Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat are the two most popular PDF viewers developed and distributed by Adobe Systems Incorporated. Both are very essential tools in today’s electronic workflow that can convert virtually any document to a PDF format while keeping the content intact with the original document. Both can be used to view, print, comment, and search through documents with ease, but the Acrobat is the more advanced version of the Reader with the ability to create and edit existing documents. This article explains the difference between the two PDF viewers on various fronts. Bluestacks full free.
It goes without saying that Adobe Acrobat is the best at what it is meant to do. However, it has one drawback, which is, the software comes at a high price. If you are looking just to some basic functions such as annotating or rotating a PDF, then use the Adobe Reader DC on Windows 10 or macOS built-in preview app. Xodo app is now better than ever, you will enjoy a refreshed interface and exciting new features that recently added. Now it easy to insert, delete, reorder, and rotate pages with proper security. Online collaboration like access PDFs on google drive easier than before. This Adobe Reader alternative recently introduces Merge PDFs feature. Just like Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, Foxit is a popular name in the world of document readers. However, compared to Adobe’s PDF reading solution, Foxit is comparatively lighter. Built-in PDF Reader. Though it is not fully equipped with features but it is quick and simplest way to.
What is Adobe Reader?
Adobe Reader is one small component of Acrobat developed by Adobe Systems to view and open PDF (Portable Document Format) files. It is a free cross-platform program which allows you to create PDF documents on one computer and view them on other computer with a PDF viewer such as Adobe Reader. It can be downloaded from the Adobe’s website absolutely free of cost or it can also be acquired from other sources as long as they are compliant with Adobe licensing requirements. Adobe Reader is not same as the Adobe Acrobat. In fact, it’s a small component of a much larger Adobe family which has evolved through various iterations over time. Along with viewing and printing PDF files, it also allows you to do a whole lot of things with PDFs such as form completion, commenting on documents, converting PDFs to Word or Excel, signing and certifying forms, etc.
What is Adobe Acrobat?
Adobe Acrobat is an essential PDF viewing tool that can convert virtually any document to PDF format while preserving the look and content of the original. With Adobe Acrobat, you can not only have all the features of Adobe Reader but so much more including the ability to create and edit texts and images in PDF documents. It is the more advanced version of the Adobe Reader with added functionalities like the ability to scan paper documents. Adobe Acrobat comes in Standard and Pro versions along with a cloud version called Adobe Acrobat DC. The Standard version is the lighter version of the Acrobat with all the necessary features you’ll find in the Pro version with the exception of preflighting documents, creating PDF portfolios, forms authoring, creating actions, and more.
Difference between Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat
Basics of Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat
Parrot 2 0 0 – improve development efficiency. Adobe Reader is a free program developed and distributed by Adobe Systems that allows you to view PDF or portable document format files. It is a cross-platform application meaning the PDF file will look the same on a Windows as it will on a Mac and it also allows searching through PDF files.
Adobe Acrobat, on the other hand, is a more advanced and paid version of the Reader but with additional features to create, print, and manipulate PDF files. Adobe Acrobat is literally capable of doing anything that the Reader can do and more.
Support
Adobe Reader, formerly Reader, is a free, trusted standard for viewing, printing, and commenting on PDF documents plus it can interact with all types of PDF content including multimedia and files. Adobe Reader supports a wide range of operating systems including Linux, Mac, Windows, Android, and Solaris in almost 35 languages.
The Adobe proprietary Acrobat is only available for Windows and macOS on a subscription basis. It is the industry standard to create, print, manage, and comment on PDF files, and so much more.
Version History
The basic Adobe Reader is available for free on the Adobe’s website that anyone can download and use to view PDF files. The Adobe Reader Lite is a bloat-free and lighter version of the Adobe’s famous PDF viewer but with the essential features stripped away. Adobe Acrobat is available in two versions: Standard and Pro. The premium services of Adobe Acrobat Reader are available on a monthly or annual subscription basis. The standard Acrobat provides the basic features like viewing, creating, editing and converting PDF files, whereas the Pro version is ideal for professional and business users providing additional functionalities on the top of the ones offered in the Standard version.
Features in Adobe Reader Vs. Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Readers is basically a freeware that allows you to work with existing PDF files. It provides all the basic features to work efficiently with PDF documents such as web integration, documents printing and sharing, email support, sticky notes and highlighting, accessibility options, full-screen viewing, commenting, form completion, signing and certifying, and more.
Adobe Acrobat can do everything that the Reader can do but with an additional feature to create and edit PDF documents. It also allows you to add interactivity features like multimedia elements into PDF documents. It also allows us to encrypt our documents for an extra level of security.
Better Pdf Reader Than Adobe Dc
Adobe Reader vs. Adobe Acrobat: Comparison Chart
Summary of Adobe Reader vs. Adobe Acrobat
In a nutshell, both the software applications are essential for viewing, printing, and searching through PDF documents, except the Adobe Acrobat is a more advanced version of the Reader with an extra ability to create, manipulate and edit PDF document. Adobe Acrobat can do literally everything the Adobe Reader can do and much more. Plus the Acrobat also comes with the DC version which stands for Document Cloud and is an optional online service which allows users to store documents online and even share with others for seamless access. Adobe Reader is basically a free program used to work with PDF files but with limited features.
Better Than Adobe Acrobat
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Today’s post discusses three differences between Acrobat Reader and Acrobat Pro to help you decide which program you should use for your PDF projects.
First, a quick note on cost: Acrobat Reader is free. Acrobat Pro is available as an annual subscription called Acrobat Pro DC (DC stands for Document Cloud) and as a one-time purchase called Acrobat Pro 2020. Adobe also offers a streamlined version of Acrobat called Acrobat Standard, which is currently only available for Windows.
This tutorial is also available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.
![Reader Reader](https://discourse-sumatra-backup.s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/original/2X/0/0f9c121575dd772d7b8600774b51d886e165120c.jpeg)
Watch more than fifty other videos about Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat on my YouTube channel.
The images below show the 2019 versions of Adobe Acrobat Pro DC and Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. Adobe modifies its interfaces occasionally, so your software may look slightly different than these images.
1. Comment Tools (Editing Tools)
What most of us think of as editing tools (e.g., comments, strikethroughs, insertions, highlights), Adobe calls Comment tools. These tools are included in Acrobat Pro and the most up-to-date version of Acrobat Reader.
A significant difference between the two programs is that only Acrobat Pro lets you create and print comment and edit summaries and export comments and edits to Microsoft Word.
Additionally, Acrobat Pro offers more options for selecting and copying text into comment pop-ups.
2. Editing Tools
In the Adobe universe, Editing tools don’t relate to copyediting but to direct manipulation of text and images, such as adding, moving, deleting, and rewriting text boxes, as well as adding images, watermarks, and headers and footers (which includes page numbers). These tools aren’t available in Acrobat Reader.
3. Microsoft Word Conversion
Acrobat Pro’s Export tool lets you convert PDFs to Microsoft Word files and a variety of other formats. Acrobat Reader doesn’t include this functionality without purchasing an add-on package. For many writers and editors, this is an important, if not the most important, difference between the two programs because many of us need to convert PDFs to Word files in order to edit them with Word’s Track Changes tools.
Other Differences
Here are a several additional features that are only available in Acrobat Pro:
- Comparing files
- Creating action buttons (e.g., navigation buttons and page view buttons)
- Organizing (i.e., moving) pages
- Password protecting files
As you can see, the choice to use Acrobat Reader or Acrobat Pro will depend on your needs. I use Acrobat Pro because I frequently convert PDFs to Word files, compare PDFs, and move pages within PDFs.
![Better Than Adobe Reader Better Than Adobe Reader](https://tokyobling.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/tokyo_city_hall_xmas_1.jpg)
If you are an Acrobat Pro beginner or would like to learn new skills, explore my Adobe Acrobat page for a variety of entry-level and advanced tutorials.