Compare software

PDFgearAdobe Acrobat Reader
Free

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

 Freemium

Free to use; editing and conversion require a paid Adobe Acrobat subscription.

Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Web Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
  • Editing, conversion, merging and signing at no cost
  • No sign-up required
  • Faithful rendering of complex PDFs and forms
  • Form filling, signing and annotation included free
  • Closed source
  • AI features send document content to an online service
  • Frequent prompts to upgrade to paid Acrobat
  • Large install compared with lightweight readers
Downloadable app, Web application Downloadable app
Closed source Closed source
License not stated License: Proprietary
No account needed Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline Works offline

Checked September 23, 2026

Checked October 1, 2026

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