Exploring the Differences Between Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat

While Adobe Acrobat offers its users a more sophisticated experience, Adobe Reader only offers the most basic functionality for PDF documents.

A PDF viewer and converter with many more features is Adobe Acrobat.

Adobe Acrobat Standard includes all the necessary tools, but the Pro edition offers more sophisticated features.

You can view, fill out, store, share, and sign PDF documents with Adobe Reader.

All of the standard features for viewing and utilizing PDFs included with Adobe Reader are also included in Adobe Acrobat Standard.

All of the standard features for viewing and utilizing PDFs included with Adobe Acrobat Standard are also included in Adobe Acrobat Pro.

Adobe Reader does not support the addition of objects to PDF documents, such as logos, images, audio, etc.

You can edit the text, images, and other contents of PDF documents with Adobe Acrobat Standard.

Adding objects to PDF documents, such as images, audio, logos, etc., is possible with Adobe Acrobat Pro.

Only those who wish to view, study, or print PDF documents should use Adobe Reader.

While Pro Adobe Acrobat offers you total control over your PDF documents, Standard Adobe Acrobat is good for light editing features.

However, does Adobe Acrobat Reader still need to be installed?

Downloading a PDF reader is the first step towards viewing PDF files on a Windows computer.

Fortunately, you can read PDFs on your computer without spending any money thanks to the free versions of many PDF readers, such as Adobe Acrobat.

Purchasing the Pro version of the software is recommended if you need to edit, convert, sign, or compress PDFs.

Set up a reader for PDFs.

Locate the desired PDF file in your files, then double click to open it.

From the list of options, choose Adobe Acrobat (or whichever reader you downloaded).

The PDF should open in a new window and be prepared for viewing.

Now let’s get started on using Adobe Reader in place of Acrobat.

Your computer will automatically open any PDF with its own default app, regardless of whether you’re running Windows or macOS.

That’s Microsoft Edge for Windows. On macOS, Preview is the app.

Here’s how to modify each of these operating systems’ default PDF viewers.

Switch to the Adobe Acrobat PDF viewer from Microsoft Edge:

  • Any PDF file’s thumbnail can be right-clicked.
  • Press the Properties menu item.
  • You’ll see a new dialog box appear. The PDF viewer that is set as your default is indicated by the text "Opens with:" in the first subsection. Press the button for Change.
  • Choose Adobe Reader or Acrobat DC as your default application from the list.
  • To save and apply the changes, click OK.

Switch to the Acrobat PDF viewer after leaving Preview:

  • Any PDF file’s thumbnail can be right-clicked.
  • Click the "Get Info" menu item.
  • Go to the "Open With:" section and choose Adobe Reader or Acrobat DC from the drop-down menu.
  • To apply this modification to all upcoming PDF documents, tap Change All. To complete, tap Continue.

Now that you know how to set Adobe as your default PDF viewer, you can use Acrobat’s extra features to view PDFs, annotate text, and more.

The benefit of Adobe Acrobat is the next topic of discussion.

We can alter text, add comments, and manipulate and organize PDF files with the aid of Adobe Acrobat DC.

It makes possible digital experiences that let groups work together and remotely, whenever and wherever they choose.

Access to file protection features in Acrobat helps prevent documents from being copied, edited, or printed.

It aids businesses in adhering to legal and security requirements.

Adobe Acrobat DC simplifies reviews and feedback and is designed for the multi-device, cloud-connected world.