When it comes to opening PDF files, Adobe Reader is the first name that comes to the mind. But Adobe Reader has become bloated and slow. It opens PDF files slowly and hogs your system resources. A better alternative is Foxit Reader. It’s a lightweight PDF tool that’s much faster than Adobe.
When you run the installer, it will ask you if you want to install Foxit Reader Toolbar and set Ask.com as you default search engine and homepage. Make sure to uncheck these options, you don’t need them. Continue with the install wizard.
When you launch Foxit Reader for the first time, it will ask you to select the layout and skin. It’s easiest to pick the default — you can change it later.
Next choose the basic settings for your use and requirements.
Foxit Reader has a similar layout to Adobe Reader with similar functionality. You can open a PDF, zoom in/out, search text and much more. If you’re not happy with the performance or system usage of Adobe Reader, then Foxit Reader is one of the best alternatives. It also will integrate with Firefox or Internet Explorer for reading online PDF files.
Download Foxit Reader from it’s website, or it’s also available to install with our favorite free service Ninite — under the Documents section.
If you’ve been using Adobe Reader, give Foxit a try. You’ll be impressed how much faster it is!
14 Comments
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acupunc
April 8, 2012 at 11:10 am
Foxit is certainly one of the best pdf readers–certainly the fastest I’ve seen.
I use it along with pdf-xchange. Don’t even bother with acrobat any more–it’s too slow, bloated, and often a security hole.
People can also get portable versions of Foxit Reader & PDF-Xchange :)
Trinu
October 16, 2012 at 10:41 am
I tried both of them but sometimes foxit was crashed and pdf-xchange seems more stable and advanced
Brian Burgess
April 8, 2012 at 2:10 pm
Yup. I love Foxit. Been using it for years instead of Adobe…much faster and full of features.
limerockcodger
April 8, 2012 at 2:40 pm
It is indeed excellent. Been using it for last 6 months or so.
Fast to open and IT IS NOT ADOBE’s open-door-to-every-POS-spyware-badware bug riddled bloatware!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(can you guess I have had my share of Adobe Reader issues?)
Steve Krause
April 9, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Yeah…. Adobe does have its problems with Security exploits don’t they.
That’s why I don’t use Acrobat reader also but then one has to ask themselves, does Adobe have security issues because it’s full of more bugs than other PDF readers or is it just the 800 gorilla and the biggest target (and biggest bang for the hackers buck….)?
Hard to say…
Ziggy
April 8, 2012 at 7:27 pm
SumatraPDF is also worth considering. I use both, just to make life that bit more interesting!
Steve Krause
April 9, 2012 at 11:57 am
Yeah I like SumatraPDF on a few systems however I get errors from time-to-time from Outlook when trying to preview PDF files. Other than that yeah — SumatraPDF always worked great for me.
Jim Knutson
April 8, 2012 at 9:10 pm
Any chance of a Foxit PDF Editor on the horizon?
Wim Temmerman
April 11, 2012 at 12:45 pm
Jim,
Are you referring to the Phantom product line http://www.foxitsoftware.com/products/phantomPDF/ or maybe the Advanced Editor? http://www.foxitsoftware.com/products/editor/
Anand
April 8, 2012 at 9:44 pm
Foxit has become progressively heavier over time and the installer has also been adding more and more bloatware (when it started ther was no bloatware a few years ago).
Now I prefer Nitro PDF compared to Foxit..
Brian Burgess
April 8, 2012 at 10:28 pm
Yeah it has gotten a bit heavier, but for the features you get, it still blazes past Adobe Reader — especially on older systems.
There is a Foxit Advanced PDF Editor, but you have to pay for it. They offer a trial period though…
http://www.foxitsoftware.com/products/editor/
VOXPOP
April 9, 2012 at 9:30 am
I LOVES ME my foxit reader
gabink
April 9, 2012 at 10:37 am
PDF-XChange Viewer from Tracker Software is also a good free reader. It has markup features and a “Typewriter” that can be used to fill in forms.
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