Chrome has greatly simplified life with its browsing capabilities, introducing AI for personalized results and offering free plugins that make tasks easier for academics, professionals, and general users. Despite its integrated PDF tool, Chrome extensions provide additional features, enhancing PDF handling. Discover our top recommendations for Chrome extensions to optimize your PDF experience, combining the browser's efficiency with specialized tools for optimal performance.
Top 5 Google PDF Extension
WPS PDF
WPS PDF extension offers seamless viewing, annotation, and commenting on PDFs. Trusted for its robust solutions, it enables users to highlight, collaborate through comments, add personalized notes, and download PDFs locally. The extension enhances productivity with features like targeted content selection, rotation, zooming, and more.
Features:
Effortless PDF viewing, highlighting, commenting, drawing, and downloading.
User-friendly interface for easy highlighting, ideal for students and workers.
Collaboration features with comment and draw functionalities.
Detailed functions for targeted content, rotation, zooming, and more.
Content search, comment list for enhanced usability.
Pros:
User-friendly interface and efficient PDF reader.
Seamless annotation and collaboration features.
Quick opening of PDFs without browser slowdown.
Multi-language support and compatibility.
Lightweight, perfect for reading and annotating PDFs.
Cons:
Dependency on user preference for PDF tools.
Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Acrobat, a longstanding PDF editor, maintains its reputation as a top choice for professional PDF editing, including its Chrome extension. Recognized for exceptional performance, Adobe Acrobat stands out as a reliable tool for various PDF tasks.
Features:
Directly convert, edit, compress, and sign PDF files within Chrome.
Seamless conversion of PDF to JPG with easy upload and download.
User-friendly interface for efficient PDF editing on the go.
Pros:
Long Standing reputation as a top PDF editor.
Free service without additional fees for users.
Seamless conversion of PDF to various formats.
Cons:
Limited features compared to the desktop version.
Account login required for continuous usage.
Some users may find the extension less feature-rich.
Smallpdf
Smallpdf stands out as a highly popular PDF editor extension for Google Chrome, offering a comprehensive set of PDF-related features. Whether it's editing, compressing, signing, merging, or converting, Smallpdf covers all aspects seamlessly. The online tool mirrors its desktop counterpart, providing a convenient online platform without requiring the download of offline software.
Features:
Full suite of PDF-related features, including editing, compressing, signing, merging, and converting.
Wide browser compatibility, accessible on Chrome, IE, Firefox, Safari, and more.
Operating system versatility, supporting Windows, macOS, Linux, and major mobile devices.
Direct editing of PDF files through the Chrome extension for convenient processing.
Pros:
Seamless online platform, no need for offline program download.
Compatibility with major web browsers and operating systems.
Consistent user experience across various devices.
Cons:
Free version limited to only 2 tasks per day.
Some users may find the daily task restriction limiting.
Additional features may require a premium subscription.
PDF2GO
PDF2GO emerges as a versatile PDF tool available on Google Chrome, offering both online and offline versions to cater to diverse user requirements. While providing a comprehensive set of features akin to Smallpdf, PDF2GO distinguishes itself with compatibility across various operating systems and devices. However, users may experience slower uploading and conversion speeds compared to some alternatives.
Features:
All-encompassing PDF tool with online and offline versions for diverse needs.
Compatibility with major operating systems, end devices, and web browsers.
Basic editing capabilities within the Chrome PDF editor pop window.
Direct processing for tasks like compressing and converting without opening external websites.
Pros:
User-friendly interface with icons for different tools.
No account registration for added convenience and privacy.
Cons:
Slower uploading and conversion speeds compared to some competitors.
More complex tasks may redirect users to a separate page.
Basic editing capabilities may not cover advanced functionalities.
PDFzorro
PDFzorro stands out among Chrome PDF editor extensions by focusing primarily on document editing rather than offering a comprehensive set of features. Unlike its counterparts, PDFzorro excels in tasks related to marking, annotation, and fundamental changes to PDF pages. The process of opening files on PDFzorro is unique, with automatic downloads to the browser and a subsequent drag-and-drop approach.
Features:
Specialized in editing PDF documents with a focus on marking and annotation.
Unique file opening process with automatic downloads to the browser.
Mini tools for highlighting, erasing content, and making annotations.
Document page manipulation options, including moving, rotating, duplicating, and extracting.
Pros:
Free and robust solution
Automatically download PDFs from the internet and upload them to PDFzorro
Cons:
Privacy concerns arise as documents are uploaded to their site.
Offline version exclusive to Android devices.
Lack of support for Windows, macOS, or iOS platforms.
AskYourPDF
AskYourPDF is a revolutionary Chrome extension designed to transform how users engage with PDF documents. Seamlessly integrating with the Chrome browser, it introduces a user-friendly interface and an innovative AI-driven chat interface for intuitive interactions with PDFs.
Features:
Comprehensive set of tools for highlighting, underlining, commenting, and drawing on PDFs, promoting real-time collaboration.
Seamless integration with Google Drive and Dropbox for easy access and interaction with PDFs stored in the cloud.
AI-driven summarization feature provides quick overviews of key points within PDF documents.
Facilitates collaboration with real-time annotation and comment-sharing features.
Pros:
User-friendly interface enhancing ease of use.
Powerful editing tools for text, images, and shapes.
Real-time collaboration support for group projects.
OCR support for improved document processing.
PDF protection features for enhanced security.
Cons:
May exhibit slower performance on older devices.
Some advanced features require a paid subscription.
Open in PDF Reader (Chrome)
The default Chrome PDF viewer is an integrated feature within the Google Chrome browser, providing users with a straightforward solution for opening and viewing PDF files directly in the browser. This built-in viewer offers simplicity and ease of use, allowing users to toggle it on or off based on their preferences.
Features:
Built-in PDF viewer within the Google Chrome browser.
Simple adjustment settings for toggling on and off.
Customizable options to enable or disable the native Chrome PDF viewer.
Compatibility with various PDF files for direct viewing.
Pros:
Integrated and easily accessible within Google Chrome.
Simplifies the process of opening and viewing PDF files.
Customizable settings for user preferences.
Compatible with a wide range of PDF files.
Cons:
Limited advanced features compared to dedicated PDF editors.
Dependency on browser updates for potential improvements.
Get Started With WPS PDF Viewer
There's no denying the disparity between Google PDF Viewer and WPS PDF Viewer. While Google's offering is minimal, allowing users to simply view PDFs in Chrome, WPS PDF Viewer takes the experience to a whole new level. It ensures a lightweight interaction with PDFs in Chrome, preserving your browsing experience.
WPS PDF Viewer doesn't just stop at viewing; it empowers users to engage with their PDFs extensively. Whether you want to highlight, annotate, draw, or sign, the choice is yours. This functionality is particularly valuable in professional settings where handling PDFs is a daily affair.
To revolutionize your Chrome and PDF experience with WPS PDF Viewer, follow these steps:
Step 1: Visit the Chrome Web Store to download WPS PDF Viewer. Simply search and click "Add to Chrome" to equip yourself with a powerful PDF viewer.
Step 2: Pin the WPS PDF extension to your Chrome toolbar for easy access to advanced PDF tools like convert, merge, compress, and more.
Step 3: To allow Chrome to open PDFs with WPS PDF Viewer, change the default settings by clicking on the Chrome extension and then selecting the Settings icon.
Step 4: Enable "Open PDFs in WPS PDF Extension" to make WPS PDF Viewer your default PDF handler in Chrome.
Step 5: Now, any PDF you open will automatically launch in WPS PDF Viewer. Access additional tools in the hover menu on the left.
Step 6: Explore basic functions such as bookmarks, pages, and more in the right panel.
Step 7: Click on the extension to discover a range of PDF tools available. Selecting any tool will redirect you to the WPS PDF online tool webpage, expanding your PDF capabilities in Chrome.
Features:
Free Annotation Tools: Enjoy the freedom to annotate PDFs with highlights, comments, and drawings, enhancing your document interaction.
Lightweight Design: Experience a responsive and seamless PDF handling without compromising your browser's performance.
Online PDF Tools: Utilize the plugin for direct online tasks, such as PDF conversion and merging, eliminating the need for additional software.
User-Friendly Interface: Navigate through the extension effortlessly, accessing powerful PDF tools without a steep learning curve.
Local PDF Handling: Set the extension as the default for opening local PDFs, offering a streamlined and flexible approach to managing your documents.
FAQs
Q1. How do I upgrade the WPS PDF viewer by Google Chrome?
If PDFs open in Chrome instead of a dedicated reader:
Disable Chrome PDF Viewer:
Open Chrome settings.
Navigate to "Privacy and security".
Disable "Open PDFs using a different application".
Set WPS Office as Default:
Right-click on a PDF.
Choose "Open with" > "Choose another app".
Select WPS Office and check "Always use this app".
Q2. Where are the advanced settings in Chrome?
In newer versions of the Google Chrome browser, the option for "advanced settings" no longer exists. All settings are now consolidated under the standard "Settings" option. To access settings in Chrome, follow these instructions:
Step 1: Open Google Chrome and click on the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner.
Step 2: From the dropdown menu, select "Settings".
Q3. Why should I consider using a PDF viewer on Google Chrome?
Utilizing a PDF viewer on Google Chrome ensures a smooth and convenient method for viewing and interacting with PDF documents directly in your browser, thereby enhancing accessibility and productivity.
Optimizing Your PDF Experience
For simple PDF viewing, Chrome's default PDF viewer suffices. However, for on-the-go editing, annotation, and offline use, consider downloading WPS PDF. It not only enables editing and annotation but also ensures reliability as a viewer, making it a valuable addition. In case of emergencies or the need for enhanced functionality, WPS PDF is a versatile solution. Download WPS PDF now for a seamless and feature-rich PDF experience.
