PDF Reader: Master Plus opens PDFs and lets you delete unwanted files in batches. That is roughly the whole feature set. The 3.5-star rating reflects what users notice once they try to do more: no annotation, no form filling, no signature support, and an interface that is clearly thrown together. For a document type as central as PDF, that is a thin tool.
The seven PDF Reader: Master Plus alternatives below cover everything from heavy-duty annotation to lightweight ad-free reading. Most are free for the core jobs. A couple are made by the companies that defined the PDF format and Office work.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Annotation | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Acrobat Reader | Reference PDF reader | Yes, ad-supported | Full | Adobe |
| Xodo PDF Reader | Free annotation and signing | Yes, fully free | Full | Apryse |
| Foxit PDF Reader | Lightweight pro reader | Yes, freemium | Full | Foxit |
| Google PDF Viewer | Stripped-down system viewer | Free | None | |
| WPS Office | PDF + Office docs in one app | Yes, ad-supported | Full | Kingsoft |
| Microsoft 365 | PDF reader for Office users | Free (login required) | Limited | Microsoft |
| ReadEra | Ad-free reading of PDF + ebooks | Yes, fully free | Light highlights | READERA LLC |
Why people switch from PDF Reader: Master Plus
- No annotation or form fill. Tax forms, school worksheets, and signed contracts all need real PDF editing. Master Plus opens the file and stops there.
- No signature support. Even Acrobat's free tier supports drawn signatures. Master Plus does not.
- Generic developer. The Play Store page lists a brand-new domain with no jurisdiction or company details.
- Low rating from real users. A 3.5 average across hundreds of thousands of installs is telling.
Which PDF Reader: Master Plus alternative should you pick?
- Adobe Acrobat Reader as the reference PDF reader.
- Xodo PDF Reader for free annotation and signing.
- Foxit PDF Reader for a lightweight pro alternative.
- Google PDF Viewer for the stripped-down system viewer.
- WPS Office for PDF plus Office in one app.
- Microsoft 365 if you already live in the Office ecosystem.
- ReadEra for ad-free PDF and ebook reading.
1. Adobe Acrobat Reader, reference PDF reader
Acrobat Reader is the PDF reader that defines what the format should do. The Android client renders complex PDFs faithfully, supports annotation, form fill, and signature, plus has tabs across documents and dark mode. It is free for read, annotate, and sign; conversion and editing require a paid subscription.
Where it falls short: the free version pushes the paid Acrobat Pro upsell on most screens. Cloud sync requires an Adobe account.
Pricing: Free for read, annotate, sign. Acrobat Pro from around $20 per month.
Migrating from PDF Reader: Master Plus: install, optionally sign in for cloud sync, open your PDFs.
Download: Google Play · App Store
Bottom line: the default pick for anyone serious about PDFs.
2. Xodo PDF Reader, free annotation and signing
Xodo is the strongest free annotator on Android. Highlight, draw, type, sign, fill forms, and merge PDFs all without paying. It opens large files faster than Acrobat, supports tabs, and syncs through Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and Box.
Where it falls short: Apryse, the company behind Xodo, now pushes a paid Xodo Pro plan on the website. The Android free tier remains feature-rich.
Pricing: Free for full annotation and signing. Pro from around $9.99 per month for OCR and conversion.
Migrating from PDF Reader: Master Plus: install, connect cloud storage if needed.
Download: Google Play · App Store
Bottom line: the right pick when you actually need to mark up PDFs without paying.
3. Foxit PDF Reader, lightweight pro alternative
Foxit is the long-time challenger to Acrobat. The Android app is faster on large files, has an interface that uses less screen real estate, and supports tabs, annotations, and a form filler in the free tier.
Where it falls short: upsells the Foxit Mobile Premium subscription. Some features require account signup.
Pricing: Free with feature limits. Mobile Premium from around $1.99 per month.
Migrating from PDF Reader: Master Plus: install, optionally sign in.
Download: Google Play · App Store
Bottom line: the leaner Acrobat for users who want speed.
4. Google PDF Viewer, system viewer
Google PDF Viewer is the rendering engine that some Android phones use behind the scenes when you tap a PDF link. It has no UI of its own beyond pinch-to-zoom and search. It is small, free, and ships with no ads or upsells.
Where it falls short: no annotation, no form fill, no signature, no editing. Read-only.
Pricing: Free.
Migrating from PDF Reader: Master Plus: install. Files open in the system viewer automatically once it is the default.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: the simplest reader for users who only need to read.
5. WPS Office, PDF plus Office in one app
WPS Office reads PDFs and also opens Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. Useful when you receive a mix of formats and do not want three separate apps. PDF features include annotation, form fill, signature, and basic PDF-to-image export.
Where it falls short: ads in the free tier are heavy. Some PDF tools (OCR, scan) require WPS Premium.
Pricing: Free, ad-supported. Premium from around $30 per year.
Migrating from PDF Reader: Master Plus: install, open the PDF in WPS.
Download: Google Play · App Store
Bottom line: a workable choice when you also need Word and Excel.
6. Microsoft 365, PDF for Office users
Microsoft folded its PDF viewer into the Microsoft 365 (formerly Office Mobile) app. It opens PDFs, supports highlight and comment, and lets you sign documents drawn on screen. The same app handles Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, all backed by OneDrive sync.
Where it falls short: requires a Microsoft account to use most features. The PDF experience is solid but not as deep as Xodo or Acrobat.
Pricing: Free (signed in). Microsoft 365 Personal from around $7 per month adds full Office.
Migrating from PDF Reader: Master Plus: install, sign in with Microsoft account, open PDFs from OneDrive or local storage.
Download: Google Play · App Store
Bottom line: the right pick if you already use Office and OneDrive.
7. ReadEra, ad-free PDF and ebook reader
ReadEra is loved on Reddit threads about ebook readers. It opens PDF, EPUB, MOBI, FB2, DOC, RTF, and TXT, organises everything into a clean library, supports highlights and bookmarks, and crucially shows zero ads at zero cost. The Premium upgrade only adds extras like text-to-speech.
Where it falls short: no form fill or signature. PDF annotation is limited to highlights and notes.
Pricing: Free, no ads. Premium one-time around $9.
Migrating from PDF Reader: Master Plus: install, point ReadEra at your PDF folder.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: the right swap when you mostly read PDFs and ebooks for pleasure.
How to choose
- Pick Adobe Acrobat Reader as the safe reference choice.
- Pick Xodo if you want full annotation and signing without paying.
- Pick Foxit if you want Acrobat-style features without the bloat.
- Pick ReadEra for ad-free reading of books and documents.
- Pick WPS Office or Microsoft 365 if you handle a mix of PDF, Word, and Excel.
- Stay on PDF Reader: Master Plus only if all you want is to open a PDF and the bulk-delete feature is the main draw.
FAQ
What is the best free PDF reader for Android?
For full read, annotate, and sign features for free, Xodo PDF Reader is the strongest pick. For ad-free reading alone, ReadEra is the lightest choice. Acrobat Reader remains the reference if you want the same engine across desktop and mobile.
Which PDF app can sign a document on Android?
Adobe Acrobat Reader, Xodo, Foxit, and Microsoft 365 all let you draw a signature and apply it to a PDF for free. For legally-binding e-signatures, Acrobat's free tier supports the simplest workflow; for advanced certified signatures, a paid plan is needed.
Can I fill out PDF forms on my phone?
Yes. Acrobat Reader, Xodo, and Foxit all support interactive PDF forms. For non-interactive scanned forms, Xodo's free typewriter tool lets you type text directly on the page.
Why is the rating of PDF Reader: Master Plus so low?
The most common complaints involve missing features (no annotation, no signing) and heavy advertising. Each app above has either more features or fewer ads.
