Top 5 free PDF readers online

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Cliff Weitzman
By Cliff Weitzman Dyslexia & Accessibility Advocate, CEO/Founder of Speechify in PDF on June 27, 2022
If you spend a lot of time consuming information on a computer, you're likely dealing with PDF files often. Learn about some of the best PDF readers available.

    Are you using PDF files often? Are you in need of new PDF tools? If you are unsure which program to use, you should stick to the best ones. Here is the list of best PDF readers that are free, and that will work on any imaginable device.

    But there are a few other things you can do to improve accessibility and make going through PDFs a lot more pleasurable.

    5 best free PDF readers for Windows and Mac

    If you are not using one of these PDF readers, you are making a big mistake. These are some of the best apps you can find on the market, and they will make scrolling through PDFs a breeze.

    Here is the list of the best PDF readers you can find today, and they are available for both Windows and macOS.

    Foxit Reader

    Foxit PDF Reader allows you to create, read, and edit PDF documents with ease. It is categorized as a freemium app, which means that it offers both free and paid subscription plans you can use.

    It is available on all modern platforms, but newer versions of the app are removing old operating systems like Microsoft Windows 95. You can also use it on mobile devices, and older versions of Linux.

    When it comes to features and functionalities, Foxit Reader software is one of the best options you can find. And the fact that there is a free PDF editor just makes it even more impressive.

    Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

    Acrobat Reader by Adobe has been a go-to app for many people across the globe. It is one of the best options you can find today, and it also offers a free version in the form of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.

    The initial release of Acrobat Reader was in 1993, and there have been countless improvements and additions in the past almost thirty years. Of course, this is a free version of the program, but users can explore the paid one as well.

    Adobe PDF reader is easy to use, you can create, modify, and annotate PDF files, and it works great on all platforms.

    Javelin PDF Reader

    Javelin PDF Reader was developed by Drumlin Security Ltd. It provides all the basic functionalities you will need from a PDF viewer, and the app is free to use. There are no subscription plans, and you will get a full app when you download it.

    The app is available on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, iPadOS, Linux, Chromebook, and Kindle. This means that you will have a hard time finding a device that doesn’t support it.

    Javelin is easy to use, it’s fast, and it works great. The app is pretty straightforward, and it is a perfect option for those that want a simple app that doesn’t require a tutorial for you to use it.

    Google Drive

    What many users don’t know is that Google Drive has a PDF editor. And this is what makes it one of the most accessible apps on the list. Almost everyone has a Google account today, and using Drive is completely free.

    So, all you need to do is upload the file, and Drive will be able to open PDFs for you. This app also allows you to convert other types of files into PDF, including PowerPoint presentations, documents, and excel sheets.

    Google Drive also allows you to share PDF files and documents via the cloud, and it is more than useful if you plan on using more than one device. Having a chance to use Google Drive as a PDF converter is one of the best features this app has to offer.

    Web Browser

    One of the simplest ways to view PDF files is through your browser. Most popular web browsers today like Chrome, Mozilla, and Safari have the option to open, edit text, and sign PDFs. You can open ones found on the web, or even those stored on your device.

    Naturally, the main advantage is accessibility. Everyone has a web browser today, and if you want to open a file from your PC, all you need to do is drag and drop the file in the browser. It is as simple as that.

    Web browsers are able to offer most functionalities you will need for reading PDFs like printing, rotating, downloading, and so on.

    Looking for a TTS reader for PDF?

    If you are looking for ways to make reading PDFs even simpler, you can check out TTS apps. TTS or text to speech is a voice generator app, and it allows your device to read the text to you.

    Today, almost every device has built-in text to speech software, and it is designed to improve accessibility. Now, if you want high-quality voices and the best TTS tool on the market, you should check out Speechify.

    Speechify can read PDFs to you without any problems, but you can also use it on any type of content. As long as there is text, Speechify can turn it into speech. This includes PDFs, epub, web pages, and even images thanks to OCR.

    The app is easy to use, it offers support for numerous languages and accents, and the quality is exceptional. You can easily share files between multiple devices using Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox.

    Each project you make will be saved on the cloud storage, and you can access it as long as you have a Speechify account. Thanks to the intuitive user interface, anyone will be able to enjoy the app even if they don’t have any prior knowledge.

    How to get started with Speechify

    The first thing you will need to do is find the app for your device. This shouldn’t scare you since Speechify is available on all platforms. Once you download the app (or Chrome extension), all you need to do is choose the voice you like, adjust the speed, and start it.

    It is as simple as that. Speechify will be able to read the text to you, and you can listen to it while multitasking. It opens a whole new world of possibilities, and it will save you so much time.

    Text to speech apps such as Speechify are rather popular for e-learning, and they can change the way you feel about education and reading. Speechify works on various text file formats, Word documents, PDF forms, or any other type of text.

    Recent Blogs

    Cliff Weitzman

    Cliff Weitzman

    Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.

    Pick Your Speechify Tribe

    I have been flailing due to an eye injury on top of Lyme disease on top of long-covid and a herniated disc with neuropathy. Sitting hurts and propping a book while lying down is stressful. Anxiety over not keeping up, ADD with medication fluctuation and nystagmus of one eye, stigmatism with the other eye both before the retina injured has caused duress as an exam approaches in 35 days. I just need to get through these 500 pages and at least try the assignments. I believe this app will be the key.. thank you ever so much! It’s never too late to find a key and unlock the door to a new world!

    “I have ADHD and I love to read but have piles of book that I have never touched. I downloaded this app and it has helped me read more and obtain information better for school! Love this app , I recommend it to everyone!” - JENEMARIE

    “Love this app, I have eye problems and this app helps me read headache free. Plus it’s great for traders to listen to news and multitasks.” - JJJJJJMMMMMMM”

    “I like Reading books but I don’t like to read at the same time this is so nice and very much correct. Totally recommend!” - Amazing use this now!!! - HALL LACKS SI USA

    “I am a student who had dyslexia so is very very very helpful for me. A reading assignment that would normally take me 30+ minutes took 10! I will be using this very often.” - CHAMA NORLAND

    “I’m an audible learner. Speechify helps me to comprehend readings better than I am capable of reading the text silently.” - CANDI CL

    “This is probably top 5 of greatest apps ever, you can literally read alone an entire book in a day. Easily worth the cost of the app.” - TJV 34

    “Excellent for comprehending medical textbooks more quickly and thoroughly!! This is awesome for keeping up with latest surgical techniques and technology. Dr. K” - IMPLANTOPERATOR

    “Speechify saves my 70 year old eyes. I close them. I listen.” - WRANGLERSUPREME

    “I was dreading reading this long story but Speechify got it done now I can go ahead and take my college quiz.” - SUNCOP

    “I teach visually impaired students AND students with dyslexia. This app is a huge help to all of them. Thank you for helping those who need it most!!” - ETTETWO

    “I use this app to proofread before I publish chapters of my books and it works so good! 10/10 recommended.” - LOUIELEIUOL

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    “Congratulations for this lovely project. Speechify is brilliant. Growing up with dyslexia this would have made a big difference. I'm so glad to have it today.”
    - Sir Richard Branson
    "Speechify lets me listen to Goop blog posts out loud in the car and gets my friends through grad school. It's amazing for scripts."
    - Gwyneth Paltrow
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