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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Adobe Acrobat Reader

    Score8.2 out of 10
    N/AAcrobat Reader is a PDF viewer and converter, available as a free download from Adobe. Users can view, sign, collaborate on and annotate PDF files, or edit and convert PDFs into file formats like Excel and Word.N/A

    Tungsten Power PDF

    Score9.4 out of 10
    Small Businesses (1-50 employees)
    Tungsten Power PDF (formerly Kofax) is an easy-to-use, secure and inexpensive solution to manage PDFs for businesses and individuals. Benefits: Ease of Use: Works like Office desktop products, so it's easier to learn Compatibility: Works across devices and platforms, share documents in a storage cloud …

    $129

    one-time fee per license

    Pricing
    Adobe Acrobat ReaderTungsten Power PDF
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    Power PDF Standard
    $129
    one-time fee per license
    Power PDF for Mac
    $129
    one-time fee per license
    Power PDF Advanced
    $179
    one-time fee per license
    Power PDF Business
    Get a Quote: Subscription and Perpetual available
    per year per seat
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    Adobe Acrobat ReaderTungsten Power PDF
    Free Trial
    NoYes
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoYes
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details—Desktop licenses are buy once, own forever. No subscription fees. Business server licenses are term-based or perpetual with optional maintenance & support contract. Volume and upgrade discounts available.
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    Adobe Acrobat ReaderTungsten Power PDF
    Considered Both Products
    Adobe
    No answer on this topic
    Tungsten Automation formerly Kofax
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    I believe Tungsten Power PDF is superior to Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Acrobat Reader. As previously stated, I wish there were a mobile version that could scan a PDF from a paper document.
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    It's pretty similar in functionality to PDFelement and Adobe but the main advantage is the perpetual license. It works better than Bluebeam for PDF editing stuff that mostly involves regular (8.5x11) size pages
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    Tungsten PDF is the best among the options for functionality, value for money, and usability. Subscription-based products often lock the most useful features behind a higher tier and push you to upgrade to another version (with features you may or may not need). With Tungsten …
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    Adobe Acrobat is better at converting Adobe generated PDFs into Excel. As for manipulating PDFs including combining, Tungsten Power PDF is just as good at a better price point.
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    Power PDF is the PDF reader of choice at my workplace. Its unique blend of capability and accessibility, and subscription-free model, has made it a favorite of mine. As a power user of PDFs, I have found its advanced features not only match but exceed those of similar products, …
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    I think Tungsten Power PDF is much easier to use, costs less and appears to have more features.
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    For the price it is awesome.
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    Simpler to set up and use, more intuitive to navigate, and works consistently. The main reason for moving away from Adobe was the price.
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    Again. The ease of use.
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    Tungsten is much easier to use than Adobe products. We replaced Adobe with Tungsten and have never looked back. We are very happy with the switch in terms of both ease of use and cost. Creating, editing, searching, and converting documents has never been easier. Tungsten …
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    Adobe and others focus on SaaS and subscriptions. I like that Power PDF is a one-time fee. Adobe offers many things I don't need, like Photoshop's AI features. Power PDF is perfect for handling PDFs, which is how I use it.
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    For my purposes, it is a lot better than Adobe Acrobat across the board. Signing PDFs in Tungsten Power PDF are easier than in Adobe and the conversion is a lot better than in Adobe. I bought a copy of Tungsten Power PDF for my own personal use instead of the Adobe Suite that …
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    I asked a CFO group for recommendations, and selected Tungsten from their recommendations. It worked well and was within our cost range, so I didn't evaluate anything further. CFOLC was the group.
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    Generally it is much better. And certainly very much cheaper than some.
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    More cost- effective.
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    Similar functionality, easier to use, less expensive.
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    I think Adobe Acrobat is very slow and does not perform well with large documents. I often have documents that are thousands of pages long and with Adobe it's very difficult to open and load the document, let alone make changes. Kofax Power PDF, on the other hand, responds and …
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    In my experience, Kofax Power PDF is so much easier to use. Much more functionality
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    Kofax gives me everything I need at a better dollar point.
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    Better
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    One time purchase price
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    We selected Power PDF for its affordability and ease of use.
    Many features are comparable to similar software, such as Adobe products.
    We would be happy to see some improvements in Docusign and fillable forms.
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    There is no comparison between Reader and Kofax Power PDF. Kofax Power PDF allows you to truly work with pdfs and create usable documents. OCR, redaction and removal of metadata is essential to my line of business. We need to be able to mark up documents and comment. Kofax …
    Incentivized
    Chose Tungsten Power PDF
    Adobe is way more expensive but easier to use
    Incentivized
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    95%
    Would buy again
    71 Answers
    98%
    Would buy again
    664 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    97%
    Delivers good value for the price
    67 Answers
    99%
    Delivers good value for the price
    656 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    97%
    Happy with the feature set
    73 Answers
    97%
    Happy with the feature set
    661 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    98%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    45 Answers
    96%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    589 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    96%
    Implementation went as expected
    49 Answers
    97%
    Implementation went as expected
    625 Answers
    Features
    Adobe Acrobat ReaderTungsten Power PDF
    PDF Editors
    Comparison of PDF Editors features of Adobe Acrobat Reader and Tungsten Power PDF
    Feature
    Adobe Acrobat Reader
    9.1
    2 Ratings
    5% above category average
    Tungsten Power PDF
    9.2
    110 Ratings
    6% above category average
    Edit Text and Images9.02 Ratings8.7106 Ratings
    Merge or Split PDFs9.52 Ratings9.8109 Ratings
    Add Annotations9.02 Ratings9.2100 Ratings
    Text Recognition (OCR)8.02 Ratings8.692 Ratings
    Page Management8.52 Ratings9.2100 Ratings
    Form Creation and Editing10.01 Ratings8.892 Ratings
    Secure PDFs10.01 Ratings9.692 Ratings
    Convert to Different Formats9.02 Ratings9.2100 Ratings
    Comment and Review Tools9.02 Ratings9.198 Ratings
    Undo and Redo Actions8.52 Ratings9.4102 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    Adobe Acrobat ReaderTungsten Power PDF
    Small Businesses
    Foxit PDF Editor
    Score8.3 out of 10
    Foxit PDF Editor
    Score8.3 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    PDF Xchange Viewer and Editor
    Score9.3 out of 10
    PDF Xchange Viewer and Editor
    Score9.3 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Email to PDF for Outlook
    Score8 out of 10
    Adobe Acrobat Reader
    Score8.2 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    Adobe Acrobat ReaderTungsten Power PDF
    Likelihood to Recommend
    9.5
    (75 ratings)
    9.4
    (680 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    7.2
    (2 ratings)
    9.0
    (114 ratings)
    Usability
    9.5
    (3 ratings)
    9.0
    (48 ratings)
    Availability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (14 ratings)
    Performance
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (14 ratings)
    Support Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.9
    (465 ratings)
    In-Person Training
    -
    (0 ratings)
    3.6
    (1 ratings)
    Online Training
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.2
    (1 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    9.1
    (33 ratings)
    Configurability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.1
    (9 ratings)
    Ease of integration
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.1
    (10 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (13 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    5.5
    (8 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.1
    (8 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Adobe Acrobat ReaderTungsten Power PDF
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Adobe
    After creating a document, converting it into Adobe Acrobat Reader is usually very easy for storage in my computer, sending/sharing via emails, etc. This also saves a significant amount of unnecessary printing and paper waste, which is great for reducing waste. I don't have to worry about not having the right software/app to view, edit, and share with anyone.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Tungsten Automation formerly Kofax
    I would generally recommend it to those that don't have a paid subscription for pdf services yet and are looking for great value product that can serve you for many years. It product that you need for serious pdf work, if you're not a believer in subscription services. I think Tungsten Power PDF is the best single purchase pdf reader for my needs as lawyer.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Adobe
    • It has all the tools that individuals need for reading/doing light editing of PDF files.
    • It is the most secure PDF reader on the market, and it tends to get patched with timely updates on a regular basis.
    • It usually works very well, as far as the software itself. It doesn't crash a lot, or is particularly an error prone software platform.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Tungsten Automation formerly Kofax
    • Enable to modify all aspects of PDFs: metadata, page operations, text manipulation, form fields.
    • Enable to include JavaScript in order to build reactive PDFs.
    • Offer a wide variety of automation and bulk operation options.
    • Offer the possibility to sign and certify with trutsted identity providers like DocuSign.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Adobe
    • Being able to add image "stamps" to a document is a little tricky as the stamp has to already be in PDF format (at least on Mac) to work. This mean you have to convert the image to PDF before you can use it as a stamp.
    • Being only able to save one signature and one set of initials is a bit of a pain but you can actually use stamps if you need different versions frequently used scribbles for various reasons. The stamp won't secure the document and prevent future changes the same way the signature would though.
    • All of the other features you might want to use are only included with Acrobat Pro but the options are all displayed in the Reader app. When clicked they will offer the free trial that leads to a paid subscription. This is more of an annoyance but you can't fault Adobe for trying to make a sale.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Tungsten Automation formerly Kofax
    • Sometimes the programs takes longer to open than I would like.
    • While I have the latest version (2025.3), I’m unsure for how long I’ll be able to update this version before I’m forced to upgrade to another version. It’s unclear if/when I’ll need to purchase a new version or if I’ll be able to use the one I purchased for several years.
    • The user interface looks a lot like Microsoft Word. I don’t know if this is deliberate, but it would be easier to tell the two apart when I have both programs open at the same time if the Power PDF interface were more distinctive.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Adobe
    To be honest, I do not have any say in the renewal of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. It is managed at an enterprise level, and the decision to renew or not renew is handled well above my pay grade as an external consultant.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Tungsten Automation formerly Kofax
    Tungsten Power PDF is easy to use, the staff all like it, and there are no issues with it on any level. It is a more cost-effective solution to our PDF needs than other products currently available on the market. This product works as intended and it fits our business needs perfectly.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    Adobe
    Again, Adobe Creative Suite is widely used and backed by an industry leader, making the experience very familiar and common for anyone who has used a PDF and wants more features to interact with it. It also makes copy text a lot easier than just previewing the file.
    Read full review
    Tungsten Automation formerly Kofax
    I found it easy to learn and observe that my colleagues also pick it up quickly when they get a license. I've been somewhat involved in training users on the various features, and I find that it's very intuitive compared to some of the other software that my organization uses.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Reliability and Availability
    Adobe
    No answers on this topic
    Tungsten Automation formerly Kofax
    Other that a PDF partially disappearing if left up for a long period of time - no issues. (If you close it and reopen it, it is all there. We have some PDFs that are 400-600 pages long.)
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Performance
    Adobe
    No answers on this topic
    Tungsten Automation formerly Kofax
    Pages nearly always load at the expected rapid speed. Some documents that print quickly from Adobe Reader print much more slowly from Power PDF. I have never generated a report - that's a feature I didn't know existed until now and do not know what it's for
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Adobe
    No answers on this topic
    Tungsten Automation formerly Kofax
    In my experience, Tungsten Power PDF support is difficult to engage with. Like many other software companies, the people and/or AI being used by Tungsten Power PDF support rely on canned responses that have absolutely nothing to do with the problem or that do not fully or properly address the question or problem. Trying to get a live human to actually interact with and provide actual, helpful support has been, in my experience, nearly impossible and is like pulling teeth!
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    In-Person Training
    Adobe
    No answers on this topic
    Tungsten Automation formerly Kofax
    I did not get training from any representative of TrustRadius or from the company from whom TrustRadius acquired the product. I got an in-person overview of the 2018 version of the product from my predecessor who was about to retire from the job I now hold. He did not go into very many of the features and probably only knew about the ones he used most frequently. I gained additional knowledge from the help files, from online searches, and from just fiddling with the product. There's nothing like learning by doing
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Online Training
    Adobe
    No answers on this topic
    Tungsten Automation formerly Kofax
    We watched the training videos and tested out the features and functionality side by side. Some features are not used on a regular basis is it is convenient to go back and review training on that particular functionality when needed.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    Adobe
    The application is pretty much "plug and play"
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Tungsten Automation formerly Kofax
    It was simple and we were using the program the same day. It was as easy as downloading the program and getting in there and playing around. We felt comfortable with it within the first few hours of use.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    Adobe
    We have reviewed DocuSign in comparison to [Adobe] Acrobat Reader [DC's] e-sign capabilities. We found that DocuSign has more robust options when creating contracts and consent capabilities. DocuSign's online UI is much more suited to this type of task as well. However, we decided to stick with [Adobe] Acrobat Reader DC because of the price (DocuSign is more expensive) and we felt we didn't need all of the bells and whistles for contract signature and consent.
    Read full review
    Tungsten Automation formerly Kofax
    Foxit was better than Adobe, but it was still a subscription, and it eventually started trying to push AI features. There were also a lot more small annoyances when doing things like selecting specific text, trying to rearrange pages, changing words in the text, and so on. I switched to Tungsten Power PDF for the permanent license, better OCR, and a smoother experience.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Scalability
    Adobe
    No answers on this topic
    Tungsten Automation formerly Kofax
    Not really familiar since I'm the only person who uses it. But in the past it has been my understanding that Power PDF was offered only on a single-license basis, so it's been expensive for me to use it at home and at work because I had to pay for it on my own. In my current position management supports it so I at least only have to pay for it once.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Adobe
    • It's available for free, so there is no excuse to not install
    • Contains features that you would normally have to pay for in competitor software, so it has a positive impact on ROI
    • Reduces the amount of printing
    • Decreases the amount of time spent on regulatory and governance documentation
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Tungsten Automation formerly Kofax
    • Extracting answers from many filled-out PDF forms now takes minutes instead of 3–4 hours, which saves us roughly 60 hours per year.
    • Two licenses cover our 10-person team's PDF needs: about 2 requests per day that free tools can't handle, saving about 110 hours per year (~€8–9k total).
    • It is noticeably cheaper than equipping the team with Adobe Acrobat Pro subscriptions (savings/difference ~€ 270€/year for two licenses), and it handles editing and commenting better.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    Tungsten Power PDF Screenshots

    Screenshot of the PDF Create Assistant, which can be used to create multiple PDFs at the same time from a variety of source formats. Create individual PDFs, or combine into one PDF package.Screenshot of PDF Profiles that can be created to apply commonly desired settings to new PDF documents created in Power PDF.Screenshot of the application's color, changed from purple to blue, light gray or dark gray.Screenshot of some lightweight document automation that can also be achieved with the Watched Folder and Sequence features.Screenshot of where packages can be signed with pre built templates using Kofax Sign Doc or other integrating e-signersScreenshot of PDFs that can be navigated with a thumbnail view