PDF Reader Alternative

very good
key review info
application features
  • View PDF documents
  • (3 more, see all...)

Despite the abundance of PDF readers available on the Internet, Adobe Reader still remains the number one choice for the largest amount of users. The reasoning behind this choice is pretty simple: it is the most popular product that fulfills the simple need of opening PDF documents. Everybody knows where to head in order to download it, updates are received automatically and using it does not require any effort. In most cases confidence in the product either comes to a very close second.

However, long gone are the days when you had no alternative, and now choices are all over the place, all you have to do is look in the right direction. SlimPDF Reader is an alternative to your PDF rendering software; as expected, it is free of charge. The application does not promote any special features as it comes with the essential PDF viewing and printing capabilities and nothing more.

SlimPDF Reader has been stripped to the bone of all bloatware you would find in other PDF readers and adopts a different stance: lightweight solution capable to render Adobe documents; at just 1.43MB its installer is sure proof of that. Except for one step where you are up against a registration form (it is optional and it can be skipped) installation goes unhindered. To make file association more comfortable, one of the steps in the installation procedure offers you the possibility to set SlimPDF Reader as the default application to view PDF files with. A one-time nag will occur, though. At the end of the installation the developer’s home page will be automatically launched in your default web browser, twice.

The interface is no fancy thing; with tools and menus pinned to the upper part it makes no exception from the traditional interface layout. Loading PDF documents is an easy task, especially if you associated the program with this format, so you can simply click on the item to view it. However, SlimPDF Reader can do slightly more for you from this point of view and allows reading multiple documents in the same interface. To arrange them horizontally you can use “Tile” function (Ctrl+Shift+K). Unfortunately you don’t have the option to tile them vertically, but you can use “Cascade” option (Ctrl+Shift+J) after opening a new file and resize document windows yourself.

Since no editing options fit this sort of software, compensation comes through document viewing features. Zooming is sort of limited if compared to other applications, as SlimPDF Reader can enlarge the document only to 400%. Zooming out on the other hand goes as low as 5%. The regular search function is present in the application window in a visible spot and lets you conduct the direction of the look up. The tools for navigating the document are also plain and simple. You can browse it page by page or swiftly go to the last or first sheet in a single click. One option that misses completely from the feature set is the possibility to move inside the document with the help of bookmarks.

An average user that sees in a PDF reader just a tool to load PDF documents in order to view them and does not care too much about additional options, SlimPDF Reader represents a good way out. However, there is a certain sort of users that see certain functions and options as essential in such a tool. Viewing document security properties is one aspect as it informs you of the restrictions imposed by the author. It’s details such as these that the application falls short of.

One would expect that being so simple SlimPDF Reader would have a lighter impacted on system resources. During our tests we noticed an insignificant difference compared to Adobe Reader. However, when it came to releasing RAM, SlimPDF sure stood out. We conducted a simple test that involved only scrolling up and down the document. RAM usage in this scenario went up and preserved the value even after we stopped the experiment.

However, despite all shortcomings, this alternative to Adobe Reader has its advantages, the most important being the fact that it is not the target of any sort of attacks. Thus, whatever vulnerabilities it may have are not exploited by hackers in order to gain access to your computer. For the simple function showing the contents of PDF documents and navigating the file the application does a good job.


The Good

The application comes with a slim installer (1.43MB) and even the installation folder is light. The interface is simple and easy to use, allowing you to execute actions straight from the toolbar: search, print, rotate, go to specific page, skip to the last/first sheet or adjust zoom values.

The Bad

Lack of some options such as the possibility to view security properties of the PDF or support for bookmarks may steer users away (despite the fact that this may be part of the wish of the developer to keep the application simple and light). Also, we noticed that navigating the file by simply scrolling up and down increases RAM usage which is not released the moment all activity ceases.

The Truth

SlimPDF Reader is exactly as advertised: a simple reader for PDF files. It includes no options or functions that are not strictly related to viewing PDF data. Stripped to the bone of unnecessary features the app manages to offer only the essential features for viewing and printing PDF documents.

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This article is also available in Spanish: Una sencilla alternativa a PDF Reader

Follow me on Twitter @Ionut_Ilascu

user interface 5
features 4
ease of use 5
pricing / value 4


final rating 4
Editor's review
very good