Acrobat 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.
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WinZip
Score 8.7 out of 10
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WinZip is a utility for file management, compression, encryption, and backup. With banking-level security, it keeps files safe while optimizing storage space both locally and in the cloud. It also offers robust sharing options, automated backups, and PDF and image management capabilities to fuel workflows beyond compression.
This is a useful tool for anyone who downloads and uses PDFs in the day-to-day operations of their role. It has many functionalities like PDF to word documents, e-signatures, commenting, and printing PDF documents. You can annotate PDFs from anywhere, store files on the cloud, and ultimately it makes it easier to collaborate with colleagues. It would be best for e-signatures and editing PDFs, but mainly the program is used for doing anything you like to a PDF.
The standard suite will work for most users, but you have to upgrade to the pro suite or the unlimited suite in order to get the cloud sharing for multiple accounts. So, if you are looking at just sending documents from one user to another user, the standard version will work, but if you are trying to use it as a calibration software, you will need to upgrade all users to the more expensive version to unlock those features.
As was previously mentioned one of the greatest strengths of the program is the versatility of using across multiple platforms or being able to open the corresponding zip files on multiple platforms without having to install additional software.
Another strength it has in the the graphical user interface (GUI). It is, and always has been, one of the better ones in the industry, as compared to other compression software.
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.
When the dashboard comes up, it is not always intuitive as to the location of where files are going when unzipping; you have to click on the file to have the dialog come up.
Password-protection usage is complex.
Fewer icons as the number of them can be confusing.
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.
The main issues or limitations with Adobe Acrobat Reader DC usually stem from the device or OS rather than the software or document. Complaints typically arise when contributors use a different app to view or edit, which is understandably outside of Adobe's control. It would be helpful if the ability to open and fill a PDF was built into the OS, but that's more of a licensing issue than anything else.
Listen, nobody can get a perfect 10 (just ask your boss at review time, you can't say you are a 10 because then you'd have nothing to strive for!). WinZip's Support team knows their product, which is a fantastic thing to hear, unlike when you call giant companies (Microsoft, Vipre, and Norton) and their turnaround in their support center is so disgusting that their Support team only knows how to read off of a script
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.
7Zip is a freeware file compression software that does a lot of the same core functions as WinZip but lacks the cloud functions of WinZip. If you need to share extremely large encrypted zip files and don't mind paying, WinZip is a very powerful software and will get the job done.
