8 Best Adobe Acrobat Alternative Free & Paid [2024 Newest]

8 Best Adobe Acrobat Alternative Free & Paid [2024 Newest]

Windows/Mac/Online | 4-Min Reading

Overview

When we talk about PDF editing or creating, Adobe Acrobat comes to mind first because it is one of the most renowned and popular PDF software with all-range PDF functions. However, there is nothing perfect like a diamond. Neither nor Adobe. Many people recoil at the thought of Adobe Acrobat Pro’s expensive subscription and overlapped functions while wanting to find the best alternatives to Adobe Acrobat.

Is there a free version of Adobe that allows editing? Of course! With the constantly evolving technology, many Adobe Acrobat competitors can offer similar features without the cost or lower cost. After comparisons and testing, 8 best Adobe Acrobat alternatives will be recommended to you in this article, including free and paid ones. If you are looking for a free alternative version of Adobe Acrobat, just read this post and pick the desired one.

Table of Contents

• 8 Best Adobe Acrobat Alternative Free & Paid [2024 Newest]
• Comparisons among the Best Adobe Acrobat Alternative
• FAQs
• The Verdict

8 Best Adobe Acrobat Alternative Free & Paid [2024 Newest]

#1. WorkinTool PDF Converter [Win/Online] 🔥

The most cost-effective Adobe alternative for both novices and pros

If you plan to edit PDF files on Windows PC or online for free, you had better not miss WorkinTool PDF Converter, a comprehensive and lightweight PDF program for Windows or online. There are over 10 PDF annotation tools to edit PDF documents with zero cost using the PDF Edit feature. More specifically, you can easily comment, sign, add sticky notes, text boxes, and stamps, and do more with PDF in one go.

Besides PDF editor, WorkinTool provides dozens of other PDF features, such as converting to/from PDF, merging PDF, splitting PDF, adding page numbers to PDF, reading PDF, etc. Everything you want about PDF can be found in WorkinTool. Robust as WorkinTool is, it’s super easy for novices to operate this software to edit and refine PDF files without tech help or any steep guide. As for the free online version, it has similar tools to the desktop version. However, you can only upload at most four files and a single file within 0.5 MB. Otherwise, you need to download the Windows version to enjoy the unlimited file size.

📺 Interface:

😎 Advantages:

• Unlimited times to use its PDF features.
• Free and Unlimited to sign, comment, add a text box, and do more in the PDF Edit feature.
• Easy to use with fast speed.
• Batch convert to/from PDFs, merge PDFs, split PDFs, etc.
• Offer both Windows and online versions.

😥 Disadvantages:

• Support single files within 0.5MB for free in Convert to/from PDF and Tool Box.

#2. Foxit PDF Editor

The best Adobe Acrobat alternative for PDF experts with enough budgets

Foxit PDF Editor is a professional and popular PDF editing software compatible with both Windows and Mac systems. It provides a similar PDF service as Adobe Acrobat. Or, to some degree, it can do more precisely and flexibly than Adobe because users can make detailed and custom settings in almost every feature of Foxit.

As for its capabilities, it supplies various PDF tools, like e-signing, annotating, filling in, highlighting, adding links, sharing PDFs, etc. However, just like Adobe, Foxit has overlapped PDF tools. And the interface layout is similar to Microsoft Word, which is challenging to use like a pro for entry-level users. Moreover, you can only have a two-week free trial to experience all its functions.

📺 Interface:

😎 Advantages:

• Supply various professional PDF tools.
• Provides detailed settings for users to make flexible PDF editing.
• No ads or crashes during use.
• Work well on both Windows and Mac PCs.

😥 Disadvantages:

• Difficult to use with unclear navigation.
• Only a 14-day free trial.

#3. UPDF Adobe Acrobat Alternative

Multiple-platform and innovative PDF editor to substitute Adobe

Are you looking for a fashionable and powerful Adobe Alternative? UPDF will meet all your fantasy. Unlike traditional PDF software, UPDF is creative and innovative, with many trending stickers and tools to lift the level of your PDF editing and catch youngsters’ eyes. Moreover, you can create, edit, and convert PDF files in one station. More surprisingly, you can remove/add text and adjust the color of text and PDF background with minimal effort. Nonetheless, there are many restrictions for the free version users. For example, all your export files will be inserted with a brand watermark.

📺 Interface:

😎 Advantages:

• Simple to operate.
• Able to add signatures, stamps, notes, stickers, lines, and shapes to PDF.
• Easily change the text color and PDF background instantly.
• Provide 1GB cloud storage for free.

😥 Disadvantages:

• Save the edited/converted PDF files after signing and with watermarks.
• Convert at most five files for free.

#4. Nitro PDF

The strong Adobe alternative for users who need to do chart analysis frequently

Nitro PDF claims to be the most potent alternative to Adobe Acrobat. It supplies a range of features like highlighting, e-signing, creating PDFs, and file encryption. The most powerful PDF tool is Analytics which can capture PDF data and generate vivid analysis in the form of charts. Like Foxit PDF Editor, Nitro has a similar interface to Microsoft Word, which takes time to learn the specific location of each PDF tool.

📺 Interface:

😎 Advantages:

• Advanced and all-in-one PDF editor.
• Provide multiple PDF editing tools.
• Create, send, request, and track electronic signatures in one go.
• Strong PDF analytics feature to make a vivid data chart.

😥 Disadvantages:

• Expensive to buy its three Pro plans.
• Unfriendly to novices.

🏅 #5. Small PDF

A lightweight and simple Adobe Acrobat alternative

If you are searching for an alternative to Adobe Acrobat that can work offline and online, Small PDF is your suitable option. It has both the online and Windows desktop version. For the online version, you can easily access 21 PDF tools on any device, such as Edit PDF, eSign PDF, Protect PDF, PDF Scanner, etc. However, you only have one free chance to download the edited PDF for free.

After that, you need to upgrade to the Pro with a 7-day free trial. When it is talking to the offline version, Small PDF Windows has a more stable and faster performance than the online one. However, it has fewer features than the online program. You only can compress, merge, unlock, protect, edit, and convert to/from PDFs. 

📺 Interface:

😎 Advantages:

• Offer 21 PDF editing tools for users.
• High file security and meet the standards of ISO/IEC 27001, GDPR, and CCPA.
• User-friendly interface which is easy to use.
• Launch both Windows and online versions.

😥 Disadvantages:

• Only a 7-day free trial.
• Slow speed in the online version

#6. Wondershare PDFelement

Suitable for Users who deal with scanned or image-based PDFs frequently

Wondershare PDFelement is another popular alternative to Adobe Acrobat. In fact, it is a multi-platform, comprehensive PDF editor that can easily create, annotate, convert, e-sign, and lock PDF files. Moreover, the most salient advantage of Wondershare PDFelement is its powerful OCR feature. This feature can accurately recognize and extract text in scanned or image-based PDFs, making them editable and searchable. However, you can only have a two-week free trial to edit PDF files with PDFelement.

📺 Interface:

😎 Advantages:

• Access various PDF markup tools.
• Have a robust OCR feature.
• Fast speed, high quality, and efficiency.
• Supports multiple platforms.

😥 Disadvantages:

• Convert PDF to only 5 other types for free.
• Only a two-week free trial.

#7. EaseUS PDF Editor

All-in-one solution to PDF editing 

EaseUS PDF Editor is another reliable and free alternative to Adobe Acrobat. It has helped a lot of users create, edit, and read PDF files using a single interface since 2004. Moreover, it can also convert your PDF files to or from other formats such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, JPG, etc. Furthermore, it is user-friendly and easy to use with intuitive navigation. However, if you are not a Pro, all your output files will be added with a big EaseUS watermark.

📺 Interface:

😎 Advantages:

• Offer easy-to-use tools to edit PDFs. 
• Supports editing text, images, links, and other elements in PDF files.
• Instantly remove the PDF background and make the PDF editable.
• Use EaseUS on Windows PCs and online. 

😥 Disadvantages:

• Watermark PDF for the free trial.
• Convert to/from PDF within 5 pages for free.

#8. PDF-XChange Editor

A safe and feature-rich PDF editor

PDF-XChange Editor is one of the best alternatives to Adobe Acrobat, compatible with Windows systems. Or you might be more similar to the name of the upgraded version of PDF-XChange Viewer. With continuous optimation for years, it can not only read PDF files but also have more PDF editing tools, like converting from PDFs, creating PDFs, commenting PDFs, adding hyperlinks, stamps, bookmarks, etc. However, if you want to use advanced PDF tools, like creating fillable PDF files, you need to purchase the PDF Editor Pro version.  

📺 Interface:

😎 Advantages:

• Create, annotate, convert, view, and organize PDF files.
• Modify, correct, insert, or delete text easily with the OCR technology.
• 100% safe under the protection of 128/236-bit AES Encryption.
• Flexibly set your exclusive user interface and default settings.

😥 Disadvantages:

• Limited free version.
• Outdated interface.
• Only support Windows systems.

Comparisons among the Best Adobe Acrobat Alternative

FAQs for Adobe Acrobat Alternative

💬 Is there a better alternative to Adobe Acrobat Pro?

Of course, there are better alternatives to Adobe Acrobat. If you are a Windows user, WorkinTool PDF Converter will be your best option. It provides a wide range of PDF tools to level up and make something special to your PDF files with unlimited use times. The PDF editor feature of this Adobe Acrobat free alternative is completely free at present. You can also use other features without costing a penny as long as the individual file is less than 0.5 MB.

💬 What is the best free alternative to Adobe Acrobat Pro?

One thousand users have one thousand best free alternatives to Adobe Acrobat. After a series of testing and comparisons, the following PDF editor software stands out. They are:

1. WorkinTool PDF Converter
2. Foxit PDF Editor
3. UPDF
4. Nitro PDF
5. Small PDF
6. Wondershare PDFelement
7. …

The Verdict

As we all know, it’s tough to find a suitable and powerful free alternative to Adobe Acrobat. However, this post recommends the 8 best Adobe Acrobat alternatives, free and paid, for you to select. Although every Adobe alternative has its drawbacks and highlights, you can choose the one you prefer. Or you can try several PDF editors together, like WorkinTool PDF Converter, Foxit PDF Editor, UPDF, etc., to experience in person and select the best one.