The Best PDF Readers in 2026
We researched PDF readers through official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. Rankings reflect each product’s core reading capabilities, value for money and verified features for viewing, searching, navigating and accessing PDF files.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
Foxit PDF Reader#1 of 239.4/10A free cross-platform reader with collaboration, forms, signatures, and cloud integrations.
Free plan
-
Runner-up
Okular#2 of 239.2/10A capable open-source desktop reader with annotations, forms, signatures and accessibility tools.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
Preview#3 of 239.1/10A capable free PDF reader for Apple users, with practical editing and signing tools.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 23 tools, best first
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Best forFree cross-platform readers with collaboration
A free cross-platform reader with collaboration, forms, signatures, and cloud integrations.
- Text-to-speech
- Offline access
- Form filling
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Foxit -
Best forFree open-source desktop PDF reading
A capable open-source desktop reader with annotations, forms, signatures and accessibility tools.
- Text-to-speech
- Form filling
- Annotation tools
9.2/10★★★★★Visit KDE -
Best forApple users wanting a capable free reader
A capable free PDF reader for Apple users, with practical editing and signing tools.
- Offline access
- Form filling
- Annotation tools
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Apple -
Best forPortable Windows reading with signatures
A portable Windows reader with broad format support, annotations, signatures, and command-line tools.
- Text-to-speech
- Offline access
- Form filling
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit SumatraPDF -
Best forWeb and application developers
A developer-focused PDF viewer and rendering platform for web applications.
- Form filling
- Annotation tools
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Mozilla PDF.js -
Best forUsers needing PDF editing and conversion
A flexible PDF editor with free basics, paid productivity tools, and AI workflows.
- Annotation tools
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit KDAN PDF -
Best forLinux users wanting a straightforward reader
A capable free Linux reader for PDFs, forms, annotations, and more.
- Offline access
- Form filling
- Annotation tools
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit GNOME -
Best forMainstream PDF reading and accessibility
A broadly available free PDF reader with useful accessibility, form, signature, and review tools.
- Text-to-speech
- Form filling
- Annotation tools
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Adobe -
Best forLinux users reading PDFs and comics
A free Linux document viewer with useful PDF, form, annotation, and comic support.
- Offline access
- Form filling
- Annotation tools
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Papers -
Best forMac users reading and annotating research PDFs
A focused, open-source Mac reader for searching, annotating, and organizing research PDFs.
- Annotation tools
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Skim -
Best foriOS users needing file-heavy PDF workflows
A capable Apple-focused PDF workspace for reading, editing, signing, and file organization.
- Text-to-speech
- Form filling
- Annotation tools
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit GoodReader -
Best forDevelopers needing a powerful open-source viewer
A developer-focused PDF engine with broad document tooling and cross-platform support.
- Annotation tools
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit MuPDF -
Best forReaders of protected PDF and EPUB content
A free cross-platform reader for PDF, EPUB, and StarForce-protected files.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit StarForce -
Best forResearchers managing connected PDF notes
A connected workspace for reading, annotating, comparing, and organizing research documents.
- Offline access
- Annotation tools
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit LiquidText -
Best forBasic Windows PDF viewing
A straightforward free Windows PDF viewer for reading, navigating, and printing documents.
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Aiseesoft -
Best forKeyboard-driven Linux and macOS reading
A free, open-source reader for keyboard-driven PDF and document workflows.
- Offline access
- Annotation tools
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Zathura -
Best forTechnical users needing a lightweight viewer
A lightweight desktop viewer with useful command-line PDF utilities.
- Offline access
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit XpdfReader -
Best forReaders of authorized protected documents
A free reader for standard PDFs and protected Drumlin documents across four platforms.
- Text-to-speech
- Offline access
- Form filling
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Javelin -
Best forBasic Linux PDF and document viewing
A free Linux viewer with broad format support and basic PDF annotation tools.
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit Linux Mint -
Best forApple-based academic PDF workflows
A focused Apple PDF reader with strong research annotation and export tools.
- Annotation tools
6.2/10★★★☆☆Visit Highlights -
Best forPrivate cross-platform local PDF reading
A private, cross-platform PDF reader with search, navigation, and annotations.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit Kiosk -
Best forUsers wanting local AI document Q&A
A free, open-source reader for local document Q&A with page-linked citations.
5.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Komodo PDF -
Best forOpen-source software collaboration, not PDF reading
A capable open-source development service, but not a PDF reader.
5.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Launchpad
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Annotation tools | Platform support | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foxit PDF Reader | Yes | Free | Yes | Cross-platform | 9.4 |
| 2 | Okular | Yes | Free | Yes | Cross-platform | 9.2 |
| 3 | Preview | Yes | Free | Yes | Desktop | 9.1 |
| 4 | SumatraPDF | Yes | Free | Yes | Desktop | 9.0 |
| 5 | Mozilla PDF.js | Yes | Free | Yes | Web | 8.8 |
| 6 | KDAN PDF | Yes | $59.99/yr | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 7 | Evince | Yes | Free | Yes | Desktop | 8.6 |
| 8 | Adobe Acrobat Reader | Yes | Yes | Cross-platform | 8.5 | |
| 9 | Papers | Yes | Free | Yes | Desktop | 8.5 |
| 10 | Skim | Yes | Free | Yes | Desktop | 8.4 |
| 11 | GoodReader | No | Yes | Mobile | 8.3 | |
| 12 | MuPDF | Yes | $299/unit/mo | Yes | Cross-platform | 8.2 |
| 13 | StarForce Reader | Yes | Free | 7.8 | ||
| 14 | LiquidText | Yes | Yes | Cross-platform | 7.8 | |
| 15 | Aiseesoft Free PDF Viewer | Yes | Free | Desktop | 7.6 | |
| 16 | Zathura | Yes | Free | Yes | Cross-platform | 6.9 |
| 17 | XpdfReader | Yes | Free | Desktop | 6.8 | |
| 18 | Javelin PDF Reader | Yes | Free | Yes | Cross-platform | 6.6 |
| 19 | Xreader | Yes | Free | Desktop | 6.5 | |
| 20 | Highlights | Yes | 6.2 | |||
| 21 | Kiosk | Yes | Free | 6.0 | ||
| 22 | Komodo PDF | Yes | Free | 5.9 | ||
| 23 | Launchpad | Yes | Free | 5.8 |
Head-to-head All 28 comparisons →
- Foxit PDF Reader vs Okular
- Foxit PDF Reader vs Preview
- Foxit PDF Reader vs SumatraPDF
- Foxit PDF Reader vs Mozilla PDF.js
- Foxit PDF Reader vs KDAN PDF
- Foxit PDF Reader vs Evince
- Foxit PDF Reader vs Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Okular vs Preview
- Okular vs SumatraPDF
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How we rank PDF readers
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update