Best Free Non-Adobe PDF Reader

This category includes desktop programs that can be used for reading and annotating PDF documents, other than the slow and bloated Adobe Reader. While I will admit that the Adobe product has improved in both speed and features in recent years, it still lags behind the products that are reviewed here.

Picking the best software in this, or any category is a perilous task. Each user has his or her own needs and preferences that figure into the determination of "best in show".

My personal criteria for evaluating this software include the following factors

• Ability to open PDF files. All PDF files are not created equal. I assembled a set of about a dozen test files using various combinations of size, security, and form and image content. These are typical files used in both office and recreational computing, the kind of PDF files that most people want to read. I do note that none of the programs reviewed were able to were able to render an Adobe 3D image test file correctly. With the exception of this 3D file, If a reader was unable to open any of the test files, it was eliminated from consideration.
• Speed of opening files. While a second or two difference in opening files doesn't make too much difference to me, delays beyond a few seconds tend to annoy me.
• The graphical user interface (GUI).  While I do have a bias toward programs that are aesthetically pleasing, ease of use is also important in the GUI evaluation.
• The document reading experience. This factor includes how intuitively the program operates, the speed of rendering text and images, and the navigation controls.
• The tools for annotiation. One important aspect of PDF readers for me is the ability to markup, comment on and include drawing elements in a PDF and to save the document with the alterations but without unwanted trial software watermarks.
• Optical Character Recognition (OCR). This ability to convert a scanned or imaged PDF to a computer readable text and save the converted document is an important feature. This makes the text within the document both searchable and able to be copied. Unfortunately only one of our choices contains this feature. Read on to find which one. 
• The installation process. In addition to judging the ease of installation, There is an unfortunate trend of including undesirable or even harmful software and system settings changes as a part of the software installation.

One limitation of the testing process was that the software was not tested under Windows 8.

In my examination of most of the available free PDF readers two stood out from all the rest for their extensive capabilities to view and comment on PDF files.

PDF-XChange Viewer

This full featured workhorse remains the top choice in this category. With the exception of the 3D files mentioned above. It was able to quickly open and accurately render all of the files in my test set of PDF files. Pages can be zoomed or rotated and can be exported in various image formats. When multiple documents are loaded, the tiled window interface allows opening either in document tabs or side-by-side comparison of files, with the additional option to view them in document tabs.

Beyond its viewing capabilities, PDF-XChange has an extensive suite of tools for form annotating and bookmarking PDF documents. This extensive commenting capability includes many drawing tools, including the option to add a grid for precision. Comments can also be hidden, exported or imported. PDF-XChange has the ability to encrypt documents as well as managing document security and properties. Controls are easily accessible and easy to use. Unlike some other readers, PDF-XChange lacks the ability to add digital or electronic signatures.

An important part of the reading experience for me is the ablility to search the text contained in the file. As a result, the one feature that makes PDF-XChange stand out from the other PDF readers is its ability to convert and save a scanned or imaged PDF document to one containing searchable text. The OCR process allows the converted document to be indexed and searched. I use the free version of Evernote extensively. It does not index scanned image based PDFs but can index them once they have been OCRed, making this function important to me.

With all of its solid qualities this proven software is starting to show its age. While there is an wide range of features for customizing the graphical user interface (GUI), no amount of tinkering can remove its dated Windows XP look and feel. With the level of features and sophistication of the contents of the package, some modernization of the interface is in order.

Unfortunately, the installation package installs the Tracker Ask browser toolbar by default. Users should use care in the installation process and most will opt out of the default to avoid including this annoying additional software.
 

Foxit Reader

A worthy contender in this category is Foxit Reader, particularly if you do not need OCR capability. The software was able to open and accurately render the same files, perhaps a tad faster than PDF-XChange. It contains similar features for viewing and navigating documents, while adding the ability to read documents aloud. When multiple documents are opened they are loaded in tabs to allow easy switching between them.

While other software in this category has been relatively static in its development, Foxit has been keeping in step with the state of both the computing and business worlds. Foxit most recent release offers both a "classic" and  a "ribbon" interface that provides a modern look and feel to the software. The ribbon is similar to that included in the Microsoft Office toolbar. While I had a bit of trouble finding the cotrols for settiing and changing the format of annotations, I generally had the sense that the features for navigation and editing well organized, smooth and, for the most part, intuitive.

The array of annotation tools were as impressive as those in the PDF-XChange reader. The user will be able to fill forms and fully annotate documents and save them as we should expect. Foxit includes some unique controls that permit adding images and multimedia files as well as attaching other files. The reader contains some interesting collaboration and social media features that provide interfaces with Evernote, Facebook, Twitter and  SharePoint. Additionally Foxit provides for both electronically signing documents using the commercial DocuSign service and validating electronically signed PDF files. While Foxit can open encrypted files, regretably absent is the abillity to add and alter file security.

The most disturbing feature of the software is that the installation package, by default not only installs the Foxit PDF Creator Toolbar and makes Ask the default search provider, but by default will also "set and keep" Ask.com as the browser home and new tabs page. Most users will want to be careful to unselect these undesirable changes during installation or install the portable version instead.

In its latest version Foxit has added a multifaceted PDF creation facility, which may be of interest for some.

Sumatra PDF Viewer

If all you are really looking for in a PDF reader is the ability to view and print a PDF file,  Sumatra may be for you. It's a little short on features, and it has some limitations in rendering images, but it does have plenty of viewing options. No editing or annotations though.

• Best Free PDF Writer/Printer
• Best Free PDF Tools

This software category is maintained by volunteer editor jdefgts. Registered members can contact the editor with any comments or questions they might have by clicking here.

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