Instead of StarForce Reader
StarForce Reader alternatives
StarForce Reader is a free app for viewing PDF and EPUB files alongside protected SFPDF and PCDOC documents. Mobile versions can also play protected videos. Tabs, text and title search, and a remembered reading position support navigation, while downloads span Windows, Linux, RED OS, macOS, Android, and iOS. Its focus is reading documents rather than organizing notes or changing executable files.
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Obsidian
Free plan Open source AndroidExtensioniPhone+3Organizing linked notes across devices — Obsidian stores local Markdown notes and adds linking, graph, canvas, and plugin tools rather than viewing protected documents.
Free plan Visit site - 2
UPX
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsCompressing and inspecting executables — UPX packs and restores executables, typically reducing program and DLL sizes by around 50%–70%, but does not add protection or encryption.
Free plan Visit site - 3
Crinkler
Free plan WindowsSmall Windows demoscene executables — Crinkler combines linking and compression for small 32-bit Windows demoscene executables, unlike StarForce Reader’s document viewing.
Open source Visit site - 4
MPRESS
Free plan MacWindowsPacking Windows and Mac executables — MPRESS compresses PE32, PE32+, .NET, and MAC-DARWIN executables, with optional LZMA, rather than displaying documents.
Free plan Visit site - 5
papaw
Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedLinux executables on space-limited devices — papaw packs statically linked executables with a small decompressor and supports several compression algorithms, rather than reading protected documents.
Free plan Visit site - 6
Windows PE Packer
Free plan WindowsStudying 32-bit Windows PE packing — Windows PE Packer encrypts sections and transforms imports in 32-bit .exe files, but its maker says it is unsuitable for practical use.
Open source Visit site - 7
AlushPacker
Free plan WindowsReflective packing of native Windows executables — AlushPacker compresses and encrypts native EXEs for in-memory execution and can require a password, unlike StarForce Reader’s document-viewing focus.
Free plan Visit site - 8
Javelin PDF Reader
Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+1 - 9
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Launchpad
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1 - 11
Mozilla PDF.js
Free plan APIExtensionLinux+2 - 12
Aiseesoft Free PDF Viewer
Free plan Windows - 13
Evince
Free plan Linux - 14
Highlights
Free plan iPhoneMac - 15
Komodo PDF
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 16
MuPDF
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+4 - 17
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+2 - 18
Okular
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 19
LiquidText
Free plan MacWindows - 20
XpdfReader
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 21
Papers
Free plan Linux - 22
Skim
Free plan Mac - 23
SumatraPDF
Free plan Windows - 24
Zathura
Free plan LinuxMac - 25
Papers
Free plan Linux - 26
Preview
Free plan Mac - 27
GoodReader
Paid iPhoneMac5.7 Visit site - 28
Xreader
Free plan Linux
A protected document may be tied to the computer where it is first opened; printing depends on publisher permission, and transfer by deactivation may be disabled. On Android, uninstalling removes the document license, so another activation is needed after reinstalling. The alternatives here serve different purposes: Obsidian organizes linked notes, while the others pack executables for size reduction or analysis resistance. Before switching, weigh whether you need a document reader and mobile protected-video playback, or a tool for notes or executable workflows, then check each alternative’s platform and file-type limits.