Adobe Acrobat remains the gold standard for PDF editors—as well as the most expensive. While both versions will get you the desktop software, access to Adobe Document Cloud services for storing and sharing files, and an Adobe Sign subscription to sign and collect legal electronic and digital signatures on any device, there are some differences in features and capabilities that may make one or the other better suited to your needs.

That includes converting documents and images to PDF, creating PDFs from any application that prints, combining multiple documents and file types into a single PDF file, and turning webpages into interactive PDFs with live links. Both versions also support basic editing of PDFs. You can add, delete, reorder, and extract pages; edit images and text; permanently remove sensitive information; add page numbering, bookmarks, headers, and watermarks; and convert PDFs into Microsoft Office files and a variety of image formats.

You can share documents—as an email attachment or as link to the file in Adobe Document Cloud—add comments and markups, fill in forms, collect e-signatures, and receive real-time activity notifications. Once you move beyond the basics, there are a few key differences between Acrobat Standard DC and Pro DC that may influence you to decide on one over the other. A critical feature for many users is the ability to convert scanned paper documents into searchable, editable PDFs.

It can recognize text in a variety of languages, allowing you to easily find and edit information in the document. While Acrobat Standard DC includes enough editing capabilities for most personal and business use cases, Acrobat Pro DC adds a few that might be required in certain scenarios. For instance, Pro DC gives you the option to redact sensitive information from documents when you want to keep it hidden from particular viewers, rather than only permanently remove it as Acrobat Standard DC does.

If you work with legal documents, Pro DC is the only version that enables Bates numbering. Perhaps most importantly, Acrobat Pro DC extends editing to your mobile devices, allowing you to edit text and images; reorder, delete, and rotate PDF pages; and fill and e-sign PDFs on your tablet or phone. If you send a lot of documents out for review, you need an easy way to make sure all requested changes have been made. You can even filter the types of changes you want to view and print a comparison report and summary of changes.

This will be the deciding factor for Mac users. Acrobat Pro DC is best reserved for business users and those with particular needs, like protecting sensitive information. Michael Ansaldo is a veteran consumer and small-business technology journalist. Searchable scanned documents A critical feature for many users is the ability to convert scanned paper documents into searchable, editable PDFs. Enhanced editing While Acrobat Standard DC includes enough editing capabilities for most personal and business use cases, Acrobat Pro DC adds a few that might be required in certain scenarios.

Document comparison If you send a lot of documents out for review, you need an easy way to make sure all requested changes have been made. Operating system support This will be the deciding factor for Mac users. Which one is right for you? Note: When you purchase something after clicking links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Read our affiliate link policy for more details.

– Adobe pro vs acrobat dc free download

 
Always free, and now more powerful than ever, the Acrobat Reader mobile app is packed with the tools you need to view, annotate, sign, and share PDFs anywhere. Download free Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software for your Windows, Mac OS and Android devices to view, print, and comment on PDF documents.