PDF-XChange Viewer

CNET Editors' review

PDF-XChange Viewer presents users with an alternative to Adobe's Acrobat Reader. With some interesting additions, it's not hard to see this reader gaining some fans over its more popular competition.

The program's interface looks and feels remarkably like Acrobat Reader, but with more command icons along the top. Users who are familiar with viewing PDFs will find this fairly intuitive, but newcomers are advised to experiment with the options and pay attention to the Help file. Viewing PDFs is incredibly simple and should not be a problem for users. The documents look good through the reader and are easily navigated. While the program is good for simply looking at PDFs, it excels with its added features. The control panel along the top displays a long list of options for editing your PDFs. The most useful we found was the option for making bright red shapes and lines, which can be utilized to mark errors and make comments (an element that has always been one of Acrobat's best tools). Here, XChange Viewer gives users more options than its competition, allowing for more in-depth markups.

This free program imitates its competition in all the right places and gives users some extra features where it counts, combining into an excellent download option for anyone looking for an alternative to Acrobat Reader.

Publisher's Description

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All User Reviews

Results 1-10 of 285

  • 1.0 stars

    "Not much to say if it won't install"

    April 30, 2013  |   By caseyscherm

    Version: PDF-XChange Viewer 2.5.210

    Pros

    None - it wouldn't install but did leave several annoying browser add-ons

    Cons

    I couldn't install it. After downloading it and accepting various agreements and unchecking the boxes that let them add toolbars and change my homepage, I clicked on the install button but it died immediately, telling me that it couldn't install on my computer because it wasn't 32-bit (I have Win 7 Home Premium 64-bit on this one). I tried launching the installer from the Downloads folder directly but the result was the same.

    What really annoyed me was that the installer said that nothing was installed, but when I reopened my browser (the installer shut IE and Chrome, both of which were open) it had visibly changed the browser and when I clicked on New Tab it gave me a list of "suggested sites". Looking at Add-ons I found that it had installed and enable 4 add-ons, at least one of which is blatantly ad-ware from prior experience.

    Summary

    This got one star because I couldn't figure out how to give it a minus 10.

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Capable lightweight PDF Viewer"

    March 20, 2013  |   By fred64ha

    Version: PDF-XChange Viewer 2.5.210

    Pros

    Uses fewer resources than most other PDF viewers. Does not skimp on features and includes text typing and mark up capability.

    Cons

    Not as feature rich as the free Nitro PDF reader, but its not as big either.

    Summary

    On older systems with memory constraints this is the best PDF reader you can get. Combined with the bullzip PDF printer, my older systems have superior PDF capabilities with low overhead.

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  • 5.0 stars

    "The best FREE pdf editor"

    March 15, 2013  |   By hoangdieutrinh

    Version: PDF-XChange Viewer 2.5.210

    Pros

    Everything you can get with Adobe Reader + Bookmarks + Thumbnails + ...

    Cons

    None, none, none.

    Scrapware installation is included in CNET downloader, not by this software. Always be carefull before clicking "next", uncheck eveything you do not like first.

    Summary

    Recommended without hesitation

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  • 4.0 stars

    "Exceptional"

    March 7, 2013  |   By robert.lugg

    Version: PDF-XChange Viewer 2.5.210

    Pros

    Hmm. Can't really find a fault. It does the #1 thing that I need which is to be able to fill out PDF forms, even when the author didn't create them properly and then SAVE the result.

    I don't think you can go wrong.

    Cons

    The annotation mode that I'm in isn't always clear. Ctrl-Z doesn't work to undo the annotation I added.

    Summary

    NOTE: I'm using 2.5 and the ads are fine. Not sure if the latest 2.5.210 has increased them

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  • 1.0 stars

    "POS....Filled with Crapware"

    February 28, 2013  |   By bens912

    Version: PDF-XChange Viewer 2.5.210

    Pros

    None....filled with crapware

    Cons

    Crapware....

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Great Program and it's Free!"

    January 10, 2013  |   By llucyy

    Version: PDF-XChange Viewer 2.5.207

    Pros

    Good being able to Edit etc PDFs

    Cons

    Haven't found any in all the years I've been using it.

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  • 5.0 stars

    "GREAT product, but say "No" to sneaky adware/install"

    December 10, 2012  |   By greers_PM

    Version: PDF-XChange Viewer 2.5.207

    Pros

    I LOVE this product. The first thing I do when I get a new computer is install this and make sure all PDFs are automatically opened by PDF-XChange Viewer instead of the nearly useless Adobe Acrobat Reader that comes bundled w/most computers. In fact, I feel so strongly about this I wrote a rave blog post with pics/callouts here: http://www.bestfreetraining.net/?p=2080

    Cons

    I don't have any cons. I just have one BEWARE:

    Today just after I installed this product on my new Windows 8 system, my Chrome browser would no longer allow me to open a fresh, blank tab. Instead, the new tab always threw open this page: "MyStart Incredibar ... Search screen."

    After wasting a lot of time trying to "uninstall" it using Control Panel, Remove Programs, I checked Chrome's list of extensions and removed an extension labeled "newstart" (?) or something like that. Then I went back to Ctrl Panel/Remove... and all the crapware associated with this thing was gone.

    Summary

    THE BOTTOM LINE: PDF-XChange is a great program. And since I downloaded it via CNET's Downloads I suppose this program, in and of itself, was safe. I'm betting that since I was in a hurry I skipped/ignored a choice related to installing this other little piece of crapware. And since it apparently installs itself in such a way as to work in IE and Firefox, as well as Chrome, it can make a mess. So:
    * Good news: PDF-XChange View is wonderful and I'll continue installing and using it.
    * Bad news: BEWARE THE CHOICES DURING INSTALLATION!! (And, CNET: Can't you maybe remove this nasty little trap in the download??)

    Here's more info from CNET's own discussion forum:
    Article: "Spyware, viruses, & security forum: Mystart Incredibar Removal" Link: http://forums.cnet.com/7723-6132_102-578560/mystart-incredibar-removal/

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  • 5.0 stars

    "This is an excellent software I ever used."

    December 4, 2012  |   By kennyklai

    Version: PDF-XChange Viewer 2.5.207

    Pros

    Nice layout, great functions, and user-friendly commands.

    Cons

    I haven't found a reason not to use it.

    Summary

    Although a trial version provides only limited functions, I am always amazed at how much it can do. I am very pleased with it. I already recommended to many friends.

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  • 5.0 stars

    "The absolute best of the free PDF viewers."

    November 23, 2012  |   By acurrie3

    Version: PDF-XChange Viewer 2.5.207

    Pros

    More intuitive features than Reader.

    Cons

    None that I can see.

    Summary

    Better than Reader, and integrates well into Firefox.

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  • 1.0 stars

    "MALWARE IN SOFTWARE- DO NOT DOWNLOAD!"

    November 13, 2012  |   By whisperawr

    Version: PDF-XChange Viewer 2.5.206

    Pros

    THIS IS MALWARE- DO NOT DOWNLOAD!!!

    Cons

    This contains the new Claro and Babylon malware. It hijacks the home page on every type of browser and adds some additional "security" browser software as well. This happens whether or not you choose to install the toolbar in a custom install!

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Results 1-10 of 285

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