Adobe Acrobat Reader vs. Foxit PDF Editor

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Score 8.7 out of 10
N/A
Acrobat Reader is a PDF viewer and converter, available as a free download from Adobe. Users can view, sign, collaborate on and annotate PDF files, or edit and convert PDFs into file formats like Excel and Word.N/A
Foxit PDF Editor
Score 8.6 out of 10
N/A
Foxit PDF Editor is a solution for creating, editing, organizing, and securing PDF documents. Designed for professionals and businesses of all sizes, features include editing capabilities, OCR, collaboration tools, and security options like redaction and document encryption.
$10.99
per month per user
Pricing
Adobe Acrobat ReaderFoxit PDF Editor
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Foxit PDF Editor
$10.99
per month per user
Foxit PDF Editor +
$13.99
per month per user
Foxit PDF Editor
$129.99
per year per user
Foxit PDF Editor+
$159.99
per year per user
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Adobe Acrobat ReaderFoxit PDF Editor
Free Trial
NoYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Adobe Acrobat ReaderFoxit PDF Editor
Considered Both Products
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
I didn't use Chrome Data Autoplanner
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
The Word app included with Office 365 offers similar collaboration functionality when compared to Adobe reader but with the option to fully change the original document while reviewing. This is both an advantage and disadvantage when compared with the Adobe reader app. …
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
I like Adobe better due to its ease of use and the ability to set it as a default.
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
Microsoft Excel can seem busy and antique compare to Adobe [Acrobat Reader DC]. Adobe [Acrobat Reader DC] is easier to use and has a modern style [for] the visual eye.
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is easier to use, more accessible, and has a stronger functionality than my experience with DocuSign. It's more intuitive for our recipients of the documents.
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
I use mobi format for reading on Amazon devices. Mobi is better on mobile than Adobe Acrobat but Adobe is better on PC and Mac computers.
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
We have reviewed DocuSign in comparison to [Adobe] Acrobat Reader [DC's] e-sign capabilities. We found that DocuSign has more robust options when creating contracts and consent capabilities. DocuSign's online UI is much more suited to this type of task as well. However, we …
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is the best PDF writer hands down. It is much better in terms of being able to quickly read/do very light editing of PDF's. It tends to do better at conversion of PDF's too, and it's tools within the program tend to be easier to use and more familiar …
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
I do a lot of work on a second job where I need to create and use forms in PDF format that contain a lot of JavaScript in the backend to make calculations based on values entered into form fields. If I am working on a PC or a MAC computer, these all work great for JavaScript …
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
Adobe Reader DC feels like the complete package. I actually have the Pro version which gives me even more options, but the reader is very impressive as well. The main benefit is the user interface. It's extremely easy to use at all ages and within cross functional teams.
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
We have not evaluated other products, as we are primarily an organization that uses Adobe products.
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
One of the main appeals of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is that it is part of the Adobe suite of products and works well with all of their other products. Additionally, the support is second to none and given the large backing of Adobe, we can rest assured that the application will …
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
Adobe Acrobat Reader [DC] works well with all the other applications in the Adobe Suite but does not replace Adobe Acrobat Pro, which allows detailed editing of PDF documents. Because it's free, it can be installed company-wide and ensures everyone in the organization can read …
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC offers so many more features in the free version than its competitors and is way easier to use.
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
The Apple Preview app is simplistic and convenient for viewing PDFs, but it lacks the advanced features of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, such as document signing, customizable exporting of individual frames, and document protection. I also chose Acrobat because it comes with my …
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
I have tried many alternatives and while many of them are definitely useable, I ultimately decided that Adobe Reader DC created the PDF file format and they understand best how to make the format work. The biggest difference to Adobe Reader DC versus the alternatives is …
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
Both DocHub and Kami are online apps with features similar to Adobe Acrobat Reader DC but required sign-in, and some of Kami's features are locked in the free version. I am not sure if DocHub is free to non-educational institutions.
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
While Adobe Illustrator and Indesign are great for graphics and layout work, Adobe Acrobat Reader DC it great for more pdf specifics. There are some exporting options and things in Ai and Id but that's about it. Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is great for doing things after it's all …
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
I have found Abobe Acrobat [Reader DC] to be a niche product that solves a variety of business needs. It does not replace something like DocuSign, but can serve as a light version. It is more secure for sharing than something like Dropbox, and also has the ability to edit PDFs.
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is the most trusted and widely used tool as compared to tools from other competitors. Tools has all the requisite feature needed for an organization such as document storage to the protection of documents using passwords. Pdf files created by the tool …
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
I haven't spent any real time looking into alternatives because there is no need. I've used Apple Preview for basic view, which works fine. But when it comes to doing any sort of creation or modification, this is a must. Working in photoshop works... sorta. For visual things at …
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is the fastest and most accurate representation of files compared to the other programs. The only downside in comparison is that Adobe Illustrator CC has the ability to edit PDFs, where the ability to edit PDFs is not available in Adobe Acrobat Reader …
Chose Adobe Acrobat Reader
Adobe is the "big boy" when it comes to PDFs and I love being able to Sign my documents here. Being able to edit, rotate and otherwise modify a pdf is also nice. I would recommend using it if you have a large caseload or need to process a lot of documents.
Foxit PDF Editor
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
Foxit PDF Editor meets all of our business needs in terms of a PDF editor software. The price for Adobe Acrobat Pro was cost-prohibitive.
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
Adobe Analytics and Microsoft 365
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
In our case Cost was the deciding factor. We don't have a need for any advanced tools or features. Our use cases involve merging or splitting up documents, e-signatures and simple markups.
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
Foxit PDF Editor had the most tools that I frequently use and it had them right where I expected them. All of the others that I demoed either lacked tools I use often or were not nearly as intuitive to use.
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
Foxit PDF Editor (FoxitPhantom) is cheaper and easier to purchase and renew. It's layout is easier to navigate. They have used the same type of layout as Microsoft Office products so it is easier for Team Members to find what they need. It also has a few more features than …
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
1. In Kofax the functionality of the component is limited in that it cannot process PDF files larger than 2 GB due to the technological constraints of LeadTools. To process large PDF documents, it is advisable to use
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
Foxit PDF Editor is much more intuitive than Adobe and Apple Preview and some other PDF editors. The interface and UI are easier to manage and collaborate with, and export cleanly. It is also a good tool for more simple design projects. It's easier to merge multiple PDFs and …
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
Foxit comes with an offline solution that can be deployed across the company. The price is good, compared with Adobe but a bit less competitive than Kofax. The interface compared to other mentioned tools is easy to deal with and seems to be intuitive for the users who uses …
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
I have used Adobe is the past, and it worked just fine. However, I felt that in order to complete the tasks I needed to, I was having to take 4-5 steps just to do one thing. With Foxit PDF Editor (FoxitPhantom), most of the issues I ran into with Adobe were one simple click …
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
FoxitPhantom contains all the functionalities that you want from Adobe such as creating PDFs, editing PDFs, sharing PDFs, encrypting PDFs, and being a cheaper alternative. The user interface is very intuitive and matches up well with other common software like Microsoft Word …
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
Foxit has its own use. Compared to Bluebeam, Foxit is a way more affordable option. Foxit is a great and affordable solution for most users. The program doesn’t quite stack up against Bluebeam as far as features go. But that’s also why Bluebeam costs $350 and Foxit only costs …
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
Can't beat the cost and quality when compared to the more well known competitor software suites. Also much better than the random, not so well made and supported similar software out there. FoxitPhantom PDF is a solid tool to have on your computer, you will not be disappointed.
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
FoxitPhantom PDF does everything Adobe does and much quicker from the program opening to saving files.
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
FoxitPhantom PDF is a no-brainer when compared to Adobe Acrobat. It is extremely cheaper for virtually the same product. It has all of the features that I loved about Adobe Acrobat, but for a fraction of the price. I would say FoxitPhantom PDF isn't just competitive - it's the …
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
We were looking at ways to help reduce our license costs, and that is what made us look into alternatives to Adobe Acrobat. The license costs about half of what we were spending for Adobe, so it was a straightforward choice for us to make. Aside from a learning curve associated …
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
Simpler to use, just as functional if not more so. Better, smoother integration. We went with it because of its wide functionality and client support. Overall, for the money, it is better and more reliable software.
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
Our main reason to review Foxit was due to the many challenges that we incurred with Adobe conversions. Additionally, trying to get Adobe to answer our inquiries was trying at best. Foxit is simply better at what they do. Another nice benefit is that Foxit is a fraction of …
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
FoxitPhantom PDF is a cheaper alternative to Adobe Acrobat. It can get the job done with basic PDF needs, but the user experience is not a slick as the Adobe products with the recent updates. Foxit was ultimately selected to reduce the costs for a basic PDF reader and editing …
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
FoxitPhantom PDF has all the same basic features that Adobe Acrobat carries, except I have personally found the editing and annotating features to be superior with FoxitPhantom. Not to mention it feels like Adobe Acrobat comes with more bloated software, whereas FoxitPhantom …
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
In my experience, Foxit Phantom PDF offers the exact same functions and abilities that Adobe Acrobat does. Our company chose Foxit because it was significantly less expensive.
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
I would say that when you want to get a bigger share of the market and take business from long time consolidated applications like Acrobat, you really need to try harder and give something more to the user to be able to change their mind and switch to Foxit.
In our case …
Chose Foxit PDF Editor
I have used Adobe pdf reader before I discovered FoxitPhantom PDF. Compared to Foxit Adobe have fewer features and a less appealing user interface.
Features
Adobe Acrobat ReaderFoxit PDF Editor
PDF Editors
Comparison of PDF Editors features of Product A and Product B
Adobe Acrobat Reader
-
Ratings
Foxit PDF Editor
8.8
Ratings
5% above category average
Edit Text and Images00 Ratings8.60 Ratings
Merge or Split PDFs00 Ratings9.70 Ratings
Add Annotations00 Ratings9.30 Ratings
Text Recognition (OCR)00 Ratings9.00 Ratings
Page Management00 Ratings8.30 Ratings
Form Creation and Editing00 Ratings7.90 Ratings
Secure PDFs00 Ratings8.70 Ratings
Convert to Different Formats00 Ratings8.60 Ratings
Comment and Review Tools00 Ratings9.00 Ratings
Undo and Redo Actions00 Ratings9.00 Ratings
Best Alternatives
Adobe Acrobat ReaderFoxit PDF Editor
Small Businesses
Tungsten Power PDF
Tungsten Power PDF
Score 9.4 out of 10
Tungsten Power PDF
Tungsten Power PDF
Score 9.4 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
pdfFiller
pdfFiller
Score 9.0 out of 10
pdfFiller
pdfFiller
Score 9.0 out of 10
Enterprises
Bluebeam
Bluebeam
Score 9.1 out of 10
Bluebeam
Bluebeam
Score 9.1 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Adobe Acrobat ReaderFoxit PDF Editor
Likelihood to Recommend
9.2
(0 ratings)
8.5
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
7.2
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Usability
9.0
(0 ratings)
8.8
(0 ratings)
Performance
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
8.9
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
10.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Ease of integration
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Adobe Acrobat ReaderFoxit PDF Editor
Likelihood to Recommend
After creating a document, converting it into Adobe Acrobat Reader is usually very easy for storage in my computer, sending/sharing via emails, etc. This also saves a significant amount of unnecessary printing and paper waste, which is great for reducing waste. I don't have to worry about not having the right software/app to view, edit, and share with anyone.
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Great for marking up depositions or pleadings with highlights, comments, and notes during case review.
Supports Bates stamping, password protection, and other features often required for electronic filing.

Built-in tools allow for quick and secure redaction of privileged or confidential information before sharing or filing. Less appropriate if you needed to work on real time collaboration or building complex form templates from scratch.
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Pros
  • Edit PDFs. One of the biggest challenges faced in document heavy workflows is editing a PDF. Adobe Reader DC does a fantastic job of allowing you to edit pdfs on the fly without having to go back to the original form and reconverting it.
  • Sign PDFs. I spend a lot of time signing contracts and approval forms. Adobe Reader DC allows me to do that quickly without having to use my mouse or another third party platform. I can do all I need right in the Adobe Reader DC workflow.
  • Merge PDFs. I find quite often that I need to put two or more documents together in one form. I can do that with just a few clicks in the Adobe Reader DC merge workflow.
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  • FoxitPhantom carries superior editing tools over Adobe Acrobat and similar products. It allows you to modify text, images, & objects in a more robust fashion
  • Integrates well with Microsoft Office products such as Word, PPT, & Excel
  • Allows you to work in a nearly paperless environment
Read full review
Cons
  • Accurately exporting all fields correctly (including UI design) of a PDF into various formats. There tend to be quirks with some exports.
  • Choosing the right encryption type. This can get a little tricky.
  • Getting picky with Acrobat custom fields when you're trying to do something out-of-the-box (during PDF creation).
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  • I have a dual monitor setup at work and there are times when I wish that I could view pdf documents on both monitors at the same time. I have not yet figured out how to do that with FoxitPhantom as it appears to limit the user to displaying multiple pdf documents as separate tabs on the same screen. If dual screen is an option in the software, it needs to be more apparent.
  • I can't think of any other desired improvements. This software really does everything that I need it to do.
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Likelihood to Renew
To be honest, I do not have any say in the renewal of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. It is managed at an enterprise level, and the decision to renew or not renew is handled well above my pay grade as an external consultant.
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Because very few editors are so easy to use and deploy backed by speed and performance. Foxit PDF is known for its speed and performance, allowing users to open and work with PDF files quickly and efficiently
Foxit's user-friendly interface is easy to navigate and use, making it a popular choice for users who are new to PDF software.
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Usability
Again, Adobe Creative Suite is widely used and backed by an industry leader, making the experience very familiar and common for anyone who has used a PDF and wants more features to interact with it. It also makes copy text a lot easier than just previewing the file.
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Functionality and features it has as well as being quiet user friendly. It would be nice though if it wasn't laggy as often and had better page organizational tools. It often bogs down when this is being done or doesn't work properly when moving pages around and needed
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Performance
No answers on this topic
FoxitPhantom PDF integrates very well with the Microsoft Office products, which is where I found I use this the most. It performs about as well as can be expected, without any out of place latency. Whether it be merging, deleting, editing or rearranging pages, its performance holds up even with larger documents.
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Support Rating
No answers on this topic
I haven't personally had interaction with the customer support from FoxitPhantom, however based on conversations I have had with members in the organization, I was given positive feedback. Their website has a lot of information and tutorials. If you need to contact them, they are quick to respond. User manuals are readily available.
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Implementation Rating
The application is pretty much "plug and play"
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No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
The Word app included with Office 365 offers similar collaboration functionality when compared to Adobe reader but with the option to fully change the original document while reviewing. This is both an advantage and disadvantage when compared with the Adobe reader app. Documents left in the Microsoft Word format also have a tendency to appear different depending on screen size and device used and this can be frustrating for some users. Basically, if you need what you have created and formatted to stay put and to appear as you intended and be printed as you intended if needed, use the Adobe PDF format.
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1. In Kofax the functionality of the component is limited in that it cannot process
PDF files larger than 2 GB due to the technological constraints of
LeadTools. To process large PDF documents, it is advisable to use
compression as a workaround. 2. In Kofax the black and white images must be created with at least 200 dpi resolution for reading new item number barcodes as we deploy in our news room.
Read full review
Return on Investment
  • It has had positive impact in that it has save considerable costs vs. investing in cloud-based/subscription based software.
  • In terms of security, it also has had a positive impact, in that it doesn't really require IT staff to take the time to patch the software or work on issues with the software.
  • It has also had a positive impact in that it has not required formal training for users to be able to use the software.
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  • For a PDF software in a our company is difficult to translate the software performance into financial results. With a PDF software is a lot less obvious than an ERP of a Payroll System, but one advantage could be the savings that a lower cost of licensing would bring when it is used by a bigger number of users.
  • A positive impact is the ease of use when creating and filing new hired employees, but once again, it is hard to say that it is faster than a different PDF software and even if that was the case the savings in time would be probably unnoticeable. At least one would be having a process with no hassles when creating and saving your PDF documents for your employees.
  • So far no crashes. I have never heard a complain about Foxit crashing even when you have dozens of documents opened at the same time. We can't say the same when using other applications like Excel... This brings peace of mind and less frustrated users.
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ScreenShots