Adobe Reader

App Name: Adobe Acrobat Reader

Price/Platform: Free (iOS)

Review Version: 16.02

Developer Website: https://forums.adobe.com/community/document-cloud/acrobat-ios

Features: Adobe Reader is Adobe’s omnipresent PDF viewer designed specially for mobile. As with its desktop brethren, it is a strong PDF viewer, with support for text search, single or continuous page scroll and pinch to zoom. It also supports basic annotation features like text highlighting/underlining/strikeout, text input, notes, free hand annotations and signature input. Your documents are stored in a list like format, and the app supports syncing via Dropbox, Adobe Document Cloud and Adobe Mobile Link. You can also print via AirPrint and open your PDF (original or flattened) in other apps using iOS Share Sheet.

Note: The app include many other features like the ability to create PDF files, save PDF files as word or excel format, and converting different files to PDF, BUT they require either a Acrobat Pro DC subscription or IAP. I personally have not tried them and can not speak to their accuracy.      

Summary: Adobe Reader free component is a competent yet limited PDF viewer.

Pro:

  • Allows you to create signatures using either your finger, camera, or saved photo.
  • Handles fillable forms very well

Con:

  • The free hand annotation tools are not very strong- there is no eraser, and you can only change the color and thickness after you are done writing.
  • Text input is very difficult to edit or move once it is on the page 
  • Limited sync options if you don’t use Adobe in house option

How I use it: I rarely use reader anymore because there are other apps available with more features and more sync options. Also since Adobes pivot to Cloud subscriptions, it not economical to use unless your already invested in other Abode products or have a subscription. The two reasons I do keep it around is for filling out forms, and the occasional PDF which only seems to render correctly in reader (not sure why?). 

In-App Purchases: As mentioned above the app requires an Adobe Acrobat DC subscription ($25 monthly)  to unlock all the features. You can also purchase PDF Pack ($10 monthly) which includes all of the locked features, or you can choose to get ExportPDF ($25 yearly) which only unlocks the export capabilities.