# Foxit PDF Reader Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra

> Is Foxit PDF Reader the right PDF solution for you? Explore 946 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice.

Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/175376/Foxit-PDF-Reader/reviews

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Foxit PDF Reader

4.5 (946)

[View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/175376/Foxit-PDF-Reader/alternatives/)

Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/)

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Last updated July 9th, 2026

# Reviews of Foxit PDF Reader

Ease of use

4.6

Customer Service

4.2

## Pros and Cons in Reviews

Fast and efficient PDF reading

91% positive reviews out of 103

Most reviewers describe pdf reader features as fast, lightweight, and easy to use for daily document viewing.

Annoying ads and frequent updates

67% negative reviews out of 60

Most reviewers report updates and ads disrupt workflow, with persistent notifications and in-app advertisements causing frustration.

Comprehensive annotation capabilities

91% positive reviews out of 54

Most reviewers appreciate comments and annotations, highlighting versatile tools for marking, editing, and collaborating on PDFs.

Performance issues with large files

45% negative reviews out of 47

Some reviewers report large files cause slowdowns, lag, or rendering problems, especially with graphics-heavy or lengthy documents.

Reliable adobe reader substitute

100% positive reviews out of 25

Most reviewers find alternative options to Adobe limited, but Foxit offers a capable, resource-efficient replacement.

Frequent crashes and instability

79% negative reviews out of 39

Most reviewers indicate crashes occur during heavy use, multiple files, or updates, often resulting in lost progress.

## Showing most helpful reviews

Showing 1-25 of 946 Reviews

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Most Helpful

Rating

Company Size

Reviewer's Role

Length of Use

Frequency of Use

Manpreet K.  
Physiotherapist  
Hospital & Health Care  
Used the software for: I used a free trial

### "A reliable study companion during my exam preparation"

June 28, 2026

5.0

Foxit PDF Reader became a very important tool during my physiotherapy exam preparation in Canada. Since all my textbooks were in India, I had to rely on soft copies, which I was initially not comfortable with because I always preferred physical books. After using Foxit, my experience changed completely as I could highlight, underline, and add notes just like in a real book. I used it daily for studying, revision, and mock exams, and it became a key part of my preparation. The zoom feature also helped me read small or photocopied text easily on my tablet, making studying more comfortable and effective.

Pros

It makes digital studying feel similar to reading a physical book with easy highlighting and annotation tools. It is simple, fast, and very useful for exam preparation. The free version is enough for most student needs and the zoom feature is very helpful for reading small text.

Cons

Some advanced features are only available in the paid version, and the interface feels basic compared to newer apps. There are occasional upgrade prompts, and syncing features are limited in the free version

Review Source

NW

Nick W.  
Sales  
Building Materials  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Quality PDF tool"

April 1, 2025

5.0

It has been great and am not aware of any issues.

Pros

Easy to use and integrate into our operating environment.

Cons

Have not found anything to not like about this program.

Switched from

[Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/p/170833/Acrobat-Reader-DC/)

Easy to integrate and more economical than the competition.

Review Source

KL

Katie L.  
Deputy Manager  
Aviation & Aerospace  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Foxit PDF Review"

May 22, 2024

3.0

Pros

It's very user friendly and easy to navigate.

Cons

Sometimes the copying and pasting formatting gets a little out of whack and pastes text without any spacing.

Switched from

[Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/p/170833/Acrobat-Reader-DC/)

Adobe was too costly for the company and our CEO wanted to make the switch.

Review Source

SH

Sam H.  
Fleet Manager  
Automotive  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Foxit PDF Reader"

January 15, 2025

5.0

Foxit PDF Reader is a great app to manage, edit and sign PDF documents and files. Is more affordable than Adobe has almost all the features Adobe offers. The app is available for desktop and as a mobile for Android or iOS witch make it great and easy to use on all devices.

Pros

Foxit PDF is a fast and reliable app to manage the PDF files. It has a nice user interface witch make it easy to use. Another feature I like is that I am able to digitally sign documents.

Cons

I can't use all functionalities from the desktop app on the mobile apps.

Switched from

[Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/p/170833/Acrobat-Reader-DC/)

Foxit is more affordable and offers all the features I need.

Review Source

JT

Jim T.  
Systems Administrator  
Machinery  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "FoxIt Reader - the Best PDF reader out there - and it's FREE"

November 25, 2024

5.0

Top-notch PDF reader. Far superior to "the other program" or Browsers. Runs quickly, doesn't nag you to constantly upgrade. Many options.

Pros

Fast program to install and run, and has many additional options beyond a simple PDF reader. You can comment/mark-up the PDF and save the changes.

Cons

The install wants to install a trial version of the Editor - easy enough to disable, but still a bit of a nuisance.

Switched from

[Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/p/170833/Acrobat-Reader-DC/)

Adobe has a tendency to lock up/freeze, require too many updates, and doesn't have as many features as FoxIt Reader

Review Source

TE

Tony E.  
IT Support Specialist  
Computer Hardware  
Used the software for: 6-12 months

### "Reliable PDF Viewer "

May 15, 2025

5.0

Pros

Great lightweight PDF viewer that just works flawlessly all the time

Cons

I have only ever had good experiences using Foxit PDF reader

Switched from

[Adobe Acrobat](https://www.capterra.com/p/251329/Adobe-Acrobat-DC/)

Application kept crashing and was unable to work out a solution

Review Source

SC

Shailyn C.  
Insurance Advisor  
Insurance  
Used the software for: Less than 6 months

### "A Good Change"

January 23, 2025

5.0

So far so good, I like the way it's set up, the e-sign feature is very helpful. I can customize the application to my liking.

Pros

Being able to customize the "skin" into dark mode and the use of the e-Sign feature.

Cons

Just getting used to it, it's a change from Adobe.

Switched from

[Adobe Acrobat](https://www.capterra.com/p/251329/Adobe-Acrobat-DC/)

The company I work for switched over. Foxit is a cleaner platform and easy to use.

Review Source

Leandro A.  
Developer  
Computer Software  
Used the software for: Less than 6 months

### "Foxit PDF Reader Review"

December 3, 2025

5.0

Good experience overall , free , fast ,light-weight , reliable .One of my main option for handling PDF documents.

Pros

The app is fast , and has a lot of features.One can easily search on the documents .Add markers to for text , and so on

Cons

The UI could be improved .The UI looks a little outdated .But overall it's a good experience using this software

Review Source

JA

Julian A.  
IT Specialist  
Medical Practice  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "The Best Free PDF viewer out there!"

April 9, 2025

5.0

Pros

Foxit is very easy to use for regular pdf viewing and regular everyday tasking.

Cons

There is nothing wrong with foxit in my opinion.

Review Source

LE

Lucie E.  
Customer Service Consultant  
Insurance  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Foxit PDF Reader"

December 12, 2024

5.0

Foxit PDF Reader is a lightweight app to manage all your PDF files. The app is fast and integrates very well with Google Drive and Dropbox. The app is easy to customize and

Pros

The fact that I can use the app on my desktop PC and smartphone is a great thing as I can access my files from any device. From my point of view the app is very fast with opening and editing PDF files likewise the other apps I used before.

Cons

The free version experience is not the best, for the real Foxit experience you will need the paid version.

Review Source

JT

Jennifer T.  
Head Bookkeeper  
Accounting  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Foxit is worth the trial."

October 4, 2024

5.0

I would recommend this product for home use, as well as business use. I've not found a situation that it wouldn't handle.

Pros

Foxit is a super easy to use software that I purchased a few years ago for my small business. The icons and menu are intuitive and just plain make sense. I needed assistance for a billing issue and their customer service was top notch. Foxit works with my browser and makes manipulating pages of PDFs a breeze. If you're looking for something different, it's worth a trial run.

Cons

Foxit didn't make sense to my Adobe-trained mind at first. But after using it for a couple weeks, I began to realize it's actually a lot easier to use and makes so much sense.

Alternatives considered

[pdfFiller](https://www.capterra.com/p/162654/PDFfiller/)[Soda PDF](https://www.capterra.com/p/226942/SODA-PDF/)[WinZip PDF Pro](https://www.capterra.com/p/268060/WinZip-PDF-Pro/)

Reason for choosing Foxit PDF Reader

It has all the features I needed, is easy to use, and the price made sense to me.

Switched from

[Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/p/170833/Acrobat-Reader-DC/)

The cost of Adobe didn't make sense for my small business.

Review Source

CW

Chris W.  
FNC Sports  
Insurance  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Foxit PDF Reader"

August 7, 2024

5.0

Features price-wise, it is a good app; it really does its job well and has a reasonable price.

Pros

Foxit is an easy to install app and has a nice user interface that lets me navigate and find features easily. Is cheaper than other apps but has the same features as them. Another important thing to mention is that it is available on all platforms.

Cons

It happened a few times to have lag when open a PDF file.

Switched from

[Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/p/170833/Acrobat-Reader-DC/)

I wanted more something lightweight and less costly.

Review Source

MS

Mike S.  
IT Manager  
Marketing and Advertising  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Fast, reliable and exocnomical: the PDF software of choice"

November 2, 2022

5.0

It's the fact that I don't notice any problems that is a testament to its quality. The software doesn't get in the way of what you want to do or make a complex interface.

Pros

It's fast - super-fast. At a time of bloatware, Foxit stands out by offering an intuitive user interface and insanely fast PDF renderer. As with other readers, the bottom-tier product is free, but the premium features come at low cost.

Cons

There are ads throughout the free version, but that's to be expected and they are not intrusive.

Alternatives considered

[PDF-XChange](https://www.capterra.com/p/170838/PDF-XChange/)[ABBYY FineReader PDF](https://www.capterra.com/p/65868/ABBYY-FineReader/)

Reason for choosing Foxit PDF Reader

The speed, reliability and usability of the product

Review Source

sL

simon L.  
Manager  
Information Technology and Services  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Great Value PDF Software"

June 3, 2024

5.0

great software, cant beat the price and easy to use which is essential for all staff to be confident using it

Pros

Same functions and easy to use like adobe but without the price tag

Cons

sometimes the software can take a while to load on windows Pc running windows 10, very quick on a mac

Alternatives considered

[Adobe Acrobat](https://www.capterra.com/p/251329/Adobe-Acrobat-DC/)

Reason for choosing Foxit PDF Reader

again price and support made us choose to move away from adobe and use foxit

Switched from

[Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/p/170833/Acrobat-Reader-DC/)

pricing and support compare to adobe was amazing so we made the move

Review Source

MMD

Mohammed Majeed D.  
Field Manager  
Non-Profit Organization Management  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "small file size, simple to install, and even easier to use"

July 2, 2021

4.0

Foxit has drastically improved our document creation, handling and research collation processes. By introducing direct features that simplify otherwise lengthy processes of conversion and reconversion between different file formats, it has in many ways improved our efficiency. Finally, the ability to quickly redact PIIs from project reports before sharing with unauthorized personnel helps us easily maintain data protection protocols.

Pros

My most favorite feature of Foxit Reader is the Page Panel, that allows me to reorganize the flow of any pdf document by simply dragging and dropping them in the order that suits me. Before discovering this feature, I used to have to first convert them into word format, and then copy paste the contents unto a fresh document in the order I desired. Imagine the amount of time being saved me by introducing this powerful feature.

Cons

Even though there are ways around it, I wish the Foxit Sign function wasn't featured as a separate service. This is my only complain about Foxit Reader.

Switched from

[Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/p/170833/Acrobat-Reader-DC/)

The adobe reader typically comes as a suite package, even if I do not have a need for all the other products within the package. And it is also more expensive than Foxit.

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
CIO  
Health, Wellness and Fitness  
Used the software for: I used a free trial

### "Affordable PDF Alternative"

July 20, 2024

5.0

Pros

I liked how the menu system resembled the Microsoft Office ribbon so it was easy for users to figure out how to use. It has compatible features to Adobe Acrobat at a fraction of the cost.

Cons

There have been some security vulnerabilities with the product

Switched from

[Adobe Acrobat](https://www.capterra.com/p/251329/Adobe-Acrobat-DC/)

Adobe Acrobat Professional was too expensive for our company and not worth the value for the money.

Review Source

RG

Robert G.  
Fleet Admin  
Automotive  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Foxit PDF Reader - comprehendive solution"

November 18, 2024

5.0

Foxit PDF Reader is a comprehensive solution for all the documents as it has many useful features like OCR scanning and signing features. Support is good and the price is good.

Pros

Foxit Reader is easy to use as it has a intuitive user interface, works very good and is quite fast as it does not uses a lot of system resources. Another feature I enjoy using is he sign feature, as it allows me to sign documents from a device without using printers and scanners, really saves time.

Cons

There are not things to like less, all work good.

Review Source

AN

Ali N.  
Translator and Localizer  
Translation and Localization  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Foxit Reader: The Underdog of PDF Readers - Is It Worth the Switch?"

March 30, 2024

4.0

Foxit PDF Reader is a user-friendly and efficient PDF editor with a straightforward interface. It offers fast loading times and smooth performance for moderate-spec computers. The free version offers annotation tools, commenting features, and form-filling capabilities. However, it has limited editing capabilities, may have limitations in collaboration features, and may focus on core PDF functionalities. Foxit is suitable for casual users, students, and budget-conscious businesses, but may not be suitable for workflows requiring extensive editing capabilities or specialized functionalities.

Pros

A flexible tool, Foxit PDF Reader provides a multitude of features for free users, such as form filling, annotation, and teamwork. Its lightweight and user-friendly interface makes it appropriate for older machines. Advanced editing features, document redaction, and OCR for transforming scanned PDFs into editable text forms are available in paid editions. They also provide real-time co-editing capabilities with "Shared Review" and enhanced comment management. Although Foxit PDF Reader can handle simple to somewhat complex activities, its most useful capabilities are dependent on certain workflow requirements.

Cons

Foxit PDF Reader is a free version with limited editing features, limited collaboration features, and no document management. It primarily focuses on viewing and annotating PDFs, with limited collaboration features. The free version lacks document organization, version control, and advanced security features. The mobile app features may be limited compared to the desktop version. Foxit Reader prioritizes core PDF viewing and editing functionalities, and its less aggressive marketing may lead to users overlooking its capabilities.

Review Source

Michael S.  
Senior Key Expert  
Automotive  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Foxit PDF Reader is eye to eye with Acrobat Professional but a lot cheaper"

April 6, 2023

4.0

Very good and inexpensive alternative for Acrobat Pro. I use it at home as I feel Acrobat Pro is too expensive.

Pros

Full functionality including page rearrange and editing. Optical character recognition is not as good as in Acrobat Pro. Very good pricing particularly when compared to Acrobat Pro.

Cons

OCR is not always working that well and it cannot fix up bad scans (tilted / skewed) very well.

Review Source

Jonathan R.  
civil engineer  
Civil Engineering  
Used the software for: 6-12 months

### "Foxit Reader, a fast and efficient PDF reader."

July 3, 2021

4.0

In general, this software is one of the best with respect to software of the same characteristics. Its speed and light weight make it a recommended option. This software fulfills the functions it promises, in every aspect, both in editing and reading PDF files. It is also easy to use, even for inexperienced users, thanks to its excellent interface that is easy on the eyes. Except for some negative points, such as reading PDX files or the search tool, this software is an important alternative in terms of PDF readers.

Pros

What I liked most about this software was how fast it is and how small the files are. Some positive points of the software in my opinion, are the fluidity to view the files, quick installation, the ease to use each of its tools and how little space it takes up in memory. This software gives you options like editing, underlining, drawing and converting to text in a PDF file. Finally, the software allows you to use tabs to open several documents simultaneously.

Cons

In my opinion as a user, the negative part of this software is that it cannot read PDX files, also the search tool and the text selection can be improved in several aspects. The price of the full version is affordable for a company, but for an individual it can be expensive.

Reason for choosing Foxit PDF Reader

I chose this software as my default PDF reader over other options because of how little space it takes up and how fast it works.

Review Source

Astridah M.  
Administrative Clerk  
Executive Office  
Used the software for: Less than 6 months

### "Foxit PDF Reader"

May 24, 2023

5.0

Pros

Foxit PDF Reader is an easy-to-use PDF solution for a business that has loads of document processes and reviews. It is suitable for personal and business use and comes with 14-days free trial that offers a wide range of features like free-form typing, annotations, form filling and more. It Allows users to create, sign, edit or view PDF files. It is also unique because you're also able to create PDFs from scanned documents. It has a ribbon toolbar that is similar to Microsoft Office, making it easy for editing and converts PDF files to other formats like images, Microsoft word and so on. Foxit PDF Reader is also a lightweight application of 12 MB installation file size, and runs on windows as well as Mac computers with compatibility from Windows 7 to 11 and Mac OS X

Cons

The major drawback of Foxit PDF Reader is that it lacks Optical Channel Recognition (OCR), Making it difficult to recognize images or texts.

Review Source

MM

Mounir M.  
Marketing  
Information Technology and Services  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Read and modify pdf files"

August 25, 2023

4.0

In general, the experience was good, and the positive aspects of the application cover the weaknesses

Pros

It gives you an integrated experience so that you do not need to use other programs

Cons

Some tools need to be improved, for example converting files from pdf to docs

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Tributary consultant  
Accounting  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Foxit is a light and easy to use tool"

September 9, 2021

5.0

Foxit is my prefered PDF reader.

Pros

In work I often need to copy/paste information from PDF documents to sheets. Foxit allows to copy certain areas, not selecting all the text on each line. It is a very important feature, that is not avaliable on most other PDF readers. It also opens the document bigger, since the side bars are hidden when you open the program.

Cons

It is a bit hard to create stamps, since only a few formats are accepted. But it's a minor problem.

Review Source

Halimatun Z.  
IT Manager  
Accounting  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Manage everything that related with PDF easily"

October 25, 2021

5.0

Pros

Foxit Reader is more that just a PDF reader, but almost everything that are related with PDF editing can be done here, especially for converting and merging a PDF files. It also can integrated well with Microsoft 365 and i can open and edit the PDF document directly from there.

Cons

I can see my Microsoft 365 are slightly slowing down and freezing every 10 to 20 minutes when i paired it with this software. It is not too serious and i still can work normally, but the freezing is quite annoying when it happen too often. I fix the problem by using it separately.

Review Source

Imi C.  
CIO  
Accounting  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Useful PDF reader- best for viewing PDF files through the windows preview method"

March 9, 2021

5.0

I like it. I use it as the PDF reader because it is clear and clutter free.

Pros

This is quite the best free PDF software to view those PDF files in Windows File Explorer. While this preview feature for PDF files are available in all other PDF readers, the Foxit menu, clarity and speed of scrolling during the preview is a must have for any one working with large contracts. It has several features such as bookmarking, attachment and typewriting that is desirable and found in paid version of similar software. However,.....

Cons

The software is filled with Ads ( Advertisement) when you begin to use it in full. It sometime feel that it is memory intensive and feel heavy when you open a few larger contract. The main drawback for me... I cannot go to File... Save AS ( Optimized ) or reduced PDF.

Switched from

[Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://www.capterra.com/p/170833/Acrobat-Reader-DC/)

Alternative that offers more.

Review Source

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