Head-to-head · File Reader Software
Mozilla PDF.js vs Papers
Mozilla PDF.js leads on 0 checks, Papers on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreMozilla PDF.js · 6.9/10
- Free planboth
Mozilla PDF.js scores higher on our rubric for file reader software: 6.9 against 6.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #7.
Mozilla PDF.js is the better fit for embedding a PDF reader in a web application. Papers is the better fit for linux users reading and annotating documents.
- Mozilla PDF.js fits best
Embedding a PDF reader in a web application
- Papers fits best
Linux users reading and annotating documents
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Side by side
| Feature | Mozilla PDF.js 6.9/10 Visit ↗ | Papers 6.8/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 6.9 | 6.8 |
| Ranking | #6 in File Reader Software | #7 in File Reader Software |
| Best for | Embedding a PDF reader in a web application | Linux users reading and annotating documents |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Self-hosted | Desktop |
| Platforms | Web | Linux |
| Support | Community, Docs | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business |
| Features Mozilla PDF.js 1/4 · Papers 1/4 | ||
| Annotations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Text search | Not published | Not published |
| Accessibility support | Not published | Not published |
| Cloud sync | Not published | Not published |
| Specs | ||
| Supported formats | Not published | Not published |
| Platforms | Not published | Not published |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Mozilla PDF.js is an open-source JavaScript technology for parsing and rendering PDF files in web applications. Its reference viewer gives developers a starting point for adding document navigation, search, annotations and interactive… Read the review → |
Papers is a free, open-source desktop document viewer from the GNOME Project for Linux users who read and annotate documents on the GNOME desktop. It opens PDF, DjVu, TIFF, and comic-book archive files, with controls to navigate, scroll,… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Mozilla PDF.js — where it wins
- Renders PDFs in the browser with search, zoom and page navigation
- Supports annotations, interactive forms, printing and downloading
- Open source and self-hostable, with a customizable reference viewer
Where it doesn't
- Focused on PDFs rather than multiple document types
- No OCR support
- Requires developers to embed or customize the viewer and host its assets
Papers — where it wins
- Supports PDF, DjVu, TIFF, and comic-book archives
- Adds PDF text annotations, highlights, and annotation bookmarks
- Fills interactive forms and prints documents or booklets
Where it doesn't
- Linux-only desktop deployment limits cross-platform use
- Support is documented through a docs channel
- No AI-assisted features are included
- Mozilla PDF.js6.9/10 · Free plan
A self-hosted PDF viewer for web apps, with navigation, annotations and forms.
Visit Mozilla PDF.jsFull verdict → - Papers6.8/10 · Free plan
A free Linux reader for viewing, searching, annotating, and printing documents.
Visit GNOME PapersFull verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
Last updated · How we research and update