Adobe Acrobat vs Foxit PDF Editor
Both are US-based, full-featured PDF editors for Windows and Mac. Acrobat is subscription only, with team tiers and annual commitments. Foxit sells subscriptions and also a one-time licence, which Adobe does not, though that licence leaves out the AI and cloud features.
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Choose Adobe Acrobat ifyour partners and regulators expect Acrobat's own output, and you accept a per-licence subscription with an annual commitment.
Choose Foxit PDF Editor ifyou want a choice between subscription and a one-time licence, and a cheaper route to a full editor on Windows or Mac.
Adobe Acrobat and Foxit PDF Editor side by side
| Adobe Acrobat | Foxit PDF Editor | |
|---|---|---|
| Our PDF editors rank | #15 of 15 | #6 of 15 |
| Established in | United States | United States |
| Pricing | Subscription per licence with annual commitment, published | Subscription per user per year or perpetual licence, published; 14-day trial |
| List price, 8 October 2026 | Standard for Teams $16.99, Pro for Teams $23.99, Studio for Teams $29.99 per licence per month (annual, billed monthly) | PDF Editor+ $159.99 per user per year; perpetual licence $209.99 one-time |
| Free tier | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Self-hostable | — | — |
| Built for | Organisations whose partners and regulators expect Acrobat's own output | Windows and Mac teams wanting a familiar full editor on subscription |
| Not for | Small teams that want to own the software outright | Buyers who want every feature in a one-time purchase |
Both are reviewed in full in our PDF editors ranking: Adobe Acrobat and Foxit PDF Editor.
Where they differ
Adobe Acrobat 1 · Foxit PDF Editor 3 · open 1- 01
Can you own it
Foxit lists Foxit PDF Editor 14 as a one-time purchase at $209.99 per user. Adobe's page lists only subscriptions for Acrobat. A buyer who wants to own the software has only Foxit to choose.
Edge: Foxit PDF Editor
- 02
Subscription price
Adobe lists Acrobat Standard for Teams at $16.99, Pro for Teams at $23.99 and Studio for Teams at $29.99 per licence per month on an annual plan billed monthly. Foxit lists PDF Editor+ at $159.99 per user per year, roughly $13.33 a month if you divide it. On the entry tiers we read, Foxit is lower.
Edge: Foxit PDF Editor
- 03
What the cheaper licence leaves out
Foxit's perpetual licence excludes the AI Assistant, Smart Redact, the document management system and cloud features. Mobile apps and 150 e-signature envelopes a year come only with Editor+. Acrobat's team tiers include an admin console on all of them, so the comparison has to be feature by feature.
Depends on the buyer
- 04
Cancellation terms
Adobe's page says annual plans have no refund after 14 days, and our data records that cancelling later costs half the remaining commitment. Foxit offers a 14-day free trial of PDF Editor+. Foxit is easier to leave, particularly through the one-time licence.
Edge: Foxit PDF Editor
- 05
Standard of the format
Our data says Acrobat suits organisations whose partners and regulators expect Adobe's own output. Foxit is a full editor, but it is the less common name in a procurement checklist. For a firm that exchanges files with large institutions, Acrobat is the safer default.
Edge: Adobe Acrobat
When neither fits
If you want a free or open-source tool, or a small utility for a few jobs a month, neither is needed. Stirling PDF is self-hostable, and Sejda covers occasional editing without a heavy suite.
Adobe Acrobat or Foxit PDF Editor: questions
3 answersDoes Adobe Acrobat have a one-time licence?
Not on the pricing page we read: Acrobat plans are subscriptions, per licence per month on an annual plan, or prepaid for the year.
Is Foxit cheaper than Acrobat?
On the entry prices we read, yes. Foxit lists PDF Editor+ at $159.99 per user per year and a perpetual licence at $209.99, against Acrobat Standard for Teams at $203.88 a year. Compare the features included, not only the headline.
Where are Adobe and Foxit based?
Both are listed in the United States in our category data: Adobe in San Jose, Foxit in Fremont, California.
Sources
Checked 8 October 2026- Adobe Acrobat business pricing: team plan prices, annual terms and 14-day cancellation window.
- Foxit PDF Editor page: Editor+ subscription price, perpetual licence price and exclusions, 14-day trial.