Best 6 PDF Readers in 2026: Compare Tools and Features

Introduction

Adobe Acrobat Reader: Edit PDF covers the widest range of everyday PDF tasks in this roundup, including reading, annotating, signing, and filling out forms. Here, we compare six iOS and Android apps, from dedicated PDF tools to file managers and ebook readers that also open PDFs.

Quick comparison

The Acrobat apps and PDF Expert focus on PDF tasks. Documents and Librera also offer file-management or ebook-reading features, while PocketBook supports books, comics, and audio formats. Librera Reader is listed without an official app URL in this roundup.

1. Adobe Acrobat Reader: Edit PDF

Best for: Android users who want an all-purpose PDF reader.

Adobe Acrobat Reader: Edit PDF brings common PDF tasks together: you can read documents, add annotations, sign files, and share them. It also has tools for filling out forms and managing files, which can come in handy when PDFs are part of your work or everyday errands.

Rather than focusing only on reading, the app covers a range of practical jobs. If you use Android and want one app for reviewing and completing PDFs, it’s worth considering.

2. PDF Expert: Editor & Reader

Best for: iOS users who want to read and work on PDFs.

PDF Expert: Editor & Reader combines reading, annotation, form filling, and signing with tools to edit and organize documents. So you can do more than mark up a page: the app also handles routine changes and helps keep files in order.

Its main draw is having a PDF reader and document-editing tools in one iOS app. Consider it if you regularly review PDFs and need to do more than open and scroll through them.

3. Documents

Best for: iOS users who want a file manager with PDF tools.

Documents combines a built-in PDF reader and editor with file-management tools. It can open and manage other document types too, so PDFs don’t have to be the only files you keep in the app.

That broader role is its main distinction. Documents may suit you better than a dedicated PDF reader if you want one place to browse files and read different kinds of documents on an iPhone or iPad. Its PDF tools are part of a wider file-handling toolkit.

4. Librera Reader

Best for: Android readers who use several ebook and document formats.

Librera Reader supports PDFs as well as formats such as EPUB, MOBI, DjVu, and CBZ. That makes it useful if you read books, comics, and documents in different formats and don’t want to convert everything to PDF first.

The app pairs broad format support with a customizable reading experience. It’s for Android, so consider it if you want one reader for different kinds of digital reading material rather than a PDF-only tool. This roundup does not list an official app URL for it.

5. Acrobat Reader: PDF Editor

Best for: iOS users who want PDF reading, sharing, and signing tools.

Acrobat Reader: PDF Editor lets you view, annotate, comment on, share, and sign documents. These everyday tools make it a practical option for reviewing files and sending them on without switching between apps.

PDF Spaces collaboration and podcast-style audio summaries are also available, though they’re extras rather than core reader features. For everyday PDF work on an iPhone or iPad, the main appeal is its mix of reading, markup, sharing, and signing tools.

6. PocketBook Reader

Best for: iOS users who read PDFs alongside books and comics.

PocketBook Reader supports 26 book and audio formats, including EPUB, MOBI, CBZ, and CBR, along with PDFs. It can play audiobooks too, making it a broader option for people who read and listen to different kinds of content.

The app offers an ad-free reading experience for books, magazines, textbooks, and comics. If you want an iOS app for PDFs, other reading formats, and audiobooks, PocketBook covers more than a PDF-focused app.

How we picked these apps

We looked at useful PDF features such as annotation, signing, and form support, then compared dedicated PDF tools with file managers and ebook readers that also open PDFs. Platform availability and supported formats mattered as well: an app that works for an iPhone user may not be available on Android. This roundup is based on the supplied app details, not sponsorship or a paid ranking. Check each app’s current listing for the latest features and terms.

Frequently asked questions

What matters in a PDF reader?

For everyday use, look for comfortable document viewing and the tools you need, such as annotations, signatures, or form filling. If you read other file types, check which formats the app supports before choosing.

Which apps can annotate, sign, or fill forms?

Adobe Acrobat Reader: Edit PDF supports annotation, signing, and form filling on Android. On iOS, PDF Expert offers annotation, form filling, and signing, while Acrobat Reader: PDF Editor supports annotation and signing.

Which apps support formats beyond PDF?

Documents manages other document types, while Librera supports formats such as EPUB, MOBI, DjVu, and CBZ. PocketBook supports 26 book and audio formats, including EPUB, MOBI, CBZ, and CBR, and can play audiobooks. Availability varies by platform, so check each current listing for pricing and features.

The verdict

The right choice depends on your device and what you need from a PDF reader. On Android, Adobe Acrobat Reader: Edit PDF covers everyday tasks such as reading, annotating, signing, and filling out forms. On iOS, PDF Expert combines reading, editing, and organizing PDFs, while Acrobat Reader: PDF Editor focuses on reading, sharing, annotating, and signing. For broader file-format support, consider Documents, Librera Reader, or PocketBook Reader.