Rating of programs for reading PDF files. The best free PDF readers (readers)

18.10.2023 -

We will look at the best e-readers for Android. Then we will choose among them the best program for reading in PDF (primarily), DJVU, FB2 formats (see readers for fb2). Each pdf reader, among other things, allows you to view a number of other popular e-book formats. Choose the appropriate application, depending on what books you download to your phone and what format you consider most suitable.

If you deal with PDF format, you must know that Android phones and tablets do not have a convenient program like Adobe Reader for reading documents and e-books. Reading pdf on Android is difficult without special software. However, it is not difficult to install one of the pdf readers. Here's what we offer to choose from:

PocketBook Reader - pdf reader for Android

PocketBook Reader is a mobile application for reading books on Android. With its help, it is convenient to read books from your phone and highlight text on pages. The pdf format allows you to create text notes “in the margins,” and PocketBook successfully copes with this task.

The PocketBook application is a universal viewer of various files; the reader recognizes most book formats, including PDF (Adobe DRM), EPUB (Adobe DRM), DjVu, TXT, CHM, html (basic), CBZ, CBR, CBT and others (see table below articles).

After scanning the smartphone/tablet, PocketBook Reader will present all contents in the form of thumbnails or lists. The library display mode is easily changed: thumbnail view displays only the covers, while the list provides more information about each book, including title, author, and document format. In the next one you will see recently read books.

If we talk about more general aspects of the reader, navigation is available not only through books already in the library, but also through the SD card and phone memory. That is, the PocketBook Reader application is also a convenient navigation through your electronic library.

Apart from browsing the local content of your Android device, you can also go to the online library and download any book from there for free. This is a very convenient feature of PocketBook Reader, with convenient viewing and a download mechanism directly to a mobile smartphone or tablet.

Text navigation

Scroll through pages by touching the screen, sliding, or using the volume buttons
Quick search function for PDF files, including multi-page documents and books
Quick access to content and notes

Book display

3 reading modes: page mode, two page mode, scroll mode and other display options
Changing Android Phone Screen Brightness
Manual and automatic adjustment of page margins for the most comfortable reading on small screens on phones, smartphones and tablets
Zoom in and out using two fingers. Double tap to zoom to screen size of a specific part of the page or column
Change text color and background color.
PocketBook reader supports four preset themes (night, day, sepia and newspaper)

Editing PDF documents

Taking notes (tagging text, adding comments, taking screenshots of books)
Export notes from PDF to file

Add. PocketBook Reader capabilities

Support for OPDS directories, work with network libraries. It is also easy to add any other source from where you can easily download books to read directly onto your tablet.
Support for ABBYY Lingvo dictionaries. It allows the user to use the translator to read foreign books and documents

Summary. The PocketBook mobile reader has many settings: font sizes, scale, text and background color, page margin settings and other options that affect reading comfort. Convenient navigation, wide support for book formats. An excellent universal program for reading books on a tablet. In general, PocketBook is a good e-reader for your phone.

PDF reader Universal Book Reader

Universal Book Reader is a free application for reading pdf documents and e-books on Android. It has a stylish and friendly interface, provides various modes for reading documents on smartphones and tablets. The built-in file browser allows you to open, read and save any e-book directly on your phone. In addition, UBR will help you open protected files in EPUB and PDF formats on Android (about supported book formats for Android).

In a word, if you need to open PDF on Android, the Universal Book Reader application is a completely worthy reader for Android. However, despite the Universal prefix, this program will be useful especially for opening EPUB and PDF formats - alas, other documents are not supported.

As usual, you can download the reader for Android from Google Play in Russian, the apk file size is about 20 MB.

PDF reader Radaee PDF Reader

If you need a very fast, snappy PDF viewer, check out Radaee PDF Reader. This is a free application that has fast rendering and support for various languages. Radaee PDF Reader is basically a PDF reading app for Android. As for editing, there are also several useful tools, but their composition cannot be called anything other than basic.

Main features of Radaee PDF Reader for Android:

Excellent caching and rendering performance, optimized for modern mobile processors. Fast rendering speed without preloading the cache.
Zoom (multi-touch), search, text selection and highlighting
6 book display modes
Availability settings
Conveniently add annotations to a PDF document with one click
Editing and viewing media content

You can download the Radaee PDF Reader for Android using the link.

Adobe Acrobat Reader for Android - PDF reader with a big name

Adobe Acrobat Reader is a well-known, free pdf reader for Android, free of charge. The main functions of the Reader are reading, annotating, signing pdf files. Everything that is typical for the desktop version of Adobe Acrobat Reader is present here in full. In addition, Adobe's viewer offers access to PDF files via the cloud. This is a convenient opportunity to synchronize documents and books on different devices.

In fact, Adobe Reader is a very functional pdf viewer for the Android mobile platform. In addition to reading, you can

create notes (which is one of the features of the pdf format)
export documents to word and excel
save files to the cloud
create pdf documents directly on your phone or tablet. When it comes to editing, Adobe Reader on Android has virtually no equal.

The main functions of Adobe Reader for Android look like this:

Convenient viewing of pdf files on your phone
Quickly open PDF files via email, on the Internet, through any application with the Share function.
Search, scroll, zoom pages of a pdf document
Selecting a separate page, setting scrolling, special reading mode
Annotation and preview of pdf documents
Annotating documents, sticky notes and drawing, marking text
Printing, storing pdf documents in the cloud (Dropbox or Adobe Document Cloud)
Printing pdf documents from Android

EbookDroid - a program for reading books on Android

The EbookDroid program is not only a pdf reader for Android. The program opens EPUB and other e-book formats without any problems.

The EbookDroid interface is not very friendly, and the file download speed is not optimal (compared to other programs). However, the viewer is quite suitable for viewing pdf on Android. To read pdf, you need to install a separate plugin that is downloaded from the Internet automatically.

In the book display settings, you can change the reading mode (one-page / two-page), divide the spreads, trim pages by margins or manually, change the screen orientation, and hide unnecessary panels.

To organize pdf files and other documents in the library on your phone, EbookDroid uses local directories and network libraries. Synchronization with the cloud is not provided in EbookDroid.

In general, despite the rather gray interface, the EbookDroid reader is suitable for viewing pdfs. We must not forget that in addition to this format, the application displays books in djvu and fb2 without any problems.

AnDoc - pdf reader for Android

Librera Reader - free e-reader for Android

Librera Reader - a program for reading books, documents, music text (for musicians). It is multifunctional and easy to use. Designed for comfortable reading with maximum adjustment to the user's vision.

Readable document and book formats:

PDF, DJVU, FB2, EPUB, MOBI, TXT, RTF, HTML, AZW, AZW3, CBZ, CBR.

Text files that provide the display of pictures.

Archival reading Zip, GZ (without the need to upload documents).

Setting up individual user parameters:

Changing the format, style and size of text (adjusting indents and spacing).

Change color settings to suit your vision at different times of the day.

Setting the modes “for reading”, “for musicians” (provides for vertical movement of the musical text at a given speed).

Converting information to another format.

You can add books to Librera Reader from the device’s memory or from external network sources. Provides access to OPDS catalogs.

Google Play Books – reader for ePub and pdf

Google Play Books is an Android reader that opens books from the Google Play library. Designed for easy reading for users with smartphones running Android OS. The advantage of the program is the careful adjustment of a comfortable mode for vision.

Formats supported by the program:

Customizable parameters:

Creating an individual text mode (adjusting the parameters of texts and images).

Color adjustment (day and night mode).

The application only has access to the Google Play library, which is extensive. You can add books from the device memory. They are subject to storage within one Google account, taking into account the progress read.

Answers to readers' questions

They sent me a book by email in pub, text, mobi formats. But I can’t open more than one format, it displays “download a program for reading books on your phone in the Android Market,” and I don’t know which program. What to do?

Answer. Most Android readers support the e-book formats you listed. So install any application mentioned in the article on your phone and open any of the formats. Enjoy reading!

For convenience, we will distinguish four types of programs: viewers (for reading and annotating), editors (for editing text and other content), managers (for splitting, compressing and other manipulations with files) and converters (for converting PDF to other formats).

Most applications can be classified into several types at once.

Type: viewer, editor, converter, manager.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.

A very intuitive and convenient program with an impressive number of functions. When you launch Sejda PDF, you will immediately see all the tools grouped by category. Select the one you need, drag the required file into the program window and start manipulating. Most things in this app can be done in a few seconds, even if you are using it for the first time.

What you can do in Sejda PDF:

edit text, add images and shapes;
convert PDF to Excel, JPG (and vice versa), Word (and vice versa);
combine and separate files into pages, compress their size;
protect documents with a password;
add watermarks;
discolor documents;
trim page area;
sign documents.

The free version of the program has limitations. For example, files should not be more than 200 pages and not exceed 50 MB in size. In addition, you cannot perform more than three operations with documents during the day. The full version of Sejda PDF costs $5.25 per month.

Type: manager, converter, editor.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, .

PDFsam cannot boast of a polished, user-friendly interface. In addition, the program does not allow you to convert PDF and edit the contents of documents for free. But it does have several useful managerial functions that are available to everyone without payment or any restrictions.

What you can do in PDFsam:

combine PDF in several modes (glue in parts or mix page by page);
split PDF by pages, bookmarks (in places with specified words) and size into separate documents;
rotate pages (if some of them were scanned upside down);
extract pages with specified numbers;
convert Excel, Word, PowerPoint formats to PDF;
convert PDF to Excel, Word and PowerPoint formats ($10);
edit text and other file content ($30).

Type
Platforms: Windows.

A very functional program with a classic interface in the style of Microsoft office applications. PDF-XChange Editor is not very beginner friendly. To master all the features of the program, you need to spend some time. Fortunately, all internal descriptions and tips are translated into Russian.

What you can do in PDF-XChange Editor:

add annotations and highlight text;
edit text and other content;
recognize text using OCR;
extract pages from documents;
encrypt documents (paid);
convert PDF to Word, Excel and PowerPoint formats and vice versa (paid);
compress files (paid);
sort pages in any order (paid).

These are not all the functions that you can find in PDF-XChange Editor. The program is available in several versions with different numbers of features. The cost of paid versions starts at $43.5.

Type: viewer, manager, converter, editor.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.

A popular universal program for working with PDF from the company. The free version is a very convenient document viewer; other functions are available by subscription starting at 149 rubles per month.

What you can do in Adobe Acrobat Reader:

view documents, highlight and comment on text, search for words and phrases;
sign documents (paid);
edit text and other content (paid);
combine documents into one file (paid);
compress files (paid);
convert PDF to Word, Excel and PowerPoint formats (paid);
Convert images in JPG, JPEG, TIF and BMP formats to PDF (paid).

All these features and more are available in desktop versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Mobile versions of the program only allow you to view and annotate documents, and also, after subscribing, convert them into different formats.

Type: viewer, converter.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.

Fast and convenient PDF reader with different viewing modes. Ideal for users who want a simple document reader without a lot of extra features. The program is available on all major platforms.

Hello, teapots and teapots. Today we’ll talk about programs that can be used to open PDF files. You've probably encountered something like this, right? Mostly people who use literature downloaded on the Internet encounter such files.

So, what is the PDF format? PDF format(English) Portable Document Format) is an electronic document format that uses the PostScript system. It is this format that allows you to provide printed products in electronic form.

As in the case with, the site’s editors use different programs to open PDF files and, accordingly, consider their program to be the best, but they also appreciated other existing types of programs. Let's take a look at them.

The first and perhaps best program on the list is Adobe Reader. This is a paid program, but it can be found on the Internet already hacked. We will consider the free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. In principle, it has all the most necessary functions. Opening files, recognizing them and converting them to Word and Excel format. It can be used on both computers and mobile devices. The interface is quite clear. Is a leader among computer users.

Interface – 5.
Functionality – 9.
Performance – 8.
System requirements – 6.
Quality – 9.

The second program, which in our opinion is a good and functional tool for PDF files, is Foxit Reader. An analogue of Adobe Reader, but it is free, which is actually its advantage. Another plus is that this program loads much faster than its “paid” counterpart. But there is one significant drawback - the processed text and images are not always of high quality. And so, in terms of its functionality it rightfully takes second place in our rating.

Interface – 6.
Functionality – 8.
Performance – 9.
System requirements – 8.
Quality – 5.

In third place, a less functional program - STDU Viewer. In principle, it is only suitable for opening PDF files. But, unlike other programs, it opens most other formats - PDF, DjVu, TXT, TCR, TIFF, Comic Book Archive (CBR or CBZ), XPS, JBIG2. Therefore, we give her “bronze”.

Interface – 7.
Functionality – 6.
Performance –8.
System requirements – 7.
Quality – 6.

Fourth place - Cool PDF Reader. Free, very multifunctional program. The advantages are its size (less than 1 MB) and also the conversion of PDF format into TXT, BMP, JPG, GIF, PNG, WMF, EMF, EPS files. Has more than 60 languages.

Interface – 7.
Functionality – 6.
Performance –7.
System requirements – 7.
Quality – 5.

Well, we can end our rating here, but after consulting, we decided to include such a program in this rating as Sumatra PDF. An elementary program for opening PDF files. Its advantage is that it is made in the style of “minimalism”. The simplest design, fast-acting, but, unlike those listed above, less functional.

Interface – 8.
Functionality – 4.
Performance –6.
System requirements – 7.
Quality – 5.

Also, there are many other programs for opening PDF files, but they are all similar and have the same functions.

22/05/2017

Cool PDF Reader is a convenient program for viewing and converting PDF files, the distinctive feature of which is its small size and abundance of functions. This program is considered one of the smallest - its size is less than one megabyte, but the program has enough functions for the average user who only wants to view and convert pdf files. The program allows you to view documents in full screen mode, as well as print them in just a few clicks. In addition, you can easily change the scale of the document, or rotate it at an angle convenient for you. Another feature of the program is conv...

12/12/2016

Foxit Reader is an alternative popular package for working with pdf files. The program has a very clear interface, the ability to view files in several tabs, high speed and full compatibility with popular operating systems. An important factor is the presence of the Russian language in the program, which greatly facilitates working with it. The program has the ability to view documents in full screen mode, leave comments and graphic bookmarks in the text, print documents, view files without leaving Windows Explorer and install various plugins, skins, mods...

26/09/2016

PDF-XChange Viewer is a fast viewer of the famous PDF format, characterized by high speed and many different functions. For example, the program allows you to easily add comments and annotations to PDF documents, as well as set a password for opening these files. In addition, the program has the ability to easily scan text and images and add them directly to PDF files, which is quite convenient. It is also possible to import and export any file content. It doesn’t matter whether it’s text or pictures. You can add any images to the file, or vice versa, cut out these images...

04/05/2015

PDF Shaper is a collection of necessary tools for optimal work with PDF files. The program can convert a PDF document, or several at the same time, into MS Word, or rather into RTF format. But converting documents from PDF to Word is not the only advantage of PDF Shaper; it can also extract certain elements, such as pictures, tables, etc. In addition to these functions, it can split one PDF document into several, or, conversely, combine several documents into one. At the same time, the program works with encrypted documents, and can also restrict access with a password. Very easy to use, even a beginner can...

28/04/2015

Recently, more and more electronic books, magazines, brochures are appearing on the Internet, and all these files are usually in PDF or DjVu format. This program will help you view DjVu, PDF, TIFF and similar files on Windows OS. STDU Viewer is lightweight, simple and a worthy replacement for Adobe Acrobat. The program contains all the necessary tools for reading and searching for fragments in a document. The program is available in several languages, including Russian. Among the advantages, we can note a wide range of scaling options: scale to the screen, scale to the selection, display the entire page on the entire screen or only...

28/03/2015

PDF Architect is a simple program designed to convert a range of texts, images into a convenient PDF format. The utility allows you to read created documents and any files with a similar extension. For ease of interaction with the application, you can create a number of bookmarks with the necessary documents, and when you need to switch between them. PDF Architect allows you to resize the document and rotate it. To create your own document with this format, you must complete activation via email. Thanks to this function, any user can create a PDF file from a taken image, text or Comicbook file. The program allows...

24/03/2015

SoftDigi PDFViewer is a small application created specifically for viewing various files with the PDF extension. The program has a visually pleasing interface that allows you to combine various PDF documents into one common file. Allows you to set the minimum document security parameters and the necessary information about this file. The application has functions such as moving pages, deleting unnecessary pages, exporting, changing places. SoftDigi PDFViewer allows you to easily insert fragments from other files into a PDF document, as well as quickly export pages to a number of different graphic formats. Effectively exports pages...

27/01/2015

Sumatra PDF is a completely free viewer for formats such as XPS, CBR, DJVu, CHM, CBZ and PDF. The program has a very modest interface, since the developers focused on its speed and minimalism. Unlike the popular Adobe Reader viewer, this program works much faster, has only a set of necessary functions and allows you to edit documents that are simultaneously open in other applications. In addition, Sumatra PDF has a special plugin that can be embedded in a number of popular browsers. This will allow the user to open files directly from the browser window...

10/12/2014

Adobe Reader is one of the most popular programs for working and viewing PDF files. The PDF format is used to create a kind of electronic books, but its capabilities are not limited to this. Some user manuals or training materials are often written in PDF format. In the latest versions of the format, it has become possible to embed Flash video in a document. Adobe Reader perfectly supports all these features and allows you to view all types of documents, regardless of what format modification was used to create them. Among other things, the main Adobe Reader package also includes...

The PDF format has become one of the most popular for distributing documentation, typographic designs, and even books. This is explained by two factors. Firstly, a PDF file, unlike a regular text file, cannot be changed by the recipient. This is important, for example, for documentation. Secondly, the recipient of the file can easily open it with the publicly available and free Adobe Reader. And at the same time, there is no need to install fonts or adjust any spacing and indentations - constant companions when opening a complex document prepared by someone in Word. Today, Adobe's PDF viewer is not the only tool. We will talk about several products that will allow you to create or view a PDF file.

How to create PDF

All modern office suites, whether paid Microsoft Office or free Libre Office, support the PDF format. This is what the “Save As...” dialog looks like in Word.

And for other programs, the applications that I will describe in this article create a virtual printer, and printing to PDF is carried out as an option for regular printing. Simply, instead of using a physical printer, you select “print to PDF.” This is what such a printer looks like on Foxit Reader.

If you have a text file and want to get a PDF from it, but you don’t want to install an office package for this, then you can do this from the online services Google Drive or Office Live. Both of them are free.

How to read PDF

Regular browser

Almost all modern browsers can view PDF format. They’re just doing it poorly so far. Those who have tried to view some really complex PDF through them will understand what I mean.

Document scaling is not so convenient in browsers; sometimes this leads to incorrect display of content. Plus, the navigation through the table of contents is not very convenient. The functionality for viewing PDF files ends only with the viewing function itself, which is somewhat reminiscent of the print preview mode.

Foxit Reader

Download Foxit Reader 6.1.5.0624 RUS

Foxit Reader does much better with PDF display and functionality. This is perhaps the most popular after Adobe Reader, and the most convenient “reader” of PDF files. It is smaller than Adobe Reader and runs faster.

Foxit Reader implements a convenient search by fragment, which works only in those files where their manufacturer has allowed text to be left. There is also a version of a PDF file that is closed from searching and extracting text; only an automatic recognizer, like FineReader, can turn it into text.

Those who have seen this program for a long time will be very surprised by its new appearance. In appearance, Foxit Reader is very close to Microsoft Office! It is difficult to list all the operations that it allows you to do with PDF files - there are a lot of them.

You can mark pieces of text with a marker, take notes on individual words and paragraphs, and write text directly on top of the PDF file.

Cool PDF Reader

Download Cool PDF Reader

You may find the Foxit Reader interface too fancy and complicated. Then you better pay attention to Cool PDF Reader. It is a leader in terms of minimal program size. Its size is a little more than one megabyte, but this does not in the least prevent this program from performing its duties well in viewing PDF files and searching text.

In addition, the program can convert PDF into a number of graphic formats (GIF, BMP, PNG, WMF, JPG, EMF, EPS) and text (TXT). Cool PDF Reader can also remove graphics from a PDF file for easier viewing. But this is a paid feature.

View PDF in Windows 8

And finally, I’ll tell you about PDF support in the Windows 8 operating system. In it, a standard application called “Reader”, made in a “modern” full-screen interface, is responsible for viewing files of this format.

There are no special settings, and the capabilities are minimal, although search by fragment is implemented. At the same time, a very good and useful search results window has been created.

Rating of programs for reading PDF files. The best free PDF readers (readers)