Sumatra PDF is a lightweight PDF viewer that prioritizes speed and simplicity. Adobe Reader is a feature-rich PDF viewer with advanced capabilities and cloud integration.
Comparing Adobe Reader and Sumatra PDF
Platforms Supported
Cloud Storage
Integrations
Custom Branding
Pricing
Sumatra PDF
Windows
SaaS/Web
No
N/A (Latex Editors needed)
No
Free
Adobe Reader
Windows
Mac
SaaS/Web
iPhone
iPad
Android
Yes
Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Microsoft apps.
Yes
Starts at
$12 per
month
Sumatra PDF vs. Adobe Reader: Feature Review
PDF Viewing Experience
Sumatra PDF boasts its minimalist approach, but it still offers several viewing options. Users can zoom in and out and rotate pages. They can also switch between single-page and continuous-scrolling viewing modes.
With Adobe Reader, users can also zoom in or out to adjust the view of the document. You can also fit the page width, height, or an entire page to the window for comfortable reading. Additionally, you can switch between different viewing modes, such as Single Page, Continuous, and Continuous-Facing.
Form Filling
Sumatra PDF does not have robust built-in support for form filling or interactive forms within PDF documents. The platform was primarily designed for viewing and basic PDF navigation.
Meanwhile, Adobe Reader enables users to fill in PDF forms that have interactive fields. These may include text boxes, checkboxes, radio buttons, drop-down menus, and more. This feature is particularly useful for tasks like completing tax forms, applications, surveys, and questionnaires.
Annotation Tools
Sumatra PDF’sannotation tools offer a range of text markup and highlighting options. These include the ability to highlight text for emphasis and underline important content. You may also strike through text for deletion and add a squiggly underline to indicate suggested changes or errors in a document.
On the other hand, Adobe Reader offers a versatile set of annotation tools that empower users to interact with PDF documents effectively. These tools include highlighting for emphasizing text and underlining and striking through for markup. You may also utilize them for comments.
You can also use its drawing tools to create shapes, lines, and freeform annotations. Furthermore, you can add text boxes and attach files to enrich their PDFs.
Redaction
Sumatra PDF was not designed for extensive PDF editing, including redaction. If you need to redact sensitive information from a PDF, you would typically need to use a more robust PDF editing tool.
While Adobe Reader is primarily a free PDF viewer, it also includes some basic editing and annotation features, as we mentioned above. However, a redaction feature is only available in Adobe Acrobat Pro. This is the paid version of Adobe’s PDF software.
Document Compression
Sumatra PDF does not have built-in support for document compression or the ability to compress PDF files.
On the contrary, Adobe Reader offers a document compression feature that allows users to reduce the file size of PDF documents. This feature is particularly valuable when sharing or storing PDFs, as it helps save disk space and speeds up document transfer.
Speed and Performance
Sumatra PDF stands out for its minimalistic design and rapid loading times. This makes it a top choice for users seeking a no-frills, efficient PDF viewing experience. The platform boasts quick responses and low system resource demands. These ensure a seamless and snappy user experience.
In general, Adobe Reader is a relatively lightweight application that can handle most PDF files without any noticeable lag. However, certain factors can contribute to slower performance. These include large file sizes, high-resolution images, and embedded multimedia content.
Cloud Integration
Sumatra PDF does not have cloud integration, meaning that you cannot save your files online or sync your work on all devices in real-time.
Adobe Reader’s integration with Adobe Document Cloud enhances the functionality of the PDF viewing software. It provides seamless access to cloud-based document management tools. This integration enables users to store, access, and manage their PDF files securely in the cloud. This can facilitate better collaboration and streamline workflows.
Fill: The Best Alternative to Sumatra PDF
Fill is a Sumatra PDF and Adobe Reader alternative that offers a broader range of capabilities
400+ Templates
Simplify document creation with professionally built templates that are customizable and reusable.
Unlimited Storage
Eliminate any concerns about running out of space for your PDF documents with unlimited storage.
Dedicated Apps
Fill offers dedicated apps for iOS and Android, allowing you to manage PDF documents on the go.
Over 1 million satisfied users.
With an average of 4.6 and 4.9-star ratings on Google Play and Apple App Stores, Fill is the best electronic signature platform for individuals and businesses. It’s an eSignature solution trusted by millions of users.
Sarah I. Manager Banking
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The software is very easy to use and fill out all required fields.
Candace P.Teacher
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The NEXT feature was helpful. The fonts were large and easy to read.
Troy T.Director of Operations Hope Center Emergency Shelter
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very easy 2 fill and complete seems to be a nice product despite this force review
Enrique J.Owner Real Estate
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Simple format easy to place information once figured out how to use spaces instead of tabs
Marie L.Owner Real Estate
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Product is simple and easy for an employee to use.
Small business
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The most helpful part is i can easily manage track and esign documents.
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