Nowadays, it is very common to run into a PDF file, given that these are supported by most digital environments and are used for many functions. In addition, they have been cataloged as the attached document par excellence in any email.
In this regard, it should also be noted that you can see this type of files from any browser and without complications. However, when you access them through specific PDF readers , the thing is magnified. Since they allow you to see all the information in the document and even edit it.
When we refer to editing it, it’s basically about adding new content or highlighting texts , for example. Therefore, in this post we want to let you know the best solutions to read PDF files on Windows computers optimally .
Index:
What is a .PDF file and how to identify them with their extension ?
PDF files basically deal with a portable document format that is usually used to present and exchange documents in a secure and reliable way , regardless of the hardware, software or operating system used. Therefore, they are widely used worldwide to save and share data of any kind.
For its part, this type of file invented by Adobe, has the ability to host links and buttons, as well as form fields and even business logic, audio and video, if you did not know. Also, it is possible to electronically sign PDF files .
Now, in order to identify one of these files with its extension that is .PDF , apart from making sure that the name of the document ends with these acronyms, you must take into account other important aspects :
- This class of .PDF files show a document in a fixed layout that has great similarity to an image and that is translated in the same way, through different programs, operating systems and hardware elements.
- There are two types of .PDF arrangements and they are classified as linear and nonlinear. In the case of linear or optimized, they can be viewed directly from any web browser and you do not need to download them. On the contrary, non-linear ones take longer to load.
- All documents ending in .PDF do not encode the information necessary for an application to run, as they simply contain the data that describe the document .
List of the best compatible PDF file readers in Windows 10, 7 and 8
If you are a Windows user, especially your version 7, 8 or 10 and constantly manage PDF documents, you will surely want to have an optimal software that allows you to view this type of files and In addition, it offers you excellent functions and tools to realize a better experience.
Therefore, here are 10 ideal solutions to open, read and manage PDFs in Windows:
Adobe Reader DC
It is a free program that is considered one of the best PDF viewers today. Thanks to the fact that beyond allowing you to read such files, it has many other tools. One of them is add annotations to your documents using an optimal set of comment mechanisms.
In addition to this, you can also print and sign the files in question, create documents with a .PDF extension, export to Word or Excel easily , obtain signatures and track responses in real time, add passwords To protect the files. It has an intuitive and simple interface to handle.
MuPDF
A solution that in addition to being compatible with Windows, can also be used from Android devices, iPhone and iPad. Which, is a very simple PDF reader and is completely free . In this way, when you download and install it on your PC, you can open and view documents of this type of extension in a matter of seconds.
One of its biggest advantages is the great speed it shows . So it is an ideal option to access heavy PDFs from a slow or obsolete computer. Among other features, it has an agile search engine to get detailed phrases quickly within a document. On the other hand, it is also compatible with CBZ and XPS.
Nitro PDF Reader
With this program, you can create PDF files from any Windows application and from 500 different formats , as well as customize all your files using tools with which you can modify colors, change the size of the page, in addition to the orientation and quality of output. You can also embed fonts.
In addition to this, Nitro PDF Reader allows you to review PDFs in detail, either to add comments or reply to them , underline text and also to perform collaborative tasks, so you can add more information. You can also sign the results and share them with anyone . The best thing is that the creations made with this reader can be opened from other viewers.
Foxit Reader
It is a Windows compatible software and free. Which, since 2004, provides assistance to thousands of users worldwide when reading PDF files. One of its best advantages is the ease of use , because you only have to open a document in the interface and in seconds , you can navigate in it and use all the functions and tools it contains.
These functions are based on highlighting the text, making annotations of any kind, filling out forms, creating files, exporting them to Word, Excel and PowerPoint . Like, make reviews and collaborations with a complete team. Additionally, provides excellent security mechanisms by allowing restrictions to be applied in the final document.
Javelin PDF Reader
It refers to another of the best alternatives for Windows users to view PDF documents, but especially for those who want to encrypt this type of files . Thanks to that, the program has options to completely limit printing to a certain number of times or even to a specific number of pages.
Taking into account other features of Javelin PDF Reader, we indicate that is cross-platform (available on Mac OS, Android and iOS), it is free, it is a lightweight software that can be used on any computer , even the most obsolete.
SlimPDF Reader
This is also a very light program that can work on any Windows computer and reveals great speed. However, compared to the other solutions in this list, it can be classified as one of the simplest since only weighs 1.43 MB .
Detailing its most important features, we point out that SlimPDF Reader is completely free, it shows a very simple user interface, you can open any PDF document you want, supports the conversion of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, CAD files ; allows you to fill out and edit PDF forms, you can protect documents with passwords, etc.
PDF Plus viewer 
For Windows 10 only, this other free PDF reader offers good basic functions for managing your .PDF extension documents. In this way, it provides the printing of documents and also the ability to encrypt your creations easily ; This is one of the best functions of the program.
On the other hand, PDF Plus Viewer is also compatible with Windows Mobile and with it, it makes it easy to view PDF files from anywhere and quickly. However, it is worth noting that this program does not support copying texts .
Sumatra PDF
If you are looking for a simple PDF viewer, this is an ideal alternative. Thus, it is an open source and minimalist program that, although it does not offer editing tools or advanced features, it can work very well for you to read PDFs. Since, it is extremely fast and functional.
However, Sumatra PDF supports various keyboard shortcuts and this increases user productivity while viewing any document. In addition, it also has tab support and is compatible with other kinds of files, including electronic books in CBZ, CBR, ePub and Mobi settings.
Xodo
It is a program specially designed for those who use Windows 10 equipment and besides allowing to read the PDF files, it has a remarkable series of functionalities that you may need to have a better experience. Among them, we find that you can add signatures to documents and highlight relevant texts , for example.
Now, taking into account the benefits that Xodo brings, we highlight that it is an excellent way to take notes without any complications . So it is recommended to be used by students and teachers, as well as by all professionals who handle their documents from this type of extension.
STDU Viewer
Finally, we recommend this PDF file viewer that stands out for its ability to make it easier for users to navigate in multiple documents . Which means that, it is a very solid alternative to manage files with this extension from a Windows computer, it guarantees total productivity. Taking into account that, it also has support for comic files, images, TXT, EPU, MOBI, DjVu, among others.
As for its editing features, you can find a function to invert colors (from white to black, for example), it allows to reduce visual fatigue to have a more enjoyable reading, it has support of tabs and provides a navigation panel to quickly search for specific phrases. It is a free software.