Top 6 PDF Readers for Windows PC of 2023

The PDF file format is one of the most sought-after. But, to read the PDF file on your PC, you need a capable PDF Viewer or PDF Reader. With hundreds of PDF viewers available, it is quite difficult to find the right one. We thought of helping you find the best one.

PDFgear Desktop: View PDFs with Ease

PDFgear Desktop is indeed the best free alternative to Adobe Reader for reading and editing a PDF. It offers the best view modes such as single page view, double page view, auto-scroll, and slideshow modes. This helps in the easy navigation of PDF files.

Apart from the PDF viewing capability, the software also offers you powerful PDF conversion and editing capabilities as well. It also offers you an AI-powered PDF editing capacity.

Pros

1. Entirely free PDF Viewer with no hidden charges of any nature.

2. Ease of navigation and working with.

3. Highly secure with no personal information.

4. No pop-up and no ads.

Cons

1. No cloud storage

Foxit PDF Reader: Easy PDF Viewing

Foxit Reader is the most popular PDF viewer for Windows. It even comes bundled with some OEM models. The best part is that it works seamlessly with Windows. You will witness a huge number of PDF editing options as well.

Combine it all with the clean interface that further makes it stand apart from the rest. It is also the right pick for the best Ubuntu-based PDF readers and editors.

Pros

1. Multiple security features.

2. Read and print PDFs.

3. Offers similar features to native Windows applications.

Cons

1. May crash every now and then.

2. No OCR feature in the free version.

Google Chrome: Quick Access to PDFs

Most of the browsers come with the built-in PDF editing option. Google Chrome is not an exception either. You should simply click on the PDF link, and you will find the link open instantly.

The PDF reader interface on both Edge and Chrome is similar. You would also get a host of other features such as rotate and print. You may not get the edit PDF feature on the method.

Pros

1. Simple to use feature.

2. Rotate your PDFs.

3. Easy to use print feature.

Cons

1. No additional features are available like editing, etc.

2. No PDF editing features.

Adobe Acrobat Reader: Simplified PDF Viewing

The strength of the software is the simple interface and the minimal features. Acrobat has a standalone PDF viewer in the form of Acrobat PDF Reader DC. You can get an extensive range of features that help you read and view the PDF file in multiple modes. It offers you comprehensive PDF editing, conversion, and protection.

Pros

1. Ease of reading, converting, and editing features

2. Works across multiple devices on one account

3. Free to use PDF reader

Cons

1. Features may overwhelm you.

2. Extra features are hidden behind the paywall.

Microsoft Edge: Effortless PDF Reading

If you are on Windows 10 or 11, you would find Microsoft Edge should be the best option for your PDF Reader options. It can be the default PDF reader on Windows 11. When you click on a PDF file, the file opens up in a tab on the Edge browser.

You can search for the document, adjust the zoom level, print, and save the file. The Ask Bing AI and Read Aloud features let you use a hands-free approach to viewing and reading your PDF files.

Pros

1. Simple with no need for installing software.

2. Can work across any device.

3. Free to use.

Cons

1. No additional PDF management options.

2. May not be easy to edit files.

Nitro PDF Reader: Efficient PDF Access

Easily blending with almost every Windows system, the Nitro PDF reader is your one-stop solution for practically every need that you may have. The extensive features offered by the tool further make it stand out from the rest. It also lets you fill out forms and sign the documents. In fact, you would find it offering multiple PDF management features. It also helps you annotate PDF files on Windows and Mac.

Pros

1. An intuitive interface

2. Additional PDF management features

3. Options to share and sign

Cons

1. May crash at times

2. Expensive price tag

The Concluding Thoughts

That was a complete list of the best PDF viewers for PC. Each of them comes with their own features. However, among the PDF viewers outlined in this compilation, you would find that PDFgear is one tool that comes with a huge list of outstanding features and options. The simpler and unique choices offered by the tool should ideally make the tool outstanding in every sense of the word.