Early 2000s: Tiny PDF-XChange Viewer did more than just open PDFs. It lets you annotate documents, fill out forms, and even convert PDFs to images – all for free.
This feature set, coupled with its small file size, made it a popular choice for those who didn’t need the advanced editing capabilities of paid software.
Though overshadowed by newer free readers with similar features, it remains a solid option for those seeking a free, lightweight PDF solution for Windows.
PDF-XChange Viewer goes beyond basic viewing capabilities. It allows you to navigate documents with ease, zoom in and out for detailed inspection, and rotate pages for better readability.
An annotation system lets you add comments, highlight text, and create shapes for improved collaboration or personal study.
Surprisingly Lightweight:
Despite its feature set, PDF-XChange Viewer maintains a surprisingly small footprint. This makes it ideal for users with older machines or those who prefer a snappy application.
Basic OCR Support (Free Version)
The free version of PDF-XChange Viewer offers basic Optical Character Recognition (OCR) functionality. This allows you to convert scanned PDFs into searchable documents, a valuable tool for working with text-heavy PDFs.
Clean Interface
The interface is user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy to navigate even for novice users.
Free and Freemium Model
A significant advantage of PDF-XChange Viewer is its availability. The free version offers a robust feature set for basic PDF needs. If you require more advanced functionalities like form editing or enhanced OCR, a paid upgrade to PDF-XChange Editor is available.
Other Key Features
- View, annotate, and search PDFs.
- Extract text and images.
- Measure distances and areas.
- Lightweight and fast performance.
