Adobe Acrobat family
Product comparison
Want more information?
Check out this detailed product comparison matrix (PDF, 503K).
| Acrobat 8 features | Reader | Standard | Pro | 3D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| View, print, and search Adobe PDF files | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Use Start Meeting to collaborate online and share documents in real time with Adobe Acrobat Connect™ software | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Create PDF documents from any application that prints, including one-button creation from Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Protect PDF documents with passwords and 128-bit encryption | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Apply restrictions on printing, copying, and altering PDF documents | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Create PDF documents with one-button ease from Microsoft Outlook, Internet Explorer, Publisher, and Access, as well as Lotus Notes | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Combine files from multiple applications into a single PDF document | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Combine multiple files into a searchable, sortable PDF package that maintains the individual security settings and digital signatures of the original PDF files | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Use familiar commenting tools including sticky notes, highlighter, lines, shapes, and stamps | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Conduct shared document reviews that allow review participants to see one another's comments | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Compile comments from all reviewers into a single PDF document and sort, filter, and print as needed for easy reconciliation | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Authenticate and certify PDF documents with digital signatures | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Scan paper documents into PDF and automatically recognize text with optical character recognition (OCR) | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Save Adobe PDF files as Microsoft Word documents, retaining the layout, fonts, formatting, and tables, to facilitate reuse of content | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Complete tasks more quickly with a streamlined user interface, new customizable toolbars, and a "Getting Started" page to visually direct you to commonly used features | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Find hidden information, including metadata, annotations, attachments, form fields, layers, and bookmarks, and delete as needed | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Permanently delete sensitive information, including specific text or illustrations, with redaction tools | no | no | yes | yes |
| Create PDF documents with one-button ease from AutoCAD®, Microsoft Visio, and Microsoft Project (Windows® only) | no | no | yes | yes |
| Preserve document layers in technical drawings in Visio and AutoCAD, and object data in Visio (Windows only) | no | no | yes | yes |
| Create fillable PDF forms from scanned paper, existing PDF documents, Microsoft Word documents, or Excel spreadsheets | no | no | yes | yes |
| Automatically recognize form fields on static PDF documents and convert them to interactive fields that can be filled electronically by anyone using free Adobe Reader® software† | no | no | yes | yes |
| Enable Adobe Reader† users to participate in reviews with complete commenting and markup tools, including sticky notes, highlighter, lines, shapes, and stamps | no | no | yes | yes |
| Enable Adobe Reader† users to fill and save PDF forms locally for offline use‡ | no | no | yes | yes |
| Enable Adobe Reader† users to digitally sign PDF documents | no | no | yes | yes |
| Convert 3D designs from virtually any CAD file to highly compressed PDF documents for use by extended teams without expensive CAD or viewer software | no | no | no | yes |
| Include PMI data with 3D designs in PDF documents for use by extended teams | no | no | no | yes |
| Export precise geometry from PDF files into neutral file formats such as STEP or IGES for downstream use in CAD, CAM, and CAE applications | no | no | no | yes |
| Insert 3D CAD designs into Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents and convert the files to PDF | no | no | no | yes |
| Create rich, interactive documents with 3D content: Clean up CAD designs, add materials, create exploded views, edit lighting, and save as 3D objects or 2D raster/vector images | no | no | no | yes |
†Requires Adobe Reader 7.0 or 8.
‡For ad hoc forms distribution and data collection for up to 500 people.
Next steps
- Take a tour of Acrobat Professional
- Upgrading? See what's new
- Attend a free online seminar
- Download free trial
This content requires Flash
To view this content, JavaScript must be enabled, and you need the latest version of the Adobe Flash Player.
Download the free Flash Player now!
