Is Adobe Acrobat Free? Reader vs Acrobat Pro

The confusion comes from the name. Adobe makes several Acrobat products, and only one of them is free to keep. Acrobat Reader is the free PDF app for reading and signing. Acrobat Pro is the full editing and e-signature tool. There's also a set of Acrobat online tools in the browser. Here's what each one lets you do for free, and where the line sits.

What free Acrobat Reader does

Adobe describes Acrobat Reader as the free PDF reader for desktop and mobile. Its Reader page lists these features:

• View and read any PDF with its fonts, layout and embedded content preserved.
• Fill out PDF forms and add your signature on any device, with no printer needed.
• Share PDFs, and reviewers don't need to log in to view or comment.
• Comment and mark up with sticky notes, highlights, strikethroughs and freehand drawing.
• Pick up where you left off across Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.

Acrobat Reader vs Acrobat Pro

Feature	Acrobat Reader (free)	Acrobat Pro
View, print and share PDFs	Yes	Yes
Fill in forms and sign them yourself	Yes	Yes
Comments, highlights and drawing	Yes	Yes
Edit text and images in a PDF	No	Yes
Create, export, compare and organise PDFs	No	Yes
Send documents out for e-signature and track them	No	Yes
Turn scans into editable PDFs	No	Yes
Web forms	No	Yes

Adobe says Acrobat Pro includes more than 70 features in total, so the table only covers the ones small businesses ask about most.

The catch: signing yourself isn't the same as collecting signatures

This is the line to watch. Reader lets you sign a PDF that's been sent to you. It doesn't let you send a contract to a client and collect and track their signature. Adobe lists collecting e-signatures and tracking responses under Acrobat Pro.

The same goes for editing. If a supplier sends a PDF with a wrong date in it, Reader lets you add a comment or a sticky note, but changing the text itself is an Acrobat Pro job.

How the Acrobat Pro free trial works

Adobe's trial page says Acrobat Pro comes with a 7-day free trial, and if you need more time, you get an extra 14 days to cancel. During the trial you can edit PDFs, send unlimited e-signatures, compress files, convert files and use cloud storage, on desktop, web and mobile.

1. Go to Adobe's Acrobat free trial page and select Start free trial.
2. Sign in with your Adobe account, or create a free one.
3. Choose the plan you want to try.
4. Download the desktop app or use Acrobat in your browser straight away.
5. Put a reminder in your calendar before day 7 so you decide whether to keep it.

The free Acrobat online tools

There's a third option that gets overlooked. Adobe's Acrobat online page invites you to try more than 25 PDF and e-signing tools for free in the browser. It also lists study tools such as turning class notes or files into flashcards, creating quizzes and practice tests, and making mind maps, all marked as free.

For a one-off job, such as turning a document into a PDF, the browser tools can save you starting a trial at all. If that's all you need, my guide to converting Word to PDF shows the quickest routes.

Reader on your phone

The free Acrobat Reader mobile app covers the same core jobs as the desktop version. Adobe says you can view, share, sign and comment on your phone or tablet, then carry on across your other devices. For signing a client form while you're out, that's often all you need. If you want something lighter on Android, my round-up of the best PDF readers for Android covers other options.

Downloading Reader safely

Download Acrobat Reader from Adobe's own Reader page rather than a third-party download site. Adobe notes that pressing its Download Now button means you've accepted its terms and conditions, so it's worth a skim, and it keeps you on Adobe's own installer rather than a bundled copy.

Who free Acrobat suits

Acrobat Reader suits anyone who reads, fills in, signs and comments on PDFs. Teams can mark up a draft and send it round without anyone needing an account to comment.

You'll need Acrobat Pro, or another PDF editor, if you regularly edit PDFs, convert scans into editable text, or send contracts out for clients to sign and track.

Commenting without an account

One free feature that saves a lot of back and forth is sharing for review. Adobe says that when you send a PDF with the Share feature, no login is needed to view or comment, so reviewers can respond straight away. For a draft brochure or a proposal you want feedback on, that's quicker than emailing versions around.

My verdict: Adobe Acrobat is free in its Reader form, and that covers reading, filling in, signing and commenting. Only start the 7-day Pro trial when you've got real editing or signature-collecting work to test it on.

Frequently asked questions

Is Adobe Acrobat Reader free?

Yes. Adobe describes Acrobat Reader as the free PDF reader for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, for viewing, sharing, signing, commenting and filling in forms.

Can I edit a PDF with the free Acrobat Reader?

No. Reader lets you comment, highlight and add sticky notes, but editing text and images in a PDF is an Acrobat Pro feature.

How long is the Adobe Acrobat Pro free trial?

Adobe offers a 7-day free trial of Acrobat Pro. If you need more time, Adobe says you have an extra 14 days to cancel.

Can I sign a PDF for free with Adobe?

Yes. Acrobat Reader lets you fill out PDF forms and add your signature on any device. Sending documents to other people to collect and track their signatures needs Acrobat Pro.

Are Adobe's online PDF tools free?

Adobe's Acrobat online page lists more than 25 PDF and e-signing tools you can try for free in your browser, plus free flashcard, quiz and mind map tools.

Do people need an Adobe account to comment on a shared PDF?

No. Adobe says no login is needed to view or comment on a PDF you share from Acrobat Reader.