools need a paid Acrobat subscription. For compatibility above all, Reader is the safe default.

Foxit PDF Reader opens PDFs quickly with tabbed reading, annotation, form filling and commenting, in a smaller package than Acrobat. It suits everyday reading and review work on Windows and Mac.

Advanced editing, OCR and conversion sit in the paid Foxit PDF Editor, which costs about 10.99 dollars per month on annual billing, with a perpetual license around 210 dollars. For fast, free reading with useful markup tools, Foxit is a strong pick.

SumatraPDF is a free, open source reader for Windows that opens PDFs, ebooks and comic files with remarkable speed and a tiny footprint. It starts instantly even on old hardware and keeps the interface minimal.

The trade is features: annotation is minimal and there is no editing, form filling or conversion. For users who just want to read PDFs fast on Windows, SumatraPDF is unmatched.

PDF-XChange Editor is a Windows PDF reader and editor with strong annotation, editing, OCR and form tools, at a perpetual license price from about 62 dollars, with no subscription required. The free version covers reading and basic markup, while tools marked Pro add a watermark on output until licensed.

The Windows-only limit rules out Mac users, but for Windows users who want editing without a subscription, PDF-XChange is the best value in this list.

Preview comes free with every Mac and opens PDFs instantly, with annotation, highlighting, form filling and signature tools built in. It also handles images, so it covers most everyday document tasks without an install.

The app is Mac only, and advanced editing like OCR or page manipulation needs a dedicated editor. For Mac users who mainly read, annotate and sign, Preview is all you need.

Microsoft Edge opens PDFs directly in the browser with reading, highlighting, commenting and read-aloud features, and it is already installed on Windows. It suits quick viewing of attachments and web PDFs without opening another app.

Editing is limited to basic markup, and complex forms may render less reliably than in Acrobat. For quick reads and simple annotations, Edge is convenient and free.

Google Chrome includes a built-in PDF viewer that opens files instantly on Windows, Mac, Linux and ChromeOS, with basic zoom, search and download. It suits quick viewing of web PDFs and attachments without extra software.

Annotation is minimal and complex forms may not work fully, so serious form or review work needs a dedicated reader. For fast, no-install viewing, Chrome is the simplest option.

Wondershare PDFelement is a full PDF editor with editing, conversion, OCR, forms, batch processing and AI features, at 79.99 dollars per year, with a perpetual license option around 129.99 dollars. It runs on Windows, Mac and mobile, making it a budget alternative to Acrobat.

The interface packs many tools, so new users should expect a learning curve. For users who open, edit, convert and sign PDFs regularly and want AI features at a lower price, PDFelement is a strong pick.

Nitro PDF Pro offers full PDF editing, conversion, OCR, e-signatures and collaboration tools for teams, at 15 dollars per user per month on subscription, with a 14 day free trial. A Classic one-time license costs about 270 dollars for a 3 year Windows license.

The e-signature tools suit businesses handling contracts, while the subscription suits teams that need cloud features. For editing plus signing in one package, Nitro is a capable Acrobat alternative.