These are the key points that I explored during the Adobe Acrobat vs UPDF clash:

• UPDF is a more budget-friendly option for editing your PDFs.
• UPDF has more extensive AI features than Adobe.
• Both Adobe Acrobat and UPDF have great PDF editor tools.
• Adobe Acrobat has more advanced PDF signing and form-filling features.
• Adobe Acrobat is slow sometimes, and I have not experienced the same with UPDF.

Now, let’s dive into the side-by-side comparison of Adobe Acrobat vs UPDF!

Verdict

Here’s the quick verdict if you don’t want to read the full Adobe Acrobat vs UPDF review:

Tested with our review & scoring methodology Real-world testing Unbiased evaluation

My ratings: Adobe Acrobat vs UPDF

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Key differences between Adobe Acrobat and UPDF

Here is a short overview of the key differences I found in the Adobe Acrobat vs UPDF showdown:

Comparison: Adobe Acrobat vs UPDF

First, I will show you both PDF readers’ features one by one. Second, I will guide you through my experience with them and their pricing. Lastly, I will show you the pros and cons of Adobe Acrobat and UPDF and reveal my pick.

Key features

Let’s compare Adobe Acrobat and UPDF based on their key features!

Adobe Acrobat’s features

PDF editor

The Adobe PDF Library has solid tools to edit your PDFs. On the left sidebar, you can easily to the files that you have worked on or read.

If you click the “All tools” tab, you can access Adobe Acrobat’s tools to edit your PDF. Also, if you click on any part of your PDF, you can highlight, underline, strikethrough, or copy text. Furthermore, it has a moveable sidebar that allows you to draw, fill forms, etc.

Adobe Acrobat allows you to add or remove text from a PDF document. Nevertheless, if you want to move some text or images to a different page, Adobe Acrobat does not let you drag and drop the text or image elements. I found this strange, as all the advanced PDF editors have such a drag-and-drop feature.

On the other hand, Adobe Acrobat does a great job when it comes to editing text in a scanned image. It performs an optical character recognition, and after, it allows you to insert, change, or remove the recognized text. This feature works great even in the case of old printed documents.

Overall, you can easily find all the tools you need when editing your PDFs.

Annotate PDF documents

As mentioned, Adobe Acrobat has some useful annotating features like highlighting, underlining, or copying text. It also allows you to add comments, text fields, sticky notes, or shapes.

These are really useful tools when reviewing PDF documents. But honestly, I miss the stickers. They would make the review process even more efficient and visually appealing.

Organizing PDFs

Adobe Acrobat allows you to insert, replace, extract, rotate, split, and remove pages. While this is not an advanced PDF functionality, it is still nice that you can organize your PDFs smoothly.

You can drag and drop page thumbnails to order them in the way you want them. For example, you can easily drag a Word file into the thumbnail images of your PDF document, and Acrobat is capable of converting it into PDF format, so you can smoothly insert it into the existing PDF pages.

The one thing I did not like here is that the free version does not include even the basic PDF organization features.

PDF form filling and signatures

Just click the “Fill & Sign” tool, and you will have access to all the tools for filing PDF forms and signing documents. By enabling PDF form filling, you can complete form filling by clicking a text field and typing or inserting a text box.

Moreover, if you hit the “Fill & Sign” button in the toolbar, you can quickly draw or type your signature and place it on the form.

Ultimately, Adobe Acrobat has easy-to-use form filling and singatures features.

Encrypt and share

With Adobe Acrobat, you can protect your PDF files with passwords. It is also great that you can limit access to certain features like printing or editing. To use the password protection, click on the “All tools” tab and hit “Protect a PDF.” This way, you can add a password to your PDF files.

Furthermore, you can share PDF documents directly from Adobe Acrobat or after exporting them. You can create a public link to the PDF file or send it as an email attachment through your email app.

AI assistant

Adobe Acrobat also has an AI assistant feature for $4.99 per month if you have a paid plan. It is a useful tool to get quick answers about your PDFs, summarize content, and digest documents faster.

The summary feature works great; Adobe Acrobat creates a summary with one click that pulls key points from your document. It also allows you to chat with multiple documents, so you can find crucial information faster.

However, I experienced that these AI assistant features are still limited compared to UPDF.

UPDF’s features

Let’s see if UPDF is the best Adobe Acrobat alternative!

PDF and text editing

While most PDF editors only allow you to add text boxes or comments, UPDF offers way more options to customize and edit the text in your PDF file. You can edit all the elements of the PDF documents smoothly, and the text is no exception.

You can add, remove, and change existing PDF text, which is even more useful than you think. I really loved that I could change the original text in PDF documents, so I did not need to make the changes in the Word document and convert it into PDFs again.

It is also great that you can use custom text. You can customize the text’s color, font, and alignment. Besides these options, you can highlight text similarly to other PDF editors.

Insert images

UPDF offers many functionalities you may need to edit images in PDF files. With UPDF, you can add, crop, replace, rotate, delete, and extract images with a few clicks. Furthermore, it supports drag-and-drop functionality to easily add or replace images.

In a nutshell, UPDF provides all the editing options you need to customize images in PDFs.

Add sticky notes and stickers

When reviewing a PDF file, sticky notes are an excellent way to add comments or notes. With UPDF, you can insert small notes in different places in a PDF file to give feedback or expand information.

Nevertheless, my favorite tool from the edit mode was the stickers during the UPDF review. UPDF has some unique stickers that you can use when editing PDF documents. They can be quite valuable when you need to review PDFs quickly and want to highlight some parts.

Signatures

Many businesses use digital signatures for PDF documents to reduce the chance of fraud and authenticate documents. UPDF offers an easy way to add your signature anywhere on the PDF. Also, you can adjust the field size and edit its properties by double-clicking on it.

Annotation tools

I already mentioned some annotation tools previously, like sticky notes or stickers, but there are some additional tools you may want to try. Such annotation tools can significantly improve your experience with PDFs, especially when it comes to team collaboration.

You can add annotations to your PDF files, including text callouts, strikethrough, and more. I found the openable attachment to the best annotation tool. It was so good that I could insert other documents in different parts of the PDFs. Simply put, it makes the referencing much easier and more accessible to anyone reading PDF files.

Let’s take a closer what AI features this PDF software offers for us!

Summarize PDFs

I do not know about you, but dealing with PDFs is a burdensome and time-consuming task for me. I always try to find a way to make this process faster. Fortunately, UPDF’s AI features made me faster and more productive when working with PDFs.

Thanks to UPDF’s integration with ChatGPT, you can ask AI to summarize your PDF document without switching between apps. It is a pretty efficient way to understand long PDF files without reading the whole document.

The structure of the summary changes every time you ask UPDF, so you need to include your precise instructions in the prompt. My preferred structure for the summary was section-based. It essentially collects the main takeaways for each section, and you can get an overview of what the PDF is about.

Chat with PDFs

Moreover, UPDF has an AI chat feature. Simply put, imagine interacting with ChatGPT; you can ask UPDF to rewrite specific parts of the PDF or just answer your questions regarding the document.

Overall, the AI chat feature is an excellent way to digest PDFs faster and move on to the next task.

Translate PDFs

If you are working in a multicultural environment, the translation tool could be valuable. You can ask UPDF to translate content directly on the page, so you do not need to switch between translators and PDF editors. With just a few clicks, you can translate documents in seconds.

You can find it step-by-step in the above video if you are interested in the whole process and the outcome.

Create mindmaps from PDFs

Finally, one of the most exciting features is the mindmaps. You can convert your PDF into a mindmap quickly. It not only helps you understand but document faster, but it offers a helpful way to show the overall structure of a subject.

Once UPDF generates the mindmap, you can download it in different file formats like PDF or JPG.

My experience

Now, let’s see my experience with both PDF apps!

My experience with Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat has massive PDF editing features. However, it comes with a price, as you can access these features only with paid plans. With the Adobe Pro License, you can easily organize, edit, and convert PDFs.

It has a clean user interface, and you can access it on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and online. The only issue that comes up occasionally is that it is quite slow when opening larger PDF files.

Ultimately, I had a positive experience with Adobe Acrobat. Using the Adobe Pro License is ideal for all your PDF needs.

Short on time? Here’s a quick overview of Adobe Acrobat

My experience with UPDF

First of all, UPDF is a very versatile app. It works on many platforms, including Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, and more. But the best part is that you can use UPDF with one license on multiple devices.

UPDF has a user-friendly interface, so even new users can learn all the features quickly. I loved that I could access every tool with one or a maximum of two clicks.

Another thing that stands out is how easy it is to edit PDFs. You can change every element in a PDF file to fit your needs. Compared to other PDF editors, it provides high flexibility for managing all aspects of your PDF files.

Besides the above-described functionalities, I tried other tools as well. For instance, it has an efficient feature for cropping or organizing pages. But you can also combine multiple PDFs into one. These are pretty helpful for saving time and nerves when working on PDFs.

Lastly, my favorite part during the UPDF review was the AI features. I think AI tools can be highly effective when dealing with text-based content. Fortunately, the AI features work nicely with UPDF. If you are someone who has to deal with many PDFs, these AI tools can be life-savers.

Short on time? Here’s a quick overview of UPDF

Pricing

Let’s check their pricing!

Adobe Acrobat’s pricing

Adobe Acrobat has three plans, and you can add the AI Assistant feature for $4.99 per month. Also, the prices are different for individuals, teams, and students & teachers. As the prices vary based on whether you buy it as an individual or team member, let’s focus on the features included in the plans.

The free plan is called Adobe Reader. This plan lets you view, print, share, and add comments to your PDF files.

The Acrobat Standard also includes PDF editor features, so you can edit text and images. You can sign, send, or create digital forms and add your signatures if opting for the Acrobat Standard plan. Essentially, this plan has all the basic and some advanced features to effectively edit PDFs. It costs $155.88/year/user for individuals and $179.88/year/license for businesses.

The Acrobat Pro plan includes all the PDF features you need. With this plan, you can send bulk e-signature requests, turn scanned documents into editable, searchable PDFs, compare two versions, and add branding. You can get the Acrobat Pro for $239.88/year if you purchase it as an individual. The business license is $287.88/year per license for businesses. If you are a student or a teacher, you can get discounts on the Acrobat Pro plan.

The yearly fee of the AI assistant is $59.88 per user, and it is the same for individuals and businesses.

When taking a look at the paid plans of Adobe Acrobat, you will quickly realize that the price is much higher than that of some of its competitors, including UPDF.

Related article:

• Adobe Acrobat Pricing In 2026 | Why I Regret Buying It

UPDF’s pricing

UPDF has three plans. The pricing structure changes whether you are an individual, student, or enterprise client.

The free plan includes limited AI assistant features (i.e., Analyze three files, ask 30 questions) and two file conversions per day. While you can use many editing features, UPDF will add watermarks to your document.

With the UPDF Pro license, you can access all the editing features without watermarks. If you are not interested in AI features, a lifetime license is an ideal option. It is $39.99 per year for individuals and $69.99 per year for businesses.

Also, you can pay once and use it forever for $69.99 as an individual and $99.99 per license as a business.

If you want to use the AI tools, opt for the UPDF with AI plan. Using this UPDF license, you can utilize all the editing and AI features without limits. It will cost you $79 per year. However, they can really boost your productivity.

During my Adobe Acrobat vs UPDF review, I discovered that there is a significant difference between the pricing structure of the two PDF editors. On average, Adobe Acrobat costs you five times more than UPDF if we compare the two Pro plans.

Adobe Acrobat’s pros and cons

Let’s see the pros and cons I discovered after the Adobe Acrobat vs UPDF review.

Adobe Acrobat’s pros

First, Adobe Acrobat offers many tools to manipulate, annotate, and edit PDFs. The Acrobat Pro should fulfill all your PDF needs.

Secondly, it has easy-to-use PDF signing and form-filling features. It is smooth to add your signatures or fill out forms.

Lastly, Adobe Acrobat provides cloud storage for your documents, so you can access them from any device.

Adobe Acrobat’s cons

I have two issues with Adobe Acrobat.

Honestly, Adobe is an expensive tool compared to UPDF or other PDF tools. This should not be a huge problem if it had a decent free version. Nonetheless, Adobe Acrobat Reader has limited features, and it is only ideal for reading PDFs.

Furthermore, Adobe Acrobat was quite slow for me, particularly if I opened a large PDF file. At first, I believed it was just me, but after reading several reviews, many users experienced the same.

UPDF’s pros and cons

These are the pros and cons I found when testing UPDF.

UPDF’s pros

One of the main advantages of UPDF is that you can use it on multiple platforms with one UPDF license. Furthermore, it has a budget-friendly pricing compared to Adobe Acrobat.

Also, UPDF has a user-friendly UI. It makes it easy to discover and utilize all the tools quickly.

The AI features can make many workflows more efficient when working on PDFs. I enjoyed using them, and they saved me tons of time.

Lastly, you can personalize all the elements of a PDF document with UPDF, including text and images.

UPDF’s cons

I identified two minor issues when reviewing UPDF. It has limited drawing tools, and some users reported small bugs. Apart from these, I did not experience other downsides when using UPDF.

Related articles:

• UPDF Review: Is It The Best PDF Editor In 2026? (REAL Experience)
• PDF Expert Vs UPDF: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)
• Nitro Vs UPDF: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)
• Foxit Vs UPDF: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)

Adobe Acrobat and UPDF alternatives

If you feel like Adobe Acrobat or UPDF is not perfect for you, here are the best alternatives:

My recommendation: Adobe Acrobat vs UPDF

After my Adobe Acrobat vs UPDF review, I realized that both PDF tools are great if you want a reliable option for organizing and editing your PDFs. Nevertheless, considering the pricing of Adobe Acrobat, my pick is UPDF.

While there is not much of a difference between their PDF features, Adobe Acrobat’s prices are five times higher than UPDF’s, which makes it quite overpriced.

During my Adobe Acrobat vs UPDF review, I experienced more extensive AI features when using UPDF. They can make you more productive when working with PDFs. It is also a plus for them that they announce new features frequently.

Why you can trust our reviews

At thebusinessdive.com, our team tests, reviews, and compares hundreds of productivity apps every year — from project management tools to note-taking apps. We dive deep into real-world use cases to help you find the right tools that actually improve your workflow, not just add noise.

Our mission? No fluff, no shortcuts—just honest, hands-on insights from productivity pros.

Discover how we stay transparent, read our review methodology, and let us know about any tools we missed.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a better PDF reader than Adobe Acrobat?

Adobe Acrobat is a solid PDF reader and editor. However, there are great alternatives to Adobe Acrobat on the market, such as UPDF. They offer similar features for a significantly lower price. Besides UPDF, other popular PDF editors are Foxit, PDF Expert, and Nitro.

Is UPDF a good PDF editing software?

UPDF is a perfect and affordable choice for editing your PDFs. It also has extensive AI features that help you understand PDF documents faster.

Is UPDF safe?

After finishing my review and reading other UPDF reviews, I did not find anything suspicious regarding UPDF or Superace Software Technology, which is the owner of this product.

Based on my review and research, I can say that UPDF is a safe app. Furthermore, its security features help to keep your PDF documents safe on all your devices.

Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Read the full privacy policy here.

Aron Kantor

Hey there! I am Aron, the founder of Thebusinessdive. I have been testing productivity apps for almost three years now. I reach 25.000 -50.000 people monthly with the mission to help you find the perfect productivity apps. Subscribe to my YouTube channel, newsletter, and social media to hear more about the best productivity tools. Let’s dive in!

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