Top 8 XFA Readers for 2021

Margarete Cotty

2021-11-29 16:10:48 • Filed to: Top List of PDF Software • Proven solutions

XFA (XML Forms Architecture) also known as XFA forms, are embedded inside of PDF documents and allows users to fill in data without having to print the PDF. This article will introduce you to some of the top XFA readers on the market.

Best 8 XFA Forms Readers

PDFelement

PDFelement is an excellent XFA form reader. It has the ability to open and read XFA forms plus it recognizes them automatically.

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Excellent support for opening, reading, and filling XFA forms
OCR technology allows you to convert XFA forms to PDF to make them searchable and editable
Contains many advanced features for PDF management
Supports editing of graphic-based objects and digitally signing documents
Strong password-protection for PDF documents

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Foxit PDF Reader

Foxit is quickly becoming recognized as a better alternative to Adobe, mainly because of its lightweight size and RAM usage. It also supports for reading XFA based forms starting from version 5.0.

Pros

Includes many advanced features
Customizable with a Quick action toolbar
Lightweight
Free to use

Cons

It cannot display all PDF types properly
It cannot convert to EPUB format
It may be a hassle creating digital signatures

Adobe Acrobat DC

Adobe topped the field of PDF readers for many years, mainly because it pioneered the PDF file format and was also the best XFA forms reader because it acquired Jetforms in 2002, the company which developed XFA forms

Pros

Excellent support for XFA forms
Simple User interface

Cons

Heavy on RAM and storage usage

Nuance Power PDF Advanced

Previously Nuance PDF reader, this program is also a great XFA reader that allows a user to use PDF documents with forms embedded. Furthermore, with its cloud compatibility, Nuance PDF reader enables you to literally carry and access your documents wherever you go.

Pros

Good XFA support
Cloud compatibility

Cons

It has very limited support for annotations

Master PDF Reader for Linux

As the name implies, this PDF is only available for Linux. The Linux operating system has been growing in popularity in the past few years and its crop of office software have not been left behind. Master PDF reader provides support for reading and filling XFA forms with its free version.

Pros

Available for Linux users
A free version is available

Cons

Not available for any other operating system apart from Linux

PDF XChange Editor

Previously known as PDF XChange viewer, this editor is another lightweight PDF reader for Windows since version 2.5. This XFA forms reader comes with ample support for reading XFA forms.

Pros

Lightweight
Available as a free version with many features

Cons

The free version places a watermark on every PDF page

Nitro PDF Reader

Nitro comes with a familiar interface which seems to be lifted straight from Microsoft Office. It is another XFA reader that has the ability to recognize XFA forms, but its interface may not suit everyone, especially if you are not a fan of Microsoft's UI.

Pros

Familiar and simple interface
Ability to reset the form to its original unfilled state if needed

Cons

It cannot embed video and audio files
Slow loading of PDF as compared to other readers like Foxit, Adobe, and PDF element

Your Browser

That's right. Google Chrome and Firefox already have built-in PDF readers with quite a few useful features but not all features. Support for XFA forms can be added by use of extensions. The most popular extension is the Adobe Acrobat extension which works on both browsers.