When it comes to a PDF document viewer, Adobe Reader is perhaps the most popular application. FoxIt reader, although not as popular as Adobe Reader, is right up there among best PDF document viewers. It’s fast, lightweight, reliable and and most importantly can open almost any PDF file created by various applications out there. As opposed to over 90MB install of Adobe Reader 9.0, FoxIt Reader’s install on my machine weighed less than 25MB. It even seemed to load faster than Adobe Reader and definitely consumed less RAM. If you are looking for a good Adobe Reader alternative, check out FoxIt Reader.

Foxit

Developer Description

Foxit Reader is a free PDF document viewer, with incredible small size (only 2.55 M download size), breezing-fast launch speed and rich feature set. Foxit Reader supports Windows Me/2000/XP/2003/Vista. Its core function is compatible with PDF Standard 1.7.

In the past, you've had to download a huge PDF reader from another software company, go through a lengthy installation process and wait for an annoying splash window to disappear just to open a PDF document. Moreover, if you want to annotate a PDF document, you have to pay US$299 to buy certain software.

Features

  • Incredibly small: The download size of Foxit Reader is only 2.55 M which is a fraction of Acrobat Reader 20 M size.
  • Breezing-fast: When you run Foxit Reader, it launches instantly without any delay. You are not forced to view an annoying splash window displaying company logo, author names, etc.
  • Annotation tool: Have you ever wished to annotate (or comment on) a PDF document when you are reading it? Foxit Reader allows you to draw graphics, highlight text, type text and make notes on a PDF document and then print out or save the annotated document.
  • Text converter: You may convert the whole PDF document into a simple text file.
  • High security and privacy: Foxit Reader highly respects the security and privacy of users and will never connect to the Internet without users' permission. While other PDF readers often silently connect to the Internet in the background. Foxit PDF Reader does not contain any spyware.

New features in version 2.3

  • Bookmark Design
  • Multi-tab Browsing
  • Multimedia Player Support
  • Callout and Text box Tool
  • Commenting Text Tool
  • Rulers and Guides
  • Magnifier
  • Automatic Scrolling
  • OCG Support
  • FDF Related

Enhanced features in version 2.3

  • Optimized Rendering
  • Improved Link Tools
  • Improved Snapshot
  • Search Enhancement
  • Better Annotation control
  • Font Information
  • Updated Command Line
  • Streamlined UI

Read comments for more information.


2 Comments

  1. Lightning_Struck_Tower // 10/05/2008 10:28:00 PM  
    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
  2. Unknown // 7/08/2013 08:57:00 PM  

    I am looking for a robust pdf tool that is lightweight and loads quickly. I am highly convinced with all the options and features you have mentioned above. I will try it.
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