Nitro PDF: 3 good alternatives
Adobe is currently the PDF pioneer and can be paid for accordingly. A free alternative is Nitro and the three PDF programs mentioned here. However, it applies to most free tools that many functions for editing PDFs are only activated in the respective full version.
1. Nitro PDF alternative: Foxit Reader
You receive the "Foxit Reader" free of charge. Compared to Nitro PDF, the freeware scores with many features:
- One advantage is that Foxit opens large PDF files very quickly.
- With the Foxit version 6.2.0 tested here, you can underline or mark texts in PDFs, insert text fields, signatures or comments and create your own PDFs.
- The Foxit PDF reader is even available for Windows, Android and iOS.
2. Nitro PDF alternative: XChange
The PDF Viewer XChange is another good alternative to Nitro:
- With the freeware from XChange Viewer, you can insert annotations in PDFs, flip pages or underline and underline texts. It is also practical that you can open several PDFs in tabs or export a PDF to a graphics program.
- However, there is also a Pro version - here you can even insert, delete, crop, embed or sign individual pages.
- XChange is similarly fast compared to Foxit, but has more features in its free version.
- The disadvantage: The current version 2.5.308.1 of XChange is only available for Windows.
3. Nitro PDF alternative: Sumatra PDF
With the Sumatra PDF Viewer you are also protected against potential security gaps in Adobe Acrobat Reader:
- The very slim open source software Sumatra PDF is only available for Windows, but scores with good performance and short loading times.
- Version 2.5.2 is currently available at Sumatra, with which you can also open the MOBI and Comics eBook format.
- You can install addons for the most common browsers and display your PDFs directly - without having to start the PDF reader first.
- Like the other two programs, the fast Sumatra is alternatively available in a portable version, which you can use perfectly at the university from the surf stick.
By the way: You will find a comparison of the PDF readers from Adobe and Foxit in our next CHIP practical tip.