Programs for reading pdf files. Programs for creating PDF files. How to open PDF files without programs

All programs allow reading pdf files, but not all can provide editing of the documents themselves. Therefore, before deciding on the program, you need to carefully study its detailed description and functionality.

How to open PDF files without programs?

Fortunately, modern operating systems (Windows, Mac OS) work with the .PDF extension and no special programs. MacOS has an integrated utility called View. It will allow you to open and read the document without making edits. For editing, you will have to download special software.

On Windows 10, pdf opens in the built-in Edge browser. The function is also integrated into third-party browsers that work with earlier versions of Windows (Google Chrome, Opera, Mozilla Firefox, Yandex Browser). The same Chrome will offer you to open the pdf immediately after downloading the file from mail or any site. The document is displayed in a separate tab, from where it can be viewed, printed or saved to the hard drive. View functions in other browsers work in a similar way.

In addition, you can always open the PDF online on any special site, as well as convert it to another readable format, such as Microsoft Word .doc, Excel .xls, Power Point .ppt, jpg or png image. To do this, use smallpdf or any other converter.

Good day!

Magazines, books, scanned documents, forms, drawings and more are now often distributed in PDF format. Whether you like it or not, without special software for working with these formats - and not there, and not here ... ✔

Actually, in this article I have collected some of the most popular products for working with this format. I think that the material will be relevant both for those who have encountered a problem and cannot read a specific PDF file, and for those who are looking for a convenient tool for everyday tasks. 👌

The article will present programs of different directions, functionality, design, and requirements for system resources. I hope everyone will be able to choose a "soft" for their current tasks.

And so, more to the point ...

👉 Remark!

For example, formats such as txt, fb2, html, rtf, doc are much more convenient to read in special. readers rather than Word or notepad.

Top 6 PDF viewers

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Opened a page of my site, saved in PDF

One of the most widely used PDF readers (which is not surprising, because Acrobat Reader is a product from the very developer of this format) .

It has some of the broadest possibilities for reading, printing and editing PDFs in its arsenal. I would like to note that not so long ago the integration of this reader with the "cloud" (Adobe Document Cloud) took place, thanks to which, now it has become much more convenient to work simultaneously on PCs and mobile gadgets!

It must be said that Adobe Acrobat Reader has amazing compatibility: some PDF files (especially large), which are not displayed correctly in any other readers, are presented here in normal mode.

Therefore, in my opinion, even if you do not use this particular program, it would not be superfluous to have it in reserve ...

Add. opportunities:

• fast conversion of a PDF file to Word or Excel formats;
• now it is not necessary to have paper forms - you can fill them out electronically and send them by mail. Adobe Acrobat Reader allows you to do this;
• in addition to the Adobe Document Cloud, you can configure your system so that PDF will be available on popular cloud drives such as: Box, Dropbox and;
• the reader allows you to create annotations and comments for viewed files.

STDU Viewer

A very compact, free and versatile program for reading a variety of formats: PDF, DjVu, XPS, TIFF, TXT, BMP, GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, etc.

I would highlight the key advantages: low demands on PC resources, you can open several documents at once in one window, the sidebar displays content with quick links. Also, a system of bookmarks is conveniently built-in, which allows you to return to the last read place in one click with the mouse.

In addition, easy page scaling, page rotation by 90-180 degrees, document printing, gamma and contrast adjustment, etc. are available.

It is possible to convert PDF and 👉 files to text formats. In general, the program deserves attention and acquaintance!

Foxit Reader

Very handy PDF file reader. I would like to immediately note its relatively low system requirements (in relation to the same Adobe Reader), convenient bookmarking system, side menu (with contents of an open book), modern interface.

In general, the abundance of all kinds of functions and capabilities is amazing (in fact, you could say: a multifunctional program).

Peculiarities:

• the program interface is as close as possible to Word, Excel, etc. (which causes an explicit disposition to the product);
• the ability to quickly customize the toolbar (add what you often need and remove what you don't use);
• the program supports touch screen (in full);
• the ability to create a PDF portfolio;
• filling out PDF- (Acroform) and XFA-forms (XML form architecture);
• support for all modern versions of Windows 7, 8, 10.

Sumatra PDF

Supported formats: PDF, eBook, XPS, DjVu, CHM.

If you are looking for a very simple, compact and fast PDF viewer, then I'm not afraid to say that Sumatra PDF is the best choice! Both the program itself and the files in it - open as quickly as your system allows.

Peculiarities:

• the design is made in the style of minimalism (so popular lately)... The main priority functions are: viewing and printing files;
• support for 60 languages ​​(including Russian);
• there is a portable version that does not need to be installed (you can carry it with you on a flash drive, and if anything, you can open PDF on any PC);
• unlike their counterparts (including Adobe Acrobat Reader), the program correctly scales pictures in black and white (very useful thing when reading books);
• correctly reads and recognizes hyperlinks embedded in PDF;
• Sumatra does not block open PDF (relevant for those who work with TeX systems);
• supported by Windows XP, 7, 8, 10 (32/64 bits).

PDF-XChange Viewer

Multifunctional program for viewing PDF files. Separately, I would like to note its relatively low system requirements, rich functionality, simple and user-friendly interface. By the way, the program supports the Russian language.

Peculiarities:

• detailed setting of the font, displaying pictures, setting navigation, etc. allows you to comfortably read even large files;
• the ability to view several files at once (including protected ones);
• detailed customization of the viewing area and toolbar;
• the ability to convert PDF documents to image formats: BMP, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, etc.;
• integration with popular translators ABBYY Lingvo and Translate It!
• there are plugins for IE and Firefox browsers;
• the ability to send PDF directly from the viewer (very handy when you have a lot of scanned documents);
• allows you to extract text from PDF, and much more ...

Hamster PDF Reader

Simple, convenient, tasteful! Hamster PDF Reader (preview from the main page of the office. Site)

Hamster PDF Reader is a relatively new program that allows you to view not only PDF, but also such formats as XPS, DjVu. The program interface is made in the style of Office 2019 (similar to Foxit Reader).

The program is not full of features, but there is everything that most people need: customization of the view (font, sheet, brightness, full screen, etc.), printing, bookmarks, etc.

Another plus: the program does not have to be installed (there is a portable version)... Thus, you can write it to a USB flash drive and always have it at hand to work with PDF.

In general, an interesting and uncluttered product that allows you to solve the most ordinary tasks.

👉 By the way!

Hamster still has quite a few (supports working with cloud disks, in 1-2 clicks allows you to compress and decompress all known archive formats).

List of Best Free PDF Readers

A PDF reader is any software that will open a PDF file, probably the most recognizable document format in the world. Your downloadable bank statements, school newsletters - they're probably all in.

More and more operating systems, smartphones and other devices contain built-in capabilities for displaying PDF files. Regardless, a dedicated PDF reader often has a number of advantages over the built-in PDF reader you already have, such as viewing options, improved search, and more.

Download any of these free PDF readers:

1. SumatraPDF

pros

• Open source and lightweight.
• Available in 69 languages.

Minuses

• There is no way to edit or annotate PDFs.
• No anti-aliasing, so some fonts look shaky.

Various types of view modes are available, such as “ One Page "," Front Side "," Book View " and " Presentation"... The latter view is great for distraction-free reading.

You can use a variety of keyboard shortcuts to make it easier to navigate the PDF, which you can refer to in the SumatraPDF Guide.

You can download SumatraPDF portable (only uses 6MB) or install it like a regular program.

2.Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

pros

• Convenient drag-and-drop function makes it easy to combine PDFs.
• Excellent integration with the Adobe Cloud system.

Minuses

• Availability check identifies problems, but does not tell you how to fix them.
• The free version is very limited in its capabilities.

Adobe Systems, the creator of the PDF format, has a free PDF reader called Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.

Tons of features are included in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. You can take snapshots of text and images, view the PDF file in reading mode for a shorter reading pane, and Adobe Acrobat Reader DC can read text aloud.

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC works with Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. also available for Android, Windows Phone and iOS.

The download uses the download manager Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. So while the download manager is really small, the actual download for the PDF reader is much larger (perhaps around 50MB).

On the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC download page, you may be prompted to install McAfee Security Scan Plus and / or another program along with Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. You must manually deselect the offer if you do not want it to be installed as well.

3. MuPDF

pros

• Supports XPS and CBZ files.
• Easy to use.

Minuses

• The interface is too bare.
• The zoom feature is not perfect.

MuPDF is an ultra-light free PDF reader for Windows and Android.

When you launch MuPDF, you are immediately prompted to select a PDF file, before you even see the program's interface. Once you do that, literally no options will be visible, but instead the full program window will be dedicated to displaying the PDF.

Click the top left program icon in the MuPDF title window, then select About MuPDF, to see all of the supported keyboard shortcuts that you can use to scroll through pages, zoom in, and find text.

When you extract the files from the download, open "mupdf.exe" to start the program.

pros

• Faster than other free options.
• Intuitive interface.

Minuses

• Editing options are rather limited.
• Tries to install other software during installation.

Expert PDF Reader is another free PDF reader for Windows.

You can view the bookmarks and list of pages found in the PDF in an easy-to-read index on the side of the viewport.

There are also advanced options such as signing and adding text to PDF.

5. Nuance PDF Reader

Nuance Communications, Inc.

pros

• Adding videos and images to documents is easy.
• Dictation features make this app ideal for the visually impaired.

Minuses

• No mobile version.
• You can only open one PDF at a time.

Another free PDF reader for Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP is Nuance PDF Reader.

Nuance PDF Reader includes a really useful search function. The words you are looking for are displayed with little context to make it easier to understand where the search terms are in the text.

You can also highlight text in Nuance PDF Reader, which is great if you're using PDF for a study note or reference document.

6. PDF-XChange Editor

pros

• The premium version is reasonably priced for what you get.
• Adding and posting text is extremely easy.

Minuses

• PDFs created with the free version often contain large ugly watermarks.
• Does not automatically detect fields when creating forms.

PDF-XChange Editor is another completely free PDF reader for Windows XP and newer.

The program's interface can be a little nauseous because there are buttons, toolbars and sidebars everywhere. You can easily disable most of them, however, for a cleaner viewing experience.

Besides opening the PDF from your local computer, you can also enter the URL of the PDF to open the PDF-XChange Editor (the PDF will still download, but the program will do it for you).

PDF-XChange Editor also lets you add notes, record and attach audio, highlight text, attach files, and add strikethroughs to words.

Many functions are only available in the professional version of PDF-XChange Editor, but they are clearly labeled as such and not hard to find.

7. Evince

pros

• Also ideal for reading comics and power point presentations.
• Great integration with the GNOME desktop environment.

Minuses

• Scrolling is not always smooth.
• The window cannot be resized and there is no full screen mode.

Evince is another free PDF reader for Windows and Linux operating systems.

The interface is uncluttered, and you can customize the toolbar with any of the included tools, such as the search function and various view modes.

Evince also supports auto scrolling. This is an awesome feature that allows you to adjust the position of your mouse on the screen to view the PDF file automatically. You can fine tune the speed for different reading speeds.

8. Sorax Reader

For convenience, we distinguish four types of programs: viewers (for reading and annotating), editors (for editing text and other content), managers (for splitting, compressing and other file manipulations) and converters (for converting PDF to other formats). Most of the applications listed in this article can be classified into several types at once.

Completely free programs

These applications are not the most functional, but all their capabilities are available without restrictions.

• A type: viewer, manager, converter.
• Platforms: Windows.

This small program does not allow you to edit the contents of PDF documents, but is useful for many other format operations.

What you can do in PDF24 Creator:

• view PDF;
• combine documents into one file;
• recognize text in PDF;
• compress files;
• convert PDF to JPEG, PNG, BMP, PCX, TIFF, PSD, PCL and other formats;
• set a password for files or disable it;
• split documents into pages;
• fetch selected pages.

• A type: viewer, converter.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.

Although the popular LibreOffice software suite is designed to work with Word formats, its Draw application can edit PDF documents. And the Writer program from the same package can be used as a converter.

What you can do in LibreOffice:

• view PDF documents;
• convert DOC and other Word formats to PDF;
• edit text;
• draw in the document.

• A type: viewer, converter.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.

Fast and convenient PDF-reader with different viewing modes. Ideal for users looking for a simple document reader without a plethora of advanced features. The program is available on all major platforms.

What you can do in Foxit Reader:

• view, highlight and comment on text;
• search for words and phrases;
• convert PDF to TXT;
• fill out forms and sign documents.

The mobile version of Foxit Reader allows you to edit text and other document content, but only as part of a paid subscription.

Shareware apps

These programs offer more functionality for working with PDF, but with some limitations. You can use the stripped-down free versions or subscribe with the full suite of tools.

• A type: viewer, editor, converter, manager.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.

A very intuitive and user-friendly program. When you launch Sejda PDF, you will immediately see all the tools grouped by category. Select the desired one, drag the required file into the program window and start manipulating. Most of the PDF actions in this application can be done in a few seconds, even if this is your first time using it.

What you can do in Sejda PDF:

• combine and split documents by page;
• compress file size;
• convert PDF to JPG and Word (and vice versa);
• protect documents with a password and disable it;
• add watermarks;
• discolor documents;
• crop the page area;
• sign documents.

The free version allows you to perform no more than three operations per day.

• A type
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.

PDFsam cannot boast of a polished and user-friendly interface. But the program has several useful managerial functions available to everyone without payment or any restrictions.

What you can do in PDFsam:

• merge PDF;
• 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 PDF to Excel, Word and PowerPoint formats (paid);
• edit text and other content of files (paid).

3. PDF ‑ XChange Editor

• A type: viewer, manager, converter, editor.
• 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 possibilities, you need to spend some time. Fortunately, all internal descriptions and tips have been translated to.

What you can do in the PDF ‑ XChange Editor:

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

• A type: viewer, manager, converter, editor.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.

Popular universal program for working with PDF from Adobe. The free version is a very convenient cross-platform document viewer, the rest of the functions are available by subscription.

What you can do in Adobe Acrobat Reader:

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

All of these and other features are available in the desktop versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Mobile versions only allow you to view and annotate documents, as well as (after subscribing) convert them to different formats.

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PDF Creator - software for working with PDF documents

There are many free programs for creating PDF documents, among them there is PDF Creator, which compares favorably with similar utilities with its advanced capabilities and a set of various useful functions. Such programs are called virtual printers.

PDF creator can work as a local and network printer. In case of network use, the utility is installed on the server. All users of the local network can work with 1 program. To do this, at the beginning of the installation, you need to select the desired option.

To view saved documents through Internet Explorer and Firefox browsers, you need to install plugins. They will provide the ability to save the viewed web pages in pdf format. It is very important that the program supports Russian-language fonts.

Main features of the program

The program interface is multilingual, Russian and Ukrainian are present, so the installation does not cause problems. After installing the virtual printer, you can immediately start creating documents, but it is preferable to study its capabilities and settings.

In the settings, you can specify:

1. Directory for saving files. Otherwise, they will be saved automatically in the default directory.
2. Output file format. These can be PDF, JPEG, BMP, TIFF and other graphic types. Additionally, you can specify the resolution, the number of transmitted colors, the degree of compression. Moreover, the compression ratio can be set separately for text and images.
3. Indicate the principle of forming the file name using tags: author, title, date, etc.
4. Customize fonts and choose a color scheme: CMYK, RGB, or grayscale.
5. Protect the document from unauthorized actions. You can set the degree of encryption, prohibit or allow some manipulations with it: copying, editing, printing.
6. It is possible to combine multiple PDF files created by different applications.
7. If desired, the created document can be immediately sent by e-mail.

Сreator can be used not for its intended purpose, but for converting files of various formats.

If the user often has to create a large number of documents of the same type, you can activate their automatic saving in the menu in the specified directory with the specified parameters.

Source files, in addition to graphic, can be files created in Word and other text editors, a program for creating electronic presentations PowerPoint, spreadsheet files.

Users who use this virtual printer note that its capabilities are not inferior to its paid counterparts. The developers do not prohibit its use for commercial purposes.

Сreator can be downloaded for free and without registration from the official website.

The latest version works on all Windows platforms. Before you download the creator, you need to find out the bitness of the installed operating system.