Nitro PDF vs Adobe Acrobat Reader

Adobe Acrobat

iLovePDF

Smallpdf

Adobe Acrobat is PDF editing software that can be used to create, convert and share PDF documents. It can convert documents in Microsoft Office formats to PDFs, and vice versa. PDFs can be viewed, annotated, and signed using Adobe Sign and the free Acrobat Reader mobile app.

iLovePDF is an online service that provides comprehensive tools for PDF document management. The platform offers features for organizing, optimizing, converting, editing, and securing PDF files, including merging, splitting, compressing, and converting PDFs to and from various formats. Available as both web and mobile applications, iLovePDF enables users to work with documents across different devices.

Smallpdf is a desktop, mobile & cloud-based PDF document management and conversion tool, providing a suite of 21 tools to create, convert and edit documents.

Network Admin

Software Customer Support is very difficult to reach, we havent had an issue for over 2 years but when we did have an issue, no phone number was available, just an online case ticketing system.

Team Lead

the payment team is sometimes messy to work with.

Administrator

No way to contact the company unless I want to purchase more

Easily convert your documents into editable PDFs. Whether you’re editing text in the document, redacting sensitive information or annotating your document with highlights or notes, perform all your essential PDF edits with ease.

Access Controls/Permissions

Activity Dashboard

Activity Tracking

AI Copilot

Alerts/Notifications

Annotations

Archiving & Retention

Audit Trail

Authentication

Batch Processing

Collaboration Tools

Commenting/Notes

Communication Management

Compliance Management

Compliance Tracking

Compression

Configurable Workflow

Contact Management

Content Scan

Contract Drafting

Contract/License Management

Convert to PDF

Customizable Branding

Customizable Fields

Customizable Forms

Customizable Templates

Data Extraction

Data Import/Export

Data Security

Data Storage Management

Data Synchronization

Delete Pages

Digital Signature

Document Automation

Document Capture

Document Classification

Document Conversion

Document Editing

Document Generation

Document Imaging

Document Management

Document Review

Document Storage

Document Templates

Drag & Drop

Electronic Signature

Encryption

File Conversion

File Recovery

File Sharing

File Transfer

Forms Management

Full Text Search

Generative AI

HIPAA Compliant

ID Scanning

Image Editing

Image Pre-processing

Indexing

Invoice Processing

Language Detection

Merge/Append Files

Metadata Extraction

Mobile Access

Mobile Signature Capture

Multi-Language

Multi-Party Signing

Multiple Format Support

Multiple Output Formats

Offline Access

Optical Character Recognition

PDF Conversion

PDF Reader

Process/Workflow Automation

Rearrange Pages

Reminders

Reporting/Analytics

Reporting & Statistics

Rotate Pages

Search/Filter

Secure Data Storage

Side-by-Side Comparison

Signature Capture

Signature Creation

Single Sign On

SSL Security

Status Tracking

Tagging

Team Collaboration

Template Management

Templates

Text Editing

Text Extraction

Third-Party Integrations

User Management

Version Control

Watermarking

Workflow Management

Zone Selection Tool

Reviews for Nitro PDF come from a wide variety of industries, including construction (6% of reviewers), higher education (6%), and information technology and services (5%). The most frequent use case for Nitro PDF cited by reviewers is working with PDFs (87% of reviewers).

Users and use cases

Most users consider Nitro PDF to offer strong value for money due to its affordable one-time license and comprehensive features. However, some users report that upgrades and advanced features can be costly, and they find free version limitations restrictive.

Value for money

The Nitro PDF integration most frequently cited by reviewers is Microsoft Word, a document generation product rated 4.8 out of 5 for its integration with Nitro PDF.

Integrations

Nitro PDF is a PDF program with key features that include converting files to PDF, PDF reading, text editing, and more.

Nitro PDF

Web-based

Windows

Linux

iPhone

iPad

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Docusign

Foxit PDF Reader

ABBYY FineReader PDF

Soda PDF

PDFelement

Foxit eSign

Nitro PDF Standard

Nitro PDF Plus 

Nitro PDF Classic

Slow performance with large files

prepress printing manager

When handling a big file size or after using the software for a time shows a bug hanging and crashes the durability of the software in the pro version.

Researcher's 

Some users have reported slow performance, mainly when working with large or complex PDF files.

86% of reviewers feel negative about Nitro’s performance and speed, especially with large or complex files. Some users report slow loading times, lagging, and frequent crashes when opening or editing big documents. Reviewers indicate that these issues can disrupt their workflow, causing delays and requiring program restarts. They say handling multiple files or advanced features like OCR often leads to freezing or unresponsiveness. Users think the software can be resource-intensive, making it less suitable for heavy-duty tasks or older computers.

Unresponsive customer service

65% of reviewers feel negative about Nitro’s customer support. Some users report difficulty reaching support, with long response times and no direct phone contact. Reviewers say the ticketing system is slow, and technical issues often go unresolved for days. They indicate that support is sometimes only available for paying customers, and the lack of timely assistance is frustrating. Users think the absence of reliable help impacts their overall experience, especially when facing software problems or needing urgent solutions.

Frequent crashes and glitches

Associate Technical Lead

Sometimes screen (including the operating system) gets stuck and unresponsive while loading the application.

60% of reviewers feel negative about Nitro’s stability due to bugs and issues. Some users report the program crashes or freezes, especially when processing large or complex PDFs. Reviewers indicate that glitches like unresponsive screens, failed document splits, and software hangs disrupt their work. They say these incidents require restarting the application, which interrupts productivity. Users think recurring bugs and the need for frequent updates can be annoying, and they express concern about workflow interruptions caused by unexpected errors.

Streamlined electronic signatures

GMP Quality Assurance Lead

I couldn't do my day to day work tasks without Nitro pro - its so easy to edit and combine documents and with the signing we have been able to cancel our costly signing program subscription too .

Attorney

It allows me to save time by having clients sign documents electronically rather than having to meet in person.

92% of reviewers feel positive about Nitro’s document signing capabilities. Some users report that adding digital signatures is simple and helps them avoid printing and scanning. Reviewers appreciate being able to save and reuse signatures, create fillable fields, and sign documents from anywhere. They say these features reduce turnaround time for approvals and support remote collaboration. Users think electronic signing is crucial for modern business processes, and they value the convenience and professionalism it brings to document handling. Some reviewers find Nitro’s signing tools comparable to other leading solutions.

Efficient document merging tools

Senior Procurement Engineer - Facilities Management

Nitro is a valuable and indispensable tool when preparing contracts, copying bids, and merging reports in PDF format, so that we can easily share and attach them via email.

95% of reviewers feel positive about Nitro’s document combination features. Reviewers indicate they can quickly merge, split, and organize multiple files, which streamlines tasks like preparing contracts, reports, and school documents. Some users say the ability to extract, reorder, and combine pages from various sources saves significant time and reduces reliance on multiple applications. They appreciate that merging different file types into a single PDF is intuitive and helps them maintain organized, presentable documents. Users think these tools are essential for daily workflows, allowing for fast and flexible document management.

Intuitive user experience

91% of reviewers feel positive about Nitro’s ease of use. Reviewers say the software is straightforward to learn, with an intuitive interface that makes daily PDF tasks quick and efficient. Some users report that navigation is simple, and they can easily access the features they need without confusion. They find the program’s layout clear and appreciate that it requires minimal training to get started. Users think Nitro’s simplicity helps them complete work faster and with less frustration, making it suitable for both new and experienced users.

Comprehensive PDF management

89% of reviewers feel positive about Nitro’s PDF document management tools. Some users report that they can easily edit, convert, annotate, and organize PDF files in various formats, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Reviewers appreciate features like text and image editing, form creation, and batch processing, which help them handle daily office tasks efficiently. They say the software’s versatility supports collaboration, document security, and compatibility with other programs. Users find Nitro’s broad toolset valuable for managing legal, educational, and business documents without needing multiple applications.

Civil Engineering

Nitro Pro’s user-friendly interface, powerful PDF editing tools, and effective document collaboration features make it a solid choice for managing and annotating PDFs.

editor

It works well and fulfilled all my needs for many years., but when I needed to transfer the licence from one laptop to another things fell apart.

Paralegal

I really enjoy the comprehensive features that assist with work efficiency and integration with Microsoft programs.

Quality Intervention Specialist

Honestly the bulk file conversion feature cannot be stated how great that is being able to turn 50 word docs into 50 PDFs is magical.

Incorrect information from support, quick to take money for a licence impossible to get it back when they fail to provide the software.

I love the digital signature and document modification features the most.

Executive Assistant

Only thing that is annoying is that it tends to default to the app for all PDFs which is not necessary - not really due to Nitro!

Product Owner

Lacks the advanced features of Adobe Acrobat Pro.

I’d like the “printer ID” to be much more visible (to avoid clicking on Adobe PDF)

Senior Program Manager

It offers multiple ways to convert your document and even allows you to sign it.

Director of IT

It is not always a 100% match for what Adobe can do depending on what features you need, so there are some times when we need to reach outside of the product to find a solution.

It can't open some pdf files (says they're corrupted - but they're not since Adobe Acrobat Reader can open them).

Senior immigration Advisor

Nitro Pro provides 14 trials fro you to installing, setup and exploit all features before final purchase

Project Manager

I have been Nitro on a daily basis alomst 5 years now and found it an amazing software to convert, edit and merge files together.

Admin

Sometimes editing text from another person's document takes some extra formatting. But I still feel the product is worthy.

Legal Counsel

From editing PDFs, OCR documents, electronically signing and converting to another document form from PDF, Nitro is able to do this with ease.

Billing

Love Nitro - if you need PDF or editing or signatures this is the program for you

Systems and network technician

Comprehensive editing, reviewing, and security features.

Strong cloud integration which makes multi device use much easier.

Systems Administrator

It does everything you would need for a PDF file for less cost

System Adminstrator

It's user-friendly and provides strong integration with cloud storage services.

Cultural Immersion Manager

I love its editing and notes and highlight in every color.

Nitro PDF vs Adobe Acrobat Reader Comparison (2026)

Nitro PDF

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives