Head-to-head · PDF Readers
SumatraPDF vs KDAN PDF
SumatraPDF leads on 0 checks, KDAN PDF on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreSumatraPDF · 9.0/10
- Free planboth
- Free trialonly KDAN PDF
- Most featuresSumatraPDF · 4 of 4
SumatraPDF scores higher on our rubric for pdf readers: 9.0 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #6.
SumatraPDF is the better fit for portable Windows reading with signatures. KDAN PDF is the better fit for users needing PDF editing and conversion.
- SumatraPDF fits best
Portable Windows reading with signatures
- KDAN PDF fits best
Users needing PDF editing and conversion
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Side by side
| Feature | SumatraPDF 9.0/10 Visit ↗ | KDAN PDF 8.7/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.0 | 8.7 |
| Ranking | #4 in PDF Readers | #6 in PDF Readers |
| Best for | Portable Windows reading with signatures | Users needing PDF editing and conversion |
| Pricing model | Free | Free plan + paid |
| Starting price | Free plan | $59.99/yr |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | 7 days |
| Deployment | Desktop | Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Support | Docs, Community | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market | Small business, Mid-market |
| Features SumatraPDF 4/4 · KDAN PDF 1/4 | ||
| Annotation tools | ✓ | ✓ |
| Form filling | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Offline access | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Text-to-speech | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| OCR support | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Platform support | Desktop | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | SumatraPDF is a free, open-source desktop reader for Windows. It is aimed at people who want to read PDFs and a broad set of other local formats, including EPUB, MOBI, CBZ, DjVu, XPS, CHM, and image files. Text search, document navigation,… Read the review → |
KDAN PDF is a PDF reader and editor for individuals, office workers, educators, legal professionals, and small businesses. Its free tier covers viewing PDFs, annotations, handwriting, signatures, and form filling. Across Windows, macOS,… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
SumatraPDF — where it wins
- Opens PDFs, ebooks, comics, images, and several document formats
- Supports annotations, digital signatures, and Windows text-to-speech
- Portable deployment and command-line PDF operations support local workflows
Where it doesn't
- Windows-only, with no macOS, Linux, web, or mobile versions
- Cannot fill PDF forms, despite supporting form-field highlighting
- Scanned pages require OCR elsewhere
KDAN PDF — where it wins
- Combines editing, annotation, forms, OCR, conversion, and page management
- Runs across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
- AI+ adds redaction, summarization, review, and translation tools
Where it doesn't
- Advanced editing and conversion require a paid plan
- Lifetime licensing is limited to desktop use per device
- Cloud integrations listed are iCloud and Dropbox
- SumatraPDF9.0/10 · Free plan
A portable Windows reader with broad format support, annotations, signatures, and command-line tools.
Visit SumatraPDFFull verdict → - KDAN PDF8.7/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial
A flexible PDF editor with free basics, paid productivity tools, and AI workflows.
Visit KDAN PDFFull verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update





