Freedom251 › Documents & Writing
Free and open first
Best PDF Readers in 2026
PDF work can involve reading, marking up, completing forms, or accessing text in other ways. Compare annotation tools and form filling with OCR support and text-to-speech to see which functions match your documents and tasks. Offline access and platform support help you consider where you can use a reader; free-plan availability and paid-from pricing provide cost context. MuPDF, Foxit PDF Reader, and StarForce Reader are among the options shown. Weigh the listed capabilities against whether you need to work without a connection, use particular platforms, or handle scanned files and forms.
- 24 apps
- Research read 23 Sept 2026
- How the order is worked out
- 1
Kiosk
Free plan Open source AndroidExtensioniPhone+5Choose Kiosk if you want a free, open-source PDF reader with search, multiple display modes, and extension-based annotation tools. It also offers offline use and a self-hosted web option.
- 2
Foxit PDF Reader
Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+2Foxit PDF Reader covers core PDF tasks, including forms, signatures, and collaboration, with offline desktop access. Consider the listed macOS range and lack of OCR if those matter to your workflow.
- 3
Javelin PDF Reader
Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+1Javelin combines everyday PDF reading tools with controls for secured documents. Its platform-specific capture protection and network requirements are worth checking before choosing it.
- 4
- 5
Launchpad
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1Launchpad combines source collaboration, bug tracking, package distribution, and translation tools for open-source projects at no charge.
- 6
Mozilla PDF.js
Free plan APIExtensionLinux+2PDF.js offers a free, open-source foundation for PDF rendering, with both an API and an adaptable viewer.
- 7
Aiseesoft Free PDF Viewer
Free plan WindowsAiseesoft Free PDF Viewer covers PDF reading, page navigation, display adjustments and basic file actions at no cost. Its listed platform is Windows desktop, with no other platform specified.
- 8
Evince
Free plan LinuxEvince covers document viewing, form filling and PDF annotation on Linux, with support for several formats and SyncTeX.
- 9
Highlights
Free plan iPhoneMacHighlights combines PDF annotation, OCR, citation lookup, and note export, with core reading and annotation available free. Users who need scripting should note that the FAQ says it is not supported.
- 10
Komodo PDF
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsKomodo PDF pairs familiar reading controls with a document-grounded AI panel and clickable citations.
- 11
MuPDF
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+4MuPDF covers many document operations and offers developer bindings for several environments. Its licensing terms are a key consideration, particularly for server-based use or embedding in a product.
- 12
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+2Acrobat Reader covers common PDF reading, review and form-filling tasks, with a free plan and broad platform support. It may suit readers who need those tools across desktop and mobile.
- 13
Okular
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsChoose Okular for a free, open-source viewer with broad document-format support, annotation tools and PDF signature features. Look elsewhere if OCR is required, since Okular does not support it.
- 14
LiquidText
Free plan MacWindowsLiquidText focuses on document reading, annotation, contextual search, and links between notes and source material.
- 15
StarForce Reader
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+2StarForce Reader covers ordinary and protected document formats across a range of platforms. Protected-document activation, printing, and transfer depend on the stated restrictions.
- 16
XpdfReader
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsXpdfReader combines a desktop PDF viewer with a broad set of command-line utilities at no listed cost. Its GPL terms and redistribution requirements matter for developers and distributors.
- 17
Papers
Free plan LinuxPapers covers common document viewing tasks along with annotations, form filling, and visual signatures. Linux users can install the latest version through Flathub at no cost.
- 18
Skim
Free plan MacSkim combines PDF reading, annotation, and presentation features for macOS. Keep its extended-attribute storage in mind when moving annotated files between devices or people.
- 19
SumatraPDF
Free plan WindowsSumatraPDF covers a wide range of reading formats and PDF tasks at no cost. Its Windows-only availability and the stated crash-report behavior are worth considering before choosing it.
- 20
Zathura
Free plan LinuxMacChoose Zathura for a free, offline document viewer with keyboard controls, plugin-based formats, and SyncTeX. Look elsewhere if you need OCR or a platform beyond Linux and macOS.
- 21
Papers
Free plan Linux - 22
Preview
Free plan Mac - 23
GoodReader
Paid iPhoneMacGoodReader combines broad PDF editing with extensive file-management and server connectivity.
5.7 Visit site - 24
Xreader
Free plan Linux
#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price
More in Documents & Writing
- Plagiarism Checkers31
- Polling Software32
- Poster Maker Software41
- Pre-Employment Assessment Software37
- Presentation Management Software24
- Presentation Recording Software26
- Presentation Sharing Software27
- Presentation software93
- Proposal Management Software33
- Quiz Maker Software31
- Quote Management Software33
- Readability Checkers25