Windows only 
Adobe has struggled with the performance of Acrobat Reader for quite some time, and that’s the main reason I’ve always found myself using the free Foxit Reader. Plus the fact that they’ve always offered the PDF reader as a standalone executable has meant that I can carry around the application on my USB drive. In the end, however, it all comes down to the fact that I can start Foxit in under 2 seconds.
The best part is that they keep making the software better and better. The latest release, Foxit Reader 3.0, includes Firefox support, an improved selection tool, a thumbnail panel, and more. You can find a full list of what’s new here, but these are the ones I wanted to highlight:
- Enticing Multimedia Design
Now users can not only play multimedia in Foxit Reader, but also are empowered to add, edit or delete multimedia files with the incredible Movie Tool and Sound Tool. - Thumbnail Panel
Shows thumbnail images for each PDF page and allows users to quickly view relevant portions of a PDF file. Now users can navigate through PDFs with page thumbnails. - Layout Panel
Lists PDF layers in the document, allows users to control the display of some certain content areas. - Awe-Inspiring Foxit OnDemand Content Management
This new add-on enables users to organize, share and collaborate on documents and forms online. Users can upload from Foxit Reader or send documents with ease. Advanced features include workflow driven document sharing, revisions of documents, CollabRoom for group collaboration. - Firefox Support
With Firefox Plugin, users can view and work with PDF files loaded in Foxit Reader with Firefox web browser. - Improved Select Text Tool
Not only used for selecting text, but also enables users to add most types of annotations, including highlight, strikeout, underline, squiggly, replacement, etc. - Better Annotation Control
Allows users to align and center multiple annotations on PDF pages, including Notes, Drawing Markups and Typewriter Comments. - Advanced Toolbar Control
Completely rearranges the toolbar layout and allows users to easily customize the tools that appear in Foxit Reader. - Transferrable preferences Settings
Foxit Reader creates an INI file to save user’s preferences settings so that it can be easily kept and transferred. Users can keep their own settings and don’t have to configure them when Foxit Reader is updated or moved.
The fact that you can run Foxit from your USB drive is a selling feature for sure, but I don’t find that Adobe still has problems with the performance of their Reader. Version 7 was horrible indeed and a reason for many to switch to Foxit. Version 8 improved a lot in speed because of this, and version 9 is great again. I can start Reader 9 in under 3 seconds without using the preloader and in 1.5s from a warm boot. The difference in speed is negligible imo..
I use it, but i agree on the above commentary regarding Adobe Reader 9.
Also Sumatra is a nice alternative.
If they start filling it with crap i will leave it for sure. It’s success comes from simplicity.
It still do the watermarks whenever you edit and save a PDF? It’s for that reason that I solely use PDF-XChange Viewer (no watermarks on edits).
Yes, Adobe 9 is finally A-okay as a reader as far as performance goes. And to note, I’ve had troubles with Fox-It in the past being glitchy, hence I stick with Adobe.
I use Adobe Reader 9 everyday at work, and it always takes like 10 seconds to start. It’s especially terrible when it’s configured to load a PDF in the browser, and freezes the entire browser until the PDF loads.
I’m sure it will always do the watermarks when editing to help promote their paid product. I don’t do a bunch of editing so it doesn’t bother me.
Difference in size between Adobe & Foxit says enough for me, not even to mention the background silent online activity of Adobe.
Is that the Reader or Professional? The latter starts much slower (editing package). I’ve noticed the freezing until loading has completed before too, though not anymore with Reader 9. I prefer to open PDFs outside the browser every time, so I installed an extension for this anyway..
Does anyone know how to turn off the advertising in the upper right corner? It used to stay off permanently after you shut it off about 10 times but it seems to stay on all the time now.
It’s Reader. I don’t know why it takes so long to load, but I’ve never really had very good luck with it.
I use STDU Viewer for pdf-files and it’s best.