Adobe Acrobat Reader Alternatives for Linux

Adobe Acrobat Reader is not available for Linux but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Linux with similar functionality. The best Linux alternative is Okular, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Adobe Acrobat Reader and many of them are available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux alternatives to Adobe Acrobat Reader are Evince, 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 PDF Editors or Ebook Readers you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Windows + 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.
Adobe Acrobat Reader iconAdobe Acrobat Reader
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View, annotate, and collaborate on PDFs, utilize cloud storage and freehand tools. Upgrade for editing and converting to other formats.

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Adobe Acrobat Reader alternatives page was last updated Feb 18, 2025
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  1. Okular icon

    Okular

     456 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.

    113 Okular alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • Snapcraft
    • Linux Mobile
    • Flathub
    • Haiku
    Okular screenshot 1

    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
  2. Evince icon

    Evince

     455 likes
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    Evince (or GNOME Document Viewer) is a document viewer for multiple document formats: PDF, Postscript, djvu, tiff, dvi, XPS, SyncTex support with gedit, comics books (cbr,cbz,cb7 and cbt) and others. See Supported Document Formats for details.

    117 Evince alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flathub
    • GNOME
    Evince screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Minimalistic
    3.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  PDF annotation
    2.  Invert colours
    3.  Multiple languages
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Portable
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  No registration required
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Handwriting recognition
    11.  Windows Compatible

    Evince VS Adobe Acrobat Reader

     
    Comments about Evince as an Alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader
    Top Positive Comment
    Jatan Mehta
    Jan 4, 2019
    3

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

    Most Recent Comment
    guoiewbvc923
    Positive Aug 29, 2024
    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 Apr 10, 2023
    0

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

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    3 of 5 comments
    Adobe Acrobat Reader Icon
    Evince icon

    • Most users think Evince is a great Adobe Acrobat Reader alternative.

    • Evince is Free and Open SourceAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Evince is Lightweight and Privacy focusedAdobe Acrobat Reader is not according to our users
  4. MuPDF icon

    MuPDF

     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.

    91 MuPDF alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • F-Droid
    • Xfce
    MuPDF screenshot 1

    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
    -3

    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
  5. Xournal++ icon

    Xournal++

     174 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.

    51 Xournal++ alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    Xournal++ screenshot 1

    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

     
  6. Linwood Butterfly icon

    Linwood Butterfly

     36 likes
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    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.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • Self-Hosted
    • Snapcraft
    • AltStore
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    Linwood Butterfly screenshot 1
    Linwood Butterfly screenshot 2
    Linwood Butterfly screenshot 3

    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
  7. Sioyek icon

    Sioyek

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

    37 Sioyek alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Main view

    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
  9. Qoppa PDF Studio icon

    Qoppa PDF Studio

     81 likes
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    Create, Convert, Review and Edit PDF Documents on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    Annotate

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Edit PDF
    2.  Sign PDF files
    3.  Scan to PDF
    4.  PDF Redaction
    5.  Convert PDF to Word document
    6.  Create PDF files
    7.  Fill PDF Forms
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  Text to Speech
    10.  OCR
    11.  Spell Checking
    12.  Ad-free

    Qoppa PDF Studio VS Adobe Acrobat Reader

     
    Comments about Qoppa PDF Studio as an Alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader
    Guest
    Positive Nov 17, 2024
    0

    it has ability to paste highlighted text in comment automatically like adobe acrobate pro or foxit pdf reader.

    Adobe Acrobat Reader Icon
    Qoppa PDF Studio icon
    • Qoppa PDF Studio is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and Proprietary
7 of 26 Adobe Acrobat Reader alternatives