Side by side
Preview vs Skim
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 Mac
Visit Preview Free plan Mac
Skim combines PDF reading, annotation, and presentation features for macOS. Keep its extended-attribute storage in mind when moving annotated files between devices or people.
Visit SkimThe facts
| Preview | Skim | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Mac | Mac |
| Lowest paid plan | Not published | Free or on request |
| Plans published | None | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | support.apple.com | skim-app.sourceforge.io |
| On pdf readers | #22 of 24 | #18 of 24 |
Preview: what it does well
Skim: what it does well
- Searches PDFs and supports notes and highlights
- Offers full-screen reading and presentations
- Works with LaTeX, SyncTeX, and BibDesk
- Exports notes in several formats
- Free and open-source
What to know first
- Current release requires macOS 10.13 or higher
- Emailing PDFs can strip notes and highlights
- OCR support is not available