Adobe Acrobat Reader DC vs Skim : Which is Better?

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC icon

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is the industry standard for viewing, printing, signing and commenting on PDF documents. Developed by Adobe Systems

License: Freemium

Categories: Office & Productivity

Apps available for Mac OS X Windows Android iPhone Windows Phone

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Skim icon

Skim

Skim is a PDF reader and note-taker for OS X. It is designed to help you read and annotate scientific papers in PDF.

License: Open Source

Categories: Office & Productivity

Apps available for Mac OS X

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC VS Skim

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is a comprehensive PDF solution offering advanced editing, form filling, and security features, making it suitable for business and professional use. In contrast, Skim is a lightweight PDF reader ideal for academic purposes, focusing on simplicity and ease of use without the heavy features that Acrobat provides.

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

Pros:

  • Comprehensive PDF editing tools
  • Supports form filling and digital signatures
  • Wide range of annotation options
  • Strong security features
  • Integration with various cloud services
  • User-friendly interface
  • Cross-platform availability
  • Regular updates and support
  • Advanced search capabilities
  • Multi-language support

Cons:

  • Subscription-based for advanced features
  • Can be resource-intensive
  • Complexity for casual users
  • Requires internet for some features
  • May have a learning curve for new users
  • Higher cost compared to alternatives
  • Heavy on system resources
  • Too many features for basic tasks
  • Not as intuitive for beginners
  • Limited free version

Skim

Pros:

  • Lightweight and fast
  • Free to use
  • Excellent for basic PDF reading and annotating
  • Focus on academic and research PDFs
  • Open-source with community support
  • Simple interface
  • Good for viewing PDFs without heavy features
  • Customizable via plugins
  • Ideal for Mac users
  • No cost

Cons:

  • Limited editing features
  • Lacks advanced PDF functionalities
  • Only available on Mac
  • No form filling or digital signature support
  • Basic annotation tools compared to Acrobat
  • Less frequent updates
  • No cloud integration
  • Limited security features
  • Fewer support options
  • Primarily for academic use

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