Adobe Acrobat is most likely the first thing that comes to mind when asked about applications that may be used to deal with PDF files. After all, the company produced the PDF file in the first place. While it’s true that it’s among the best document management programs available, it’s not the best choice for everyone. Users and organizations who require a functioning solution that won’t break the bank may find the complex functionality and yearly subscription rates of certain products prohibitive.

We have compiled several excellent alternatives to Adobe Acrobat for your consideration. In this article, we will go over five products that are not only inexpensive but also easy on the user’s pocketbook.

What is Adobe Acrobat?

Adobe Acrobat is a powerful program for managing and editing PDF files, and it can be used on any computer or mobile device. Using the annotation tools, you may update information on scanned documents, write comments on places that need to be updated, or fill out and sign fields on a form or document.

You may also convert files into common Microsoft Office formats. These include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. All of this without sacrificing the formatting and styling applied to the original file. The Standard edition is Windows-only, while the Pro version is compatible with both Windows and Mac computers, allowing you to create, edit easily, and share PDF files with customers for feedback or to work on a single document with many members of your team simultaneously.

The value of Adobe Acrobat

• It provides various options for handling PDF documents in a business setting.
• You can produce PDFs from various files, including Microsoft Office files, scanned photos, and HTML.
• Sending out documents for electronic signature is simplified with a tool that prompts you to enter the names of the people who need to sign the document.
• Multiple PDFs may be combined into a single document.
• Protect your document with features like password, encryption, or text redaction.
• Allows you to utilize your mobile phone camera as a scanner. Scanned files are automatically converted to PDF.

For many years, users were able to acquire Adobe Acrobat for a one-time price through their Creative Suite license. However, the firm moved to a SaaS business model in 2013 and solely provided a subscription program for all its goods. What follows is a list of the top alternatives to Adobe Acrobat you may use if you find the current plans to be too pricey for your needs. They are capable of matching with Acrobat in terms of the most desired features while being affordable for consumers rather than large businesses.

List of the Top 5 Alternatives to Adobe Acrobat

1. Wondershare PDFelement

For various reasons, Wondershare PDFelement is our top choice for the best Adobe Acrobat replacement. First and foremost, it can compete with Acrobat in terms of your degree of control over your PDFs. Creating new documents, modifying existing ones, adding comments, sharing them with others, and protecting them with passwords and access controls is simple.

Second, with the help of one-click form generation tools, you can easily turn Microsoft Office files into fillable PDFs and vice versa. Without significantly modifying the original layouts and formats, you may convert any PDF into Excel, Word, or PowerPoint. Adding fields like checkboxes and drop-down menus, as well as other customization options, to a form is as easy as dragging and dropping them from the main tool menu bar.

At long last, reliable Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology is available in Wondershare PDFelement. This paves the way for digitizing printed, written, and handwritten content. There is also a spellcheck feature to ensure your content is error-free, and you can choose the target language from more than twenty options.

2. PandaDoc

When it comes to producing, revising, and distributing PDF documents, you also have the same degree of flexibility with PandaDoc, but it’s tailored to the needs of salespeople. The software accelerates the process of drafting business proposals and contracts by making use of pre-existing CRM templates and data. After submitting a proposal, you may check in on its progress using PandaDoc’s real-time tracking capabilities.

In addition, PandaDoc is compatible with a wide variety of industry-standard apps, so your sales force won’t have to change how it works. Once a proposal or quotation has been signed, automated payment collection may be set up. Online payment gateways like PayPal, wire transfers, and credit cards may be integrated.

PandaDoc was designed with teamwork, so it may even boost workplace efficiency. Thanks to its in-app activity recording and comments tools, your group can collaborate on suggestions. Customers may use the same document to give comments and negotiate terms and prices. This may lead to quicker agreements being approved and closed at your company.

3. ContractWorks

As its name indicates, ContractWorks is geared toward assisting companies with streamlining their contract management processes. This is accomplished by storing all of your files in one easily accessible location. This may save much time and effort compared to digging through physical file cabinets.

The electronic signature functionality in ContractWorks is also quite useful. This functionality is by the ESIGN Act and several state rules, which is great news for American businesses. In addition to the standard PDF contract delivery method, this method provides you with real-time information on the signature status of the contracts you send.

ContractWorks has built-in AI (AI). ContractWorks’s AI will automatically tag information such as agreement type, effectivity date, renewal, termination, etc., upon upload, allowing you to quickly and easily run reports and see the terms of your contracts.

4. PDFfiller

PDFfiller is one of the easiest-to-use tools for making and managing PDFs. You may begin filling out forms and modifying formatting online for free without having to download any software. The cloud-based program has a plethora of editing features, such as the ability to add checkmarks, search and replace text, and use a spellchecker to catch and correct any errors.

Besides the standard features, PDFfiller also provides the option to personalize documents and include company logos. Incorporating company branding elements like logos, watermarks, and personalized inscriptions into a document is a breeze.

PDFfiller and similar document management applications have the added advantage of increasing safety. You may redact sensitive information from a document by erasing it or drawing over it using a special pen. Security measures include a document’s four-digit PIN, two-factor authentication, and document ID number.

5. Small PDF

Smallpdf is another online PDF editor that checks all the boxes for a user-friendly, lightweight, and feature-rich PDF editor. With a free membership, you may use the app’s core online capabilities and associated workflows, eliminating the need to juggle several programs or repeatedly upload the same files. After converting a picture to PDF, you’ll have the option to email it to a customer, along with at least five more customization choices that might improve your document.

The premium features accessible only after registering and paying for membership are batch conversion, optical character recognition, and digital signatures. Aside from the online version, a premium account to Smallpdf provides access to a downloadable desktop program for use when you’re not connected to the internet.