Why I Switched from Adobe Acrobat Reader to Microsoft Edge for PDFs

Adobe Acrobat Reader has long been the go-to software for PDF viewing, but in recent years, my experience with it has left much to be desired. The software often feels bloated and slow, with frequent hang-ups that interrupt my workflow and frustrate my efforts to do even the simplest tasks. Beyond the performance issues, Adobe’s relentless push toward subscription-based features is increasingly invasive. Every other click seems to lead to a feature locked behind a paywall, and for a casual user, this constant upselling is simply annoying.

After exploring alternatives, I landed on Microsoft Edge as my new default PDF reader, and I haven’t looked back since. Edge has evolved into a surprisingly capable PDF viewer, packed with features that, in many cases, outperform Adobe’s free version. One of the standout features is the smoothness with which Edge handles PDFs—large or small. Unlike Adobe Acrobat, which often lags, Edge is lightweight and fast, loading even complex PDFs without hiccups. This difference alone makes it worth the switch, especially for daily use.

Edge also offers powerful inking capabilities, letting you highlight, annotate, and draw directly on PDFs with ease. This is a feature that Adobe does offer, but with Edge, it feels intuitive and works flawlessly without any additional software lag. Another impressive feature is the read-aloud functionality, where Edge can read out the content of the PDF in a natural-sounding voice, making it ideal for reviewing documents while multitasking or during long reading sessions.

One of the biggest advantages of Edge as a PDF viewer is that it’s entirely free. There are no hidden paywalls or subscription nudges. Unlike Adobe Acrobat, where even basic tools like conversion, editing, or organizing pages require a premium account, Microsoft Edge provides a no-fuss experience with no pressure to upgrade. The built-in dictionary and translation tools in Edge also add convenience, letting users understand and interact with documents more effectively.

In short, Microsoft Edge has proven to be a more reliable, efficient, and user-friendly option for PDF viewing, offering everything I need without the unnecessary clutter. It’s refreshing to have a PDF viewer that prioritizes usability without slowing down my system or pressuring me to buy a subscription.