Compare software

PDFgearAdobe Acrobat
Free

Free to use on desktop, mobile and the web without an account.

 Freemium

Acrobat Reader is free to download and use without a subscription; text and image editing…

Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Web Windows, macOS, Web, Android, iOS
  • Editing, conversion, merging and signing at no cost
  • No sign-up required
  • Free Reader for Windows 10/11, macOS 10.15+, iOS 16+ and Android 8+, plus an Acrobat web app in…
  • Reader includes commenting, highlights, sticky notes, form filling and Fill & Sign at no cost
  • Closed source
  • AI features send document content to an online service
  • Editing text and images, creating and converting PDFs need an Acrobat Standard or Pro subscription
  • Proprietary; Adobe logos may not be used without a license
Downloadable app, Web application Downloadable app, Web application, Hosted service
Closed source Closed source
License not stated License not stated
No account needed Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline Not stated if it works offline

Checked September 23, 2026

Checked September 20, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.