The Best Open Source Adobe Acrobat Reader AlternativesTop PDF Readers and other similar apps like Adobe Acrobat Reader

The best open source alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader is SumatraPDF. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Adobe Acrobat Reader and many of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Adobe Acrobat Reader are Okular, Evince, Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js) and MuPDF.

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Adobe Acrobat Reader alternatives are mainly PDF Readers, but if you're looking for PDF Editors or Ebook Readers you can filter on that. Other popular filters include PDF Editor, Open Source, Windows, Linux, Android, Free and Mac. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Adobe Acrobat Reader.
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Alternatives list

  1. SumatraPDF icon

    SumatraPDF

     1700 likes

    This free, open-source viewer for Windows supports multiple formats like PDF, eBooks (ePub, Mobi), CHM, and Comic Books (CBZ, CBR). Prioritizing simplicity and speed, it offers a lightweight, portable design with a minimalist interface, catering to users seeking fast and efficient document viewing.

    126 SumatraPDF alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    SumatraPDF screenshot 1
     
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    36
    SumatraPDF vs Adobe Acrobat Reader Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Atoshi
    13

    It's nowhere as vulnerable to attacks as Adobe Reader, doesn't execute embedded JS, and renders documents blazingly fast

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    48

    Sumatra does not support editing forms and adding annotations.

    Ramzi M
    Positive
    0

    For me it is the best alternative to Acrobat Reader. Very light no fuss software that allows you to work on PDF files.

    3 of 36 comments
    • SumatraPDF is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • SumatraPDF is Privacy focused and CustomizableAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
  2. Okular icon

    Okular

     508 likes

    Multi-platform document viewer supporting PDF, ePub, comics, images, and Markdown with annotation, digital signature verification, tabbed interface, sidebar navigation, text selection, text-to-speech, magnifier, search, dark mode, and plugin support.

    128 Okular alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • Snapcraft
    • Linux Mobile
    • Flathub
    • Haiku
    Okular screenshot 1
     
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    12
    Okular vs Adobe Acrobat Reader Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    karlossss1996
    4

    It's very fast free pdf reader with some useful editing functions.

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    1

    There's no form filling tools

    bam121944
    Positive
    0

    I like to manage pdfs as well as read them

    3 of 12 comments
    • Okular is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Okular is Privacy focusedAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
  4. Evince icon

    Evince

     465 likes

    Supports viewing and editing PDF annotations, displays multiple formats such as PDF, Postscript, DjVu, comic books, TIFF, DVI, XPS, remembers per-document zoom and position, features search, table-of-contents navigation, SyncTeX integration, and printing.

    133 Evince alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • GNOME
    Evince screenshot 1
     
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    5
    Evince vs Adobe Acrobat Reader Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Jatan Mehta
    3

    Fast and simple. Allows images to be saved from the right-click context menu.

    guoiewbvc923
    Positive
    0

    For me this is the best PDF reader as it allows you to view PDF files and not much more. If you need more features than just viewing PDF's this is not for you.

    Hasan Yildiz
    Positive
    0

    Free, easy-to-use interface. Easily edit files.

    3 of 5 comments
    • Evince is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Evince is Minimalistic and Privacy focusedAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
  5. Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js) icon

    Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js)

     169 likes

    PDF Viewer (aka pdf.js) is a new revolutionary extension using web standard technologies that allows you to display within Mozilla Firefox almost all PDF files found on the web without a plugin.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Google Chrome
    • Opera
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js) screenshot 1
     
    |
    5
    Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js) vs Adobe Acrobat Reader Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    ab1
    1

    It takes dozens of seconds to open a 20MB PDF on a mid-class smartphone.

    Top Negative Comment
    Joseph Cameron
    -1

    pdf.js cannot be used to annotate documents or fill forms.

    ulahcherubim
    Positive
    1

    pdf.js now supports annotating and filling forms.

    3 of 5 comments
    • Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js) is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js) is Privacy focusedAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
  7. MuPDF icon

    MuPDF

     163 likes

    MuPDF offers a highly versatile PDF, XPS, and eBook interpreter, customizable as a renderer, viewer, or toolkit. Features include digital signatures, redactions, form filling, annotations, and page manipulation, ideal for mobile, eBooks, and embedded apps supporting Java, C++, and Python.

    108 MuPDF alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • F-Droid
    • Xfce
    MuPDF screenshot 1
     
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    4
    MuPDF vs Adobe Acrobat Reader Comments
    Pro Daddy
    Negative
    3

    It doesn't have several major features that adobe reader has. MuPDF just open files that's all. no options at all, no resizing, no editing, no change in view, there is nothing.

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Unlike other FOSS PDF viewers, it lets me scroll through the doc & search for text.

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    If reading PDFs is all you need, this app is just wonderful. No editing tools or other bloat.

    3 of 4 comments
    • MuPDF is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • MuPDF is Privacy focusedAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
  8. Xournal++ icon

    Xournal++

     198 likes

    Handwritten note-taking and PDF annotation using pen input and pressure sensitivity, shape drawing, customizable toolbar layouts, image insertion, audio recording, multi-language options, LaTeX integration, and complete export in PDF or PNG formats across all platforms.

    69 Xournal++ alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    Xournal++ screenshot 1
     
  9. Stirling PDF icon

    Stirling PDF

     62 likes

    Locally hosted web application offering an interactive GUI to merge, split, reorganize, convert, compress, watermark, secure, sign, flatten, repair, extract images, detect blanks, apply OCR, set permissions, and enable file processing or API integration for PDFs.

    117 Stirling PDF alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Cloudron
    • Docker Hub
    Stirling PDF screenshot 1
     
  10. Linwood Butterfly icon

    Linwood Butterfly

     43 likes

    Butterfly is a note-taking app where your ideas come first. You can paint, add texts, and export them easily on every device. This app works on android, windows, linux, and in the web.

    54 Linwood Butterfly alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • Self-Hosted
    • Snapcraft
    • AltStore
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Linux Mobile
    Linwood Butterfly screenshot 1
     
  11. Document Viewer icon

    Document Viewer

     51 likes

    Document Viewer is a highly customizable document viewer for Android, fork of the last GPL version of EBookDroid .

    172 Document Viewer alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    library view
     
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    2
    Discontinued

    The last version (2.7.4) was released in March 2016.

    Document Viewer vs Adobe Acrobat Reader Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    3

    open source, fast, lightweight, support for many formats, many available settings

    Guest
    Positive
    -1

    For android smartphones, its the best choice as it is opensource and has many features.

    • Document Viewer is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Document Viewer is Customizable and Privacy focusedAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
  12. LEKTRA icon

    LEKTRA

     18 likes

    High-performance viewer for documents and images offering split tabs, customizable single or book layouts, portals for side-by-side sections, instant search, line highlight, annotation tools, link hints, searchable highlights, session management, and TOML config.

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    LEKTRA screenshot 1
     
  13. Sioyek icon

    Sioyek

     24 likes

    Sioyek is a PDF viewer with minimal interface optimized for reading research papers and technical books.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Main view
     
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    1
    Sioyek vs Adobe Acrobat Reader Comments
    Barrett
    Positive
    1

    It's a minimalist PDF reader for programmers and other such nerds. Includes dark mode, keyboard navigation, and a minimalist UI that allows for great focus.

    • Sioyek is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
  14. MJ PDF Reader icon

    MJ PDF Reader

     29 likes

    A totally free of cost and ads PDF documents reader.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    MJ PDF Reader screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    MJ PDF Reader vs Adobe Acrobat Reader Comments
    Port5000
    Positive
    0

    Much more simpler UI, it has all you'd need to open and view pdf files without any kind of registration or tracking or any ads

    • MJ PDF Reader is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • MJ PDF Reader is Privacy focusedAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
12 of 49 Adobe Acrobat Reader alternatives