Skim Alternatives for Windows

Skim is not available for Windows but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Windows with similar functionality. The best Windows alternative is SumatraPDF, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Skim and many of them are available for Windows so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Windows alternatives to Skim are Okular, Foxit PDF Reader, Xournal++ and PDF-XChange Editor.

Skim iconSkim
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Skim is a PDF reader and note-taker for OS X. It is designed to help you read and annotate scientific papers in PDF, but is...

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Skim alternatives page was last updated Jun 3, 2022
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  1. SumatraPDF icon

    SumatraPDF

     1634 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

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • PL flagPoland
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    SumatraPDF screenshot 1

    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 Skim

     
    Comments about SumatraPDF as an Alternative to Skim
    Guest
    Negative Dec 21, 2020
    0

    no notes extraction available

    Skim Icon
    SumatraPDF icon

    • SumatraPDF is the most popular Windows alternative to Skim.

    • SumatraPDF is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Skim.

    • SumatraPDF is Free and Open SourceSkim is also Free and Open Source
    • SumatraPDF is LightweightSkim is not according to our users
  2. Okular icon

    Okular

     458 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.

    112 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 Skim

     

    • Okular is the most popular Linux alternative to Skim.

    • Okular is Free and Open SourceSkim is also Free and Open Source
    • Okular is Lightweight and Privacy focusedSkim is not according to our users
  4. Foxit PDF Reader icon

    Foxit PDF Reader

     1370 likes
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    Foxit Reader offers a lightweight PDF viewing experience across multiple platforms with features such as annotation, form filling, signing, cloud storage integration, collaborative review options, heightened security via Trust Manager, and organizational tools like Group Policy and XML Configuration.

    118 Foxit PDF Reader alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • ReactOS
    Foxit PDF Reader screenshot 1
    Bundleware

    The installer tries to install McAfee WebAdvisor and PhantomPDF Business. These can be skipped by clicking Decline on each.

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  PDF annotation
    2.  Fill PDF Forms
    3.  Sign PDF files
    4.  Highlighter
    5.  Scan documents
    6.  Text to Speech
    7.  Tablet support
    8.  Booklet printing
    9.  Support for scripting
    10.  Text Highlighting
    11.  Portable
    12.  Spell Checking

    Foxit PDF Reader VS Skim

     

    • Almost everyone thinks Foxit PDF Reader is a great Skim alternative.

    • Foxit PDF Reader is the most popular Mac alternative to Skim.

    • Foxit PDF Reader is Free Personal and ProprietarySkim is Free and Open Source
    • Foxit PDF Reader is LightweightSkim is not according to our users
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    Ashampoo PDF Free icon
    Ashampoo PDF Free

    Ashampoo PDF Free is a software for opening, reading, and creating PDF files. It includes a built-in printer driver for generating PDFs from any Windows application, a compact and fast PDF reader, and the ability to fill out inte...

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  6. Xournal++ icon

    Xournal++

     175 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.

    52 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 Skim

     
    Comments about Xournal++ as an Alternative to Skim
    violoncello
    Positive Dec 31, 2020
    0

    Xournal++ allows for annotating pdfs with an active pen

    Skim Icon
    Xournal++ icon

    • Xournal++ is the most popular Android alternative to Skim.

    • Xournal++ is Free and Open SourceSkim is also Free and Open Source
  7. PDF-XChange Editor icon

    PDF-XChange Editor

     164 likes
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    Feature-rich PDF editor offering direct content editing, ABBYY OCR, viewing, annotation, form filling, PDF merging, compression, and encryption. Operates efficiently offline, requiring no registration and no ads, while providing privacy-focused features and convenient portability.

    139 PDF-XChange Editor alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    • Wine
    Version 10 (2024)

    Properties

    1.  Customizable
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  PDF annotation
    2.  PDF OCR
    3.  Add/remove pages
    4.  Edit PDF
    5.  Portable
    6.  Split PDF files
    7.  Stamps
    8.  Create PDF files
    9.  OCR
    10.  Split and merge PDF files
    11.  No registration required
    12.  Dark Mode

    PDF-XChange Editor VS Skim

     
  8. 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.

    89 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 Skim

     
  10. Adobe Acrobat Reader icon

    Adobe Acrobat Reader

     442 likes
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    Seamlessly view, annotate, and collaborate on PDFs with freehand drawing and sticky notes. Utilize cloud storage for effortless access and upgrade for advanced editing and conversion to formats like Word and Excel.

    105 Adobe Acrobat Reader alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Adobe Acrobat Reader screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Edit PDF
    2.  PDF annotation
    3.  Fill PDF Forms
    4.  Document Annotations
    5.  Create PDF files
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Combine PDF
    8.  Sign PDF files
    9.  Multi-tabs
    10.  OCR
    11.  PDF compression
    12.  No registration required

    Adobe Acrobat Reader VS Skim

     

    • Adobe Acrobat Reader is the most popular iPhone, iPad & Android Tablet alternative to Skim.

    • Adobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and ProprietarySkim is Free and Open Source
    • Adobe Acrobat Reader is LightweightSkim is not according to our users
  11. 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 Skim

     

    • Linwood Butterfly is the most popular Web-based & Self-Hosted alternative to Skim.

    • Linwood Butterfly is Free and Open SourceSkim is also Free and Open Source
    • Linwood Butterfly is Lightweight and DecentralizedSkim is not according to our users
  12. Master PDF Editor icon

    Master PDF Editor

     71 likes
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    Master PDF Editor is complete solution for editing PDF and XPS files. You can insert, edit, remove, copy, add images or graphics. Export, import, remove and change page layouts. Also Master PDF Editor provides full functionality for changing PDF information, including author...

    129 Master PDF Editor alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    Master PDF Editor screenshot 1

    Top Master PDF Editor Features

    1.  Multiple languages
    2.  PDF annotation
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Sign PDF files
    6.  Split PDF files
    7.  Combine PDF
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  No registration required
    10.  PDF compression
    11.  Fill PDF Forms
    12.  PDF encryption

    Master PDF Editor VS Skim

     
  13. Sioyek icon

    Sioyek

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

    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 Skim

     
  14. Nitro PDF icon

    Nitro PDF

     71 likes
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    Nitro offers comprehensive PDF solutions for editing, creating, and converting, alongside OCR and e-signature tools. Supports Mac, Windows, and iOS, providing a user-friendly interface with industry-standard security features. Ideal as an Adobe Acrobat alternative.

    165 Nitro PDF alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Nitro PDF screenshot 1

    Top Nitro PDF Features

    1.  Edit PDF
    2.  Convert PDF to Excel document
    3.  Text to Speech
    4.  Sign PDF files
    5.  PDF encryption
    6.  OCR
    7.  Scan to PDF
    8.  PDF Redaction
    9.  PDF OCR
    10.  Batch conversion
    11.  Convert PDF to Word document
    12.  Create PDF files

    Nitro PDF VS Skim

     

    • Nitro PDF is the most popular commercial alternative to Skim.

    • Nitro PDF is Paid and ProprietarySkim is Free and Open Source
  15. Xodo icon

    Xodo

     70 likes
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    Xodo is the ultimate cross-platform PDF viewer and annotator. Powerful, fast, and optimized for all phones and tablets, Xodo makes it easy to access, edit, share, sync, manage, sign, and more.

    114 Xodo alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    Xodo Web App

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  PDF annotation
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  Export to PDF
    4. Google Drive icon  Google Drive integration
    5.  Sign PDF files
    6.  Annotations
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Combine PDF
    9.  Split PDF files
    10.  OCR
    11.  Real time collaboration
    12.  Split and merge PDF files

    Xodo VS Skim

     
12 of 42 Skim alternatives