For PDF work, pick Acrobat Reader for free viewing and quick signing; choose Adobe Acrobat Pro for editing, redaction, and full e‑signature tools.
Acrobat Reader
Adobe Acrobat Pro
Free & Simple
- Read and annotate any PDF
- Fill & Sign for self‑signing
- Runs on desktop and phone
Use Acrobat Reader
Full Editor & E‑Sign
- Edit, convert, OCR, and redact
- Send, track, and reuse templates
- Compare files and manage pages
Choose Adobe Acrobat Pro
PDF tools shape how you read, mark up, sign, and share documents. One option is free and light; the other is a full desktop editor with e‑signature workflows. This guide gives you the fast verdict and the trade‑offs that push buyers one way or the other.
In A Nutshell
Use Acrobat Reader when you just need to open files, add comments, and sign your own forms. It costs nothing and runs everywhere. Step up to Adobe Acrobat Pro when you need to edit text, convert files, compare versions, remove sensitive data, or send signature requests with tracking. The price jump buys time‑savers you can’t stitch together with free tools.
Side‑By‑Side Specs
Prices and inclusions reference Adobe’s U.S. plans. See compare Acrobat versions for current plan features.
Acrobat Reader — What We Like / What We Don’t Like
✅ What We Like
- $0 cost for viewing, printing, commenting, and self‑signing.
- Lightweight install with quick start on older laptops.
- Runs on desktop and mobile with a consistent viewer.
- Trusted format handling for forms and embedded media.
⚠️ What We Don’t Like
- No text or image editing; you’ll hit a wall fast on revisions.
- No redact or compare tools for reviews that need precision.
- Self‑sign is fine; sending tracked requests needs a paid plan.
Adobe Acrobat Pro — What We Like / What We Don’t Like
✅ What We Like
- Full editing on desktop and web with clean exports to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- OCR turns scans into searchable files; compare shows differences line by line.
- Redaction actually removes data, not just black boxes.
- E‑sign requests with tracking, reminders, and reusable templates.
- 100GB cloud storage in the subscription for shared work.
⚠️ What We Don’t Like
- Monthly cost adds up if your work is read‑only most days.
- Power tools can feel dense without a simple starting set.
- Advanced e‑sign actions may require learning roles and templates.
Acrobat Reader Or Acrobat Pro: Which Suits You Better
Automation & Flows
Reader keeps things basic: open, review, and apply your own signature. That’s perfect when you receive contracts from others and only need to sign once or twice. Pro moves you into repeatable flows. You can send signature requests, add due dates, enable reminders, and reuse templates for common packets. For document control, Pro adds page organization, custom stamps, and Bates numbering. When versioning matters, the Compare tool highlights what changed, so reviewers don’t miss a clause buried in a long PDF. If your week includes edits, rounds of approvals, or a stack of forms that need signatures, those flows shave hours.
Integrations & APIs
Both options work across devices and sync with an Adobe account. Pro stretches further in connected work. It plugs into Microsoft 365 and Google Drive so you can open, edit, and send from the storage you already use. Sharing a link to collect signatures from a browser means fewer attachments and a cleaner trail. Admins on team plans get a console for license control. If your work happens inside OneDrive, SharePoint, or Drive, Pro keeps edits and signature runs inside that orbit without juggling downloads. Adobe documents the integrations and system setup in its help center and plan pages, so deployment is straight‑forward for small teams and departments. See the official compare Acrobat versions page for connected features and plan details.
Reporting & Attribution
Reader shows who commented and lets you reply in context. It’s handy for simple markups. Pro gives you more signals to manage work: e‑sign status, audit trails, and activity visible from the web dashboard. When you send a packet, you can see when it was viewed and by whom. Teams that answer to clients or auditors get a cleaner record of the agreement path, which removes email digging later. For legal and compliance‑heavy work, the audit file is worth the upgrade on its own.
Team Roles & Permissions
Reader is personal software: there’s no admin model to manage others. Pro comes in individual and team flavors. The team plan lets you add or remove seats, enforce SSO/SCIM, and control who can send signature requests. That matters for finance, HR, and operations, where a shared inbox is risky. Locking down redaction and password settings also prevents mistakes with sensitive files. If you’re running a group, the team plan’s admin console and role controls are the safer route.
Pricing & Seats
Reader is free. Pro for individuals lists at US$19.99 per user per month on an annual plan in the U.S., with 100GB of cloud storage included. Business plans are sold per seat with an admin console. Adobe also sells a non‑subscription desktop option called Acrobat Pro 2024 as a one‑time purchase that covers three years of updates to the desktop app. If you want the PDF editor without a monthly bill or you’re on a locked‑down network, that path can fit. Pricing and inclusions live on Adobe’s official pages, and they evolve, so always check the current offer: see Acrobat pricing and the what’s new in Acrobat page for recent changes.
Help & Onboarding
Reader’s learning curve is short. Basics like highlight, comment, and Fill & Sign are obvious. Pro has more depth, but Adobe’s built‑in tips and tutorials shorten day one. The help pages for editing, export, and security features are easy to follow, and the web tools mirror the desktop layout, so skills transfer. If you plan a rollout to non‑technical teammates, set up a small playbook: how to export to Word, how to compare versions, and how to send a signature request. That’s usually enough to get the group moving without tickets.
ℹ️ Good To Know: Adobe now lists Acrobat Standard, Acrobat Pro, and a new Acrobat Studio on its comparison page. Studio bundles AI Assistant and Express; Pro remains the full editor. Check the plan grid before you buy, since features and promo pricing can shift.
Price, Value & Ownership
If your year is mostly reading and quick signatures, $0 wins. If you edit, redact, or send out signature packets often, Pro’s time savings offset the fee.
Where Each One Wins
🏆 Editing Power — Adobe Acrobat Pro
🏆 Redaction — Adobe Acrobat Pro
🏆 Quick Setup — Acrobat Reader
🏆 E‑Sign Workflows — Adobe Acrobat Pro
Decision Guide
✅ Choose Acrobat Reader If…
- Most days you read files, add a few comments, and sign your own forms.
- You don’t need to change text, export to Word, or compare versions.
- You want zero cost and zero setup time for yourself or a small group.
✅ Choose Adobe Acrobat Pro If…
- Your work includes edits, exports to Office, and cleanup of scanned PDFs.
- You send out agreements often and need tracking, templates, and reminders.
- You handle sensitive files and need real redaction and protection controls.
The Practical Pick For Most People
Start with Reader when your job is read, comment, and self‑sign. It’s fast and free. Move to Acrobat Pro when editing, exporting, redaction, or signature requests show up in your week. That’s where the paid plan pays you back in time. If you dislike subscriptions but still need a full editor, look at Acrobat Pro 2024 for a one‑time desktop license. When you’re buying for a team, consider the admin control and shared templates you get with Pro seats. That reduces mistakes on sensitive files and keeps everyone working the same way.
Method & sources: This guide compiles Adobe’s official pricing and feature pages, plus current plan grids and desktop release notes. Check pricing and plan notes here: Compare plans, Acrobat pricing, Acrobat Reader, and What’s new in Acrobat (desktop).