Most people searching "Foxit PDF Reader free download" are tired of how long Adobe's reader takes to open, and Foxit's main selling point has always been speed. The free tier here covers viewing, commenting and basic form filling, which is enough for most day-to-day use; the paid Foxit PDF Editor is a different, separate product for actually editing page content. This page is for the reader, available on both Windows and macOS.
Free Tier vs. the Paid Foxit Editor
Foxit PDF Reader is free to use indefinitely for reading, annotating and filling forms, but it will prompt you toward the paid Editor suite if you try to edit actual page content or run OCR, which are separate licensed features.
Installers are offered for both Windows and macOS, and during setup you'll see optional bundled offers you can uncheck if you only want the reader itself.
Who ends up using Foxit PDF Reader
Office workers and students who find Adobe Reader too slow for routine viewing and light annotation tend to reach for Foxit PDF Reader.
- Office workers reviewing and commenting on contracts without Adobe's lag
- Students filling out and saving PDF application or scholarship forms
- Anyone switching from Adobe Reader mainly for faster startup on older PCs
Before you install
A couple of things worth knowing about Foxit PDF Reader before you request the link: it covers Windows and macOS, so grab the build that matches the machine you're setting up. And on pricing, Foxit PDF Reader has a free tier plus a paid upgrade; the free build below is the full, genuine app, not a time-limited trial. It's developed and maintained by Foxit Software.
System requirements
- WindowsWindows 10 or 11 (64-bit); older 7/8.1 builds usually still run but no longer get official support
- macOSa recent macOS release — check the download page for the current minimum version, since Apple Silicon vs Intel builds sometimes differ
Heavier workloads (large files, high-res media, big projects) will naturally want more RAM and a faster CPU/GPU than the bare minimum.
Quick steps
- Choose the Windows or macOS installer below.
- Run setup and deselect any optional bundled extras.
- Open a PDF to confirm it launches without the paid nag screens.
Foxit PDF Reader: the honest trade-offs
- Noticeably faster launch and page rendering than Adobe Reader
- Free tier covers commenting, highlighting and basic form filling
- Lighter system resource use during long PDF sessions
- Editing actual page content requires the separate paid Foxit Editor
- Free tier occasionally prompts you toward paid upgrades
The installer here is sourced from Foxit's own distribution, so version numbers and checksums match what foxit.com lists for that release.
Other PDF Tools downloads people search for
Browse the full PDF Tools category →
Keeping Foxit PDF Reader up to date
Foxit PDF Reader usually has a built-in updater or store-based auto-update (Microsoft Store / Mac App Store / Play Store, depending on platform); if you installed it manually, re-downloading the current build from the official source is the fallback. Sticking to the developer's own distribution channel — which is what this page links to — means you're never stuck on an old build with unpatched bugs just because a mirror site stopped updating its copy.
Features, install steps, alternatives and more detail live on the main Foxit PDF Reader page.
Frequently asked questions
Can Foxit PDF Reader fill out and save form fields?
Yes, basic form filling and saving is included in the free reader tier.
Do I need to create a Foxit account to use the reader?
No, an account isn't required for the core free reader features.
