Side by side
Okular vs Papers
Both stand on pdf readers. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Choose 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. It is available across Linux, Windows and macOS, with installation routes varying by platform.
Visit Okular Free plan Linux
Papers 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.
Visit PapersThe facts
| Okular | Papers | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Linux |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | okular.kde.org | apps.gnome.org |
| On pdf readers | #13 of 24 | #17 of 24 |
Okular: what it does well
- Free software released under GPLv2+.
- Supports PDFs, EPUB, comics, images and Markdown.
- Annotations include notes, highlighting and underlining.
- Can fill forms and provide text-to-speech.
- Can verify and sign PDF signatures.
What to know first
- OCR support is not included.
- Nightly builds for Windows and macOS are untested.
- Windows installation is recommended through the Microsoft Store.
Papers: what it does well
- Free to use, with a free plan.
- Supports PDF, DjVu, TIFF, and comic archives.
- Includes annotation tools and form filling.
- Version 51.0 supports visual signatures.
What to know first
- Available for Linux only.
- The app is intended for the GNOME desktop.
- The listed download is 14 MiB.
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