Side by side
Apache PDFBox vs MuPDF
Both stand on pdf sdks. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted
Visit Apache PDFBox 
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+4
MuPDF 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.
Visit MuPDFThe facts
| Apache PDFBox | MuPDF | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Self-hosted | Android, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Commercial: $299 a month |
| Plans published | 1 | 5 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | pdfbox.apache.org | mupdf.com |
| On pdf sdks | #1 of 31 | #5 of 31 |
Apache PDFBox: what it does well
MuPDF: what it does well
- Supports a wide range of document operations
- Offers multiple developer bindings
- Commercial licenses include technical support and free upgrades
- Cross-platform availability is listed
- Open-source users can seek help through Discord and the bug tracker
What to know first
- OCR support is listed as none
- Server-based AGPL use requires source disclosure
- Embedding in a product may require a commercial license
- Commercial plan costs $299 a month
Alternatives to Apache PDFBox Alternatives to MuPDF The whole list