PDFs or Portable Document Format is the best thing since sliced bread. A PDF is a file format that allows universal accessibility, which basically means that a file can be viewed or used independent of application software, operating systems, or hardware. To best make use of this technology, an efficient PDF reader is of dire essence. There are five truly amazing PDF readers and this article will count down to the best of the best. You can find a full comprehensive list of PDF software’s here.

The following PDF readers or viewers reviewed have free versions which could either have limited features and functions. Upgrades, starting from those featured directly above the basic package, usually require payment. Check out the company websites for more information to see which PDF reader fits your bill.

5. Sumatra PDF

Sumatra PDF

  • For: Windows
  • Price: Free

With Sumatra PDF for Windows, less is truly more. Sumatra may not have a number of extra features or a wide-range of abilities to boast or slow it down, but Sumatra PDF emphasizes on speed as an open-source reader portable application for Windows. It is called “lightweight” for a reason.

Because of its simplicity, Sumatra PDF starts up very fast. Sumatra PDF is small and portable, and can be run from a USB drive. It is simply one file with no external dependencies. Perfect if you are adamantly against clunky, major PDF viewers. You can read comic books, eBooks (ePub, Mobi), PDF, CHM, XPS, and DjVu.

4. Preview

  • For: MAC
  • Price: Free

Preview

PREVIEW is MAC’s solution to PDFs. Preview includes quite a few features only found in commercial and full version PDF Software, such as encryption, text annotation, page extraction and the ability to drag and drop pages between documents. This PDF reader is very versatile, in that it can display over two dozen file formats.

While the App Store Preview for MAC installs into the OS X Dashboard area without any problem, sadly, some features of Preview do not work properly such as its search function. Preview, as a MAC application requires many steps to purchase other apps. Also, Preview takes up an apt screen space which makes it difficult to use, if many several programs are running at the same time.

 3. Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat

  • For: Windows/Mac/Linux
  • Price: Basic, Free; Pro, $299

For over 20 years, Adobe Acrobat has been developing and promoting PDF files. When the PDF was created, Acrobat was the swaddle that carried it. With 11 versions to date, Adobe Acrobat continues to raise the bar for its signature document-management software. The focus of Adobe Acrobat is on giving users control over formatting document features and design. Acrobat provides a clear outline in the document which allows its users to access the text and edit with ease.

Adobe Acrobat upgrades are worth every penny depending on your intended use for it. Adobe Acrobat XI is after all Adobe’s best editor yet. However, if all you require are simple word processor document conversions, look elsewhere. Meanwhile, if your industry or needs require more complex PDF activity such as converting complex PDF files to Word or formatting into more diverse formats, the benefit of from the Adobe Acrobat XI.

 2. PDF-XChange Viewer

PDF-XChange Viewer

  • For: Windows
  • Price: Basic, Free; Pro, $34

With a horde of slick and nifty features on top of basic, although superior functionality, PDF-Xchange is one of the top five PDF readers of all time. Navigating and editing the PDF file is effortless as there are plenty of tools displayed on the toolbar on top of the screen. While versatile, PDF-Xchange does not over-complicate the layout. Even then, you can still further simplify the layout through customizing which tools you need and want displayed from the tool’s drop-down menu.

We prescribe PDF-Xchange as an Adobe-alternative because it surpasses Adobe Reader in terms of basic functionality. Even better, PDF-Xchange is made available as a portable application. PDF-Xchange even has a typewriter tool to place text wherever you want. Meanwhile, advanced features in Pro upgrade include text extraction and reorganizing pages.

1. SODA PDF Professional + OCR

SODA PDF Professional + OCR

  • For: Windows & Mac
  • Price: Windows, Free + 14 day trial for Pro. Mac, Free

At the top of the charts, over Adobe Acrobat and others, is the Soda PDF Reader. Businesses that require a sundry of PDF activities should perhaps consider the SODA PDF Reader. Soda PDF is the “Smart & Simple” enterprise PDF solution as it is proven to be flexible, easy-to-use, and capable. This PDF reader is very easy to use regardless of age or technical proficiency. Soda PDF for Mac also provides Apple users with the ability to view PDFs with a 3D “flip book” effect when changing pages.

The SODA PDF Professional + OCR offers a trial version valid for only 14 days. Overall, this application is very affordable in the full version. This PDF reader offers more than what free tools typically offer at a friendly price, if you cannot afford the big names and bundles of PDF readers. For the cost of a full version, there is little that the SODA PDF Professional + OCR cannot do.

PlabanSoftwarePDFs or Portable Document Format is the best thing since sliced bread. A PDF is a file format that allows universal accessibility, which basically means that a file can be viewed or used independent of application software, operating systems, or hardware. To best make use of this technology, an...Technology News, Gadgets, Tutorial, Freebies