Best free PDF readers for Windows + Tips and Tricks

PDF is a document format initially developed by Adobe and subsequently approved as an open standard by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

This format of storage for digital documents It has become tremendously popular for its advanced features, such as the ability to include any combination of text, multimedia elements, or hyperlinks; multiplatform support since its structure or appearance does not change when used interchangeably in the main systems (Windows, Mac, Linux …) or the possibility of being encrypted and digitally signed.

Free PDF readers for Windows

Like any digital format, these types of documents require applications capable of handling them. If the first was Adobe Reader itself, Today there is no lack of offer, free and paid, although its support varies a lot from the mere ability to read its content to the possibility of creating, editing, converting it to and from other formats, and using advanced functions such as encryption, OCR or electronic forms.

Among the first, simply readers, web browsers stand out. A type of mass-use application whose main developments are capable of reading the PDF format. If you want something more, more specialized solutions in PDF formats or those that include editing / creation capabilities, surely the proposals that we leave you below will come in handy, free for Windows, although some of the lists support other platforms.

Sumatra PDF

Surely the best alternative to using web browsers to view PDFs. It does not have editing capabilities, but it is super light, loads these types of files at an enormous speed, supports the use of tabs, has a good number of keyboard shortcuts for handling and supports other types of files that are not suitable. more if you want to limit the applications to install, including e-books in ePub and Mobi formats and comics in CHM, CBZ and CBR formats.

Sumatra is not only free but open source and is additionally available in a portable version that does not need or installation. If you are only looking to read PDF, it is a guarantee.

Foxit Reader

It was one of the first alternatives to Adobe Reader and as you will see, its main interface has a large number of editing tabs that cover a variety of advanced options, text markup, typewriter option, form handling, digital signatures and plus. Unfortunately, some of the more advanced options, including shared reviews, will be grayed out as they are only available with a paid commercial license.

You can still use the free version because it is surely the free reader with more features and customization, the ability to add your own shortcuts to the quick action toolbar or the Ribbon interface that will sound familiar to you from Microsoft Office. Besides Windows, it supports the rest of the main platforms, Linuc, Mac and mobile systems.

PDF-XChange Editor

Very similar to the previous one in capacity and customization, although perhaps with a somewhat less ‘clean’ interface and with greater consumption of resources in the execution. It offers a good set of free features (70% of the total), including editing and annotations. Other functions that call professionals are paid, although they can also be used in exchange for a watermark.

The Ribbon toolbar is highly customizable and includes additional features like customizable dynamic stamps, an enhanced OCR plug-in, and a PDF-XChange Lite virtual printer. Available on their website.

STDU Viewer

With fewer specific functions for PDF than the previous two, it stands out for its viewer functions and is a universal reader of technical and scientific documents. Besides PDF, it supports TXT, Comic Book Archive, DjVu, MOBI, EPub, various image formats, and others.

The strong point of STDU Viewer is the management of several different documents at the same time. Not only can you open documents in tabs and expand a navigation pane, you can also create and navigate bookmarks and highlights, view thumbnails of open documents, and split windows to compare different pages within the same document. Another cool feature is that you can invert the colors to reduce eye strain.

Nitro PDF

If you use the Microsoft Office suite you will feel at home because its interface is practically a carbon copy with Ribbon in front. It has everything you could ask for in an application of its kind and advanced functions for forms or signing documents with digital identification. You can also add notes, extract images, or convert a PDF to a plain text document.

Although Nitro PDF Reader is free, you cannot get that version directly. You have to download the trial version. After the trial time, you will lose quite a few options, although there are other basic ones that can be used for free.

Adobe Acrobat Reader

We close with the best known, a de facto standard created by the same company that initially developed the format. Its interface is clean and elegant, and its execution capacity is maximum. If a PDF doesn’t work for you with Acrobat, it won’t work for any of the alternatives.

In the tools tab you will find a lot of advanced options to edit, combine, export and sign documents, but they will not work if you do not acquire the license. Available on the Adobe website.

Web browsers

The main web browsers on the market, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge, have built-in support for PDF and it is a good way for speed and low consumption of resources to view these types of documents. On the other hand, not all PDFs are compatible and also, you will not have access to any editing and / or advanced functions.

In Windows 10 (or Windows 11), Edge is the default browser for viewing PDF, although it can be modified in Settings> Applications> Default applications> Choose default applications by file type. When you run a PDF a separate tab opens with a toolbar and functions for searching, adjusting the zoom level, printing, sharing, saving or adding it to favorites or Reading List.

Chrome’s PDF interface is similar to Edge’s, and in addition to Edge’s features, you can rotate the document, which is essential on a Windows tablet or 2-in-1. As for Firefox, it offers -for my taste- the most complete support. In addition to the standard features offered in Chrome and Edge, you can expand a sidebar, rotate in both directions, and toggle the hand tool.