Open Source Adobe Acrobat Reader Alternatives for Windows

There are many alternatives to Adobe Acrobat Reader for Windows if you are looking for a replacement. The best open source Windows alternative is SumatraPDF. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Adobe Acrobat Reader and 13 are open source and available for Windows so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source Windows alternatives to Adobe Acrobat Reader are Okular, MuPDF, Xournal++ and Linwood Butterfly.

filter to find the best alternatives

Adobe Acrobat Reader alternatives are mainly PDF Readers, but if you're looking for Text to Speech Services or PDF Editors you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Windows + Open Source and Android + Open Source. 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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Adobe Acrobat Reader alternatives page was last updated Feb 18, 2025
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  1. SumatraPDF icon
     1624 likes
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    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.

    108 SumatraPDF alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • PL flagPoland
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Optimal performance
    3.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Low memory usage
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Tabbed interface
    4.  Portable
    5.  Multi Format Reader
    6.  No registration required
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Highlighter
    9.  PDF annotation
    10.  Global bookmarks
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  Quick search

    SumatraPDF VS Adobe Acrobat Reader

     
    Comments about SumatraPDF as an Alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader
    Comment summary: SumatraPDF is praised for being lightweight, fast, and efficient, with a straightforward, clutter-free interface. It's seen as a great alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader due to its minimal system resource usage, lack of bloatware, and open-source nature. However, users note that it lacks certain features such as annotations, editing forms, and printing in a booklet format. Users highlight its speed and ability to run from a USB drive, but remark that its user interface is dated.
    Top Positive Comment
    Atoshi
    Nov 14, 2016
    11

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

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    Nov 19, 2019
    46

    Sumatra does not support editing forms and adding annotations.

    Most Recent Comment
    Nuncio Bitis
    Negative Sep 16, 2024
    -1

    Too basic. It doesn't open a lot of PDF formats, and doesn't show page thumbnails.

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    3 of 34 comments
    Adobe Acrobat Reader Icon
    SumatraPDF icon
    • Most users think SumatraPDF is a great Adobe Acrobat Reader alternative.

    • SumatraPDF is the most popular Windows alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader.

    • SumatraPDF is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader.

    • SumatraPDF is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • SumatraPDF is LightweightAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
  2. Okular icon
     452 likes
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    Multi-platform document viewer offering extensive format support, including PDF, comics, images, EPUB, and Markdown, with annotation tools, sidebar previews, text-to-speech, DRM management, cross-platform compatibility, and integration with KDE Frameworks libraries.

    111 Okular alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • Snapcraft
    • Linux Mobile
    • Flathub
    • Haiku

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  PDF annotation
    2.  Text Highlighting
    3.  Tabbed interface
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Low memory usage
    7.  KDE
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Customizable shortcuts
    10.  Text to Speech
    11.  Fill PDF Forms
    12.  No Tracking

    Okular VS Adobe Acrobat Reader

     
    Comments about Okular as an Alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader
    Top Positive Comment
    karlossss1996
    Oct 20, 2019
    4

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

    Top Negative Comment
    Notiz_Me
    Mar 16, 2021
    1

    Doesn't have the ability to print in booklet format.

    Most Recent Comment
    beng tang
    Negative Oct 6, 2023
    -1

    In Linux Mint, Okular is not a good alternative to Adobe Reader, it does not open some PDF files correctly.

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    3 of 9 comments
    Adobe Acrobat Reader Icon
    Okular icon
    • Most users think Okular is a great Adobe Acrobat Reader alternative.

    • Okular is the most popular Linux alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader.

    • Okular is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Okular is Lightweight and Privacy focusedAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
  3. MuPDF icon
     156 likes
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    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.

    89 MuPDF alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • F-Droid
    • Xfce

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Vim Key Mapping
    4.  PDF annotation
    5.  Sign PDF files
    6.  PDF compression
    7.  Combine PDF
    8.  Split PDF files
    9.  Fill PDF Forms

    MuPDF VS Adobe Acrobat Reader

     
    Comments about MuPDF as an Alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader
    Pro Daddy
    Negative Nov 17, 2019
    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.

    malcmerlyn
    Negative Jun 24, 2024
    -2

    Not available on Apple Store (Ipad 6, ios 17.5.1)

    Adobe Acrobat Reader Icon
    MuPDF icon
    • Most users think MuPDF is a great Adobe Acrobat Reader alternative.

    • MuPDF is the most popular Android alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader.

    • MuPDF is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • MuPDF is LightweightAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
  4. Xournal++ icon
     171 likes
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    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.

    50 Xournal++ alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Handwritten Notes
    2.  PDF annotation
    3.  Support for styluses
    4.  Handwriting
    5.  Export to PDF
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  LaTeX Math
    8.  Pen Support
    9.  Pressure Sensitivity
    10.  Freehand Writing
    11.  Multi layer drawing
    12.  Ad-free

    Xournal++ VS Adobe Acrobat Reader

     
  5. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    41 Linwood Butterfly alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • Self-Hosted
    • Snapcraft
    • AltStore
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Distraction-free
    3.  Privacy focused
    4.  Support for Themes
    5.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Handwritten Notes
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Real time collaboration
    7.  Cloud Sync
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Decentralized
    10.  End-to-End Encryption
    11.  Portable
    12.  Handwriting

    Linwood Butterfly VS Adobe Acrobat Reader

     
    • Linwood Butterfly is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader.

    • Linwood Butterfly is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Linwood Butterfly is Lightweight and DecentralizedAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
  6. Sioyek icon
     18 likes
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    Sioyek is a PDF viewer with minimal interface optimized for reading research papers and technical books.

    35 Sioyek alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Keyboard focused
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  PDF annotation
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Full-Text Search

    Sioyek VS Adobe Acrobat Reader

     
    Comments about Sioyek as an Alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader
    Barrett
    Positive Apr 30, 2022
    0

    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.

    Adobe Acrobat Reader Icon
    Sioyek icon
    • Sioyek is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Sioyek is LightweightAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
  7. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    A simple PDF Reader built using Electron and PDF.js.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Discontinued

    Last release from August 2019.

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Minimalistic

    Features

    1.  Electron based

    Lector - PDF Reader VS Adobe Acrobat Reader

     
    Comments about Lector - PDF Reader as an Alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader
    RemovedUser
    Positive Dec 13, 2021
    0

    Gorgeous and lightweight, top-notch FOSS alternative to the very invasive Adobe PDF softwares.

    Adobe Acrobat Reader Icon
    Lector - PDF Reader icon
    • Lector - PDF Reader is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Lector - PDF Reader is LightweightAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
7 of 13 Adobe Acrobat Reader alternatives