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9 Useful PDF Reader Extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and More

January 19, 2024 1.7K views

Have you heard of PDF reader extension?PDFs are one of the best formats to read documents offline and there are multiple paid and free applications for this purpose. You don’t need to use any application for online reading because there are extensions for different browsers like Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari that you can add from the respective extension store. This article will elaborate on nine best PDF Reader Extensions that you can add to your browser, so make sure to stick until the end of this article.

Part 1:9 PDF Reader Extensions 

1. WPS PDF Chrome Extension

The Chrome PDF Extension facilitates effective PDF management by allowing tasks such as adding comments, completing forms, signing contracts, and printing files, contributing to enhanced file organization. Moreover, it preserves various complimentary online conversion features for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and image files.

Extension Features Showcase Page.png

Compatible with: Chrome

Pros

  • Effortlessly view

  • Free to highlight, comments and notes

  • Full-featured & Free

  • Smooth viewing of local PDF files

  • File conversion capabilities


Cons

2. Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat is an industry-standard PDF editor with advanced editing, commenting, and security features. It includes OCR technology for scanned document conversion and integrates with Adobe Document Cloud. With this extension, you can try tools to export to and from PDF, create a PDF, merge PDF documents, organize a PDF, reduce PDF size, and more.

Compatible with: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari

Pros

  • Stunning PDF editing and management tools.

  • Advanced OCR technology.

  • Integration with Adobe Document Cloud

Cons

  • Expensive subscription plans

  • Resource-intensive

3. Kami

Kami is a collaborative PDF editor with real-time annotation and commenting features. It integrates well with learning management systems and provides document markup and highlighting tools. It seamlessly integrates with OneDrive and Microsoft Teams that ensures instant accessibility.

Compatible with: Chrome, Firefox, and Edge

Pros

  • Real-time collaboration and annotation.

  • Integration with Google Classroom.

  • Document markup, text highlighting, and drawing tools.

  • Free editable teaching templates

Cons

  • Advanced features require a paid subscription.

  • Limited offline functionality

4. Awesome PDF Viewer, Reader

It is a lightweight and fast PDF reader with a simple interface. It allows page navigation, zooming, and text selection and supports bookmarking and search functionality. 

Compatible with:Chrome, Firefox, and Edge

Pros

  • Lightweight and fast performance.

  • Basic PDF reading and navigation features.

  • Bookmarking and search functionality for easy document access.

Cons

  • Lacks advanced editing capabilities.

5. PDF Reader

PDF Reader is a simple browser extension for viewing and editing PDF documents. It supports page navigation, zooming, text selection, form filling, and annotation. It supports light and dark themes to suit your visibility. You can also see PDF signed and unsigned signatures, and it Partially supports executing PDF scripts.

Compatible with: Chrome, Firefox, and Edge

Pros

  • Easy-to-use interface.

  • PDF viewing and basic editing features

  • Supports form filling and annotation.

Cons

  • Limited advanced editing capabilities.

  • Compatibility issues with complex PDF files.

6. SmallPDF

SmallPDF is an online platform offering various PDF tools, including conversion, compression, and editing. It provides a simplified interface with drag-and-drop functionality and supports integration with cloud storage services. With this extension, you can merge, split, extract PDF Pages, and rotate and delete PDF pages.

Compatible with:Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari

Pros

  • Easy-to-use Interface

  • Supports conversion, compression, and editing.

  • Integration with cloud storage services.

Cons

  • Limited advanced editing features

  • File Size constraints

7. BeeLine Reader PDF Viewer

BeeKLine Reader PDF Viewer is an online PDF converter that converts various file formats to PDF. It supports batch conversion, preserves document formatting, and offers a simple and user-friendly interface.

Compatible with: Chrome, Mozilla, and Edge

Pros

  • Improves reading speed and comprehension.

  • Supports PDF files, a widely used document format.

Cons

  • Potential color perception difficulties

  • Limited Editing features

8. Inkit

Inkit is a versatile direct mail automation tool that helps businesses streamline offline marketing campaigns. It automates sending personalized direct mail, postcards, and letters.

Compatible with: Chrome, Firefox, and Edge

Pros

  • Simplifies the direct mail process, saving time and effort.

  • Personalization and customization of mailings

  • Integrates with CRM systems

Cons

  • Limited design and creative options

9. Save As PDF

Save as PDF is a utility available in various applications that converts files into PDF format for easy sharing and printing while preserving the original formatting and layout.

Compatible with: Chrome, Firefox, and Edge

Pros

  • Convert files to the widely supported PDF format.

  • Preserves original formatting

Cons

  • Limited advanced PDF editing capabilities.

Part 2:How to Add PDF Reader Extension in Your Browser?

Adding PDF Reader Extension to your browser is easy. Although it is different for different browsers, we have provided you with a procedure for all famous browsers.

1. For Chrome

Step 1:Launch your web browser and Go to the Chrome Web Store.Search for the extension you want to add Like Grammarly chrome extensions and tools below.

Step 2:Click on it, and select Add to Chrome.

Step 3: Open your browser and click on the three-dots icon in the top right corner, where the toolbar is present.

Step 4: Then click on More Tools> Extensions.

2. For Firefox

Step 1: Launch Mozilla Firefox. And Click the Alt key to bring up the Firefox menu bar.

Step 2: Click on the Extension Menu as shown in the below snapshot.

Step 3: It will take you to Firefox Extension Store where you can Search for your preferred extension.

Step 4: Click Add to Firefox and wait a while until the extension is added.

3. For Microsoft Edge

Step 1: In Microsoft Edge, select Extensions, located to the right of your browser address bar.

        Tip:

If you don't see Extensions to the right of your browser address bar, select Settings and More> Extensions.

Step 2: Select Open Microsoft Edge Add-ons.

Step 3:Find the extension you'd like to add and select Get.

Step 4: At the prompt showing permissions required by the extension, allow it and then select Add an extension if you wish to proceed

Step 5:You'll see a final prompt confirming the extension has been added.

4. For Safari

Step 1:Launch Safari and choose Safari > Preferences.

Step 2:In the Preferences window, click Security, then click Website Settings next to Internet plug-ins.

Step 3:Select the pdf reader extension in the list of plug-ins.

FAQs

Q1. How to Change the Default PDF Viewer in Windows 10?

Right-click on a PDF file > "Open with" from the context menu. Then choose "Choose another app." Select the desired PDF viewer from the list of available applications or click "More apps" to explore additional options.

Q2. Why can't I view PDFs in Chrome?

If you are experiencing issues viewing PDFs in Chrome, there can be several reasons behind it. It could be due to problems with the PDF, compatibility issues with Chrome, or conflicts with certain extensions.

Q3. What is the free PDF editor extension for Chrome?

One popular free PDF editor extension for Chrome is "Smallpdf." Smallpdf offers a range of editing features, including adding text, annotations, and images to PDFs. It also provides options for merging, splitting, and compressing PDF files.

Summary

PDF reader extension is fun because it keeps the original formatting intact, but online PDF reading can be hectic due to limitations of online tools. With the help of the 9 PDF as mentioned earlier tools, you can take the online PDF reading game to the next level. These PDF Reader Extensions are available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari.

Some of these are paid tools, while others are free. If you are looking for the best free PDF reader extension for Chrome, WPS PDF Extension is the best choice. With WPS PDF Extension, users can view PDFs and annotate, highlight, and add comments, making it an ideal tool for collaborating on documents. Additionally, the extension offers reliable performance and stability, ensuring a smooth and efficient PDF reading experience.

15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.