Head-to-head · File Reader Software
SumatraPDF vs Kindle Create
SumatraPDF leads on 1 check, Kindle Create on 0, and 1 is 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 scoreSumatraPDF · 7.4/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresSumatraPDF · 1 of 4
SumatraPDF scores higher on our rubric for file reader software: 7.4 against 6.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #9.
SumatraPDF offers annotations; Kindle Create doesn't publish it.
SumatraPDF is the better fit for windows users who want a capable free reader. Kindle Create is the better fit for authors preparing books for Kindle publishing.
- SumatraPDF fits best
Windows users who want a capable free reader
- Kindle Create fits best
Authors preparing books for Kindle publishing
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Side by side
| Feature | SumatraPDF 7.4/10 Visit ↗ | Kindle Create 6.6/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 7.4 | 6.6 |
| Ranking | #4 in File Reader Software | #9 in File Reader Software |
| Best for | Windows users who want a capable free reader | Authors preparing books for Kindle publishing |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS |
| Support | Docs, Community | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business |
| Features SumatraPDF 1/4 · Kindle Create 0/4 | ||
| Annotations | ✓ (best) | Not published |
| 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 | Sumatra PDF is a free, open-source desktop reader for Windows, suited to people who want one lightweight app for PDFs and a range of other reading formats. It opens EPUB, MOBI, comic-book files, DjVu, XPS, CHM and images as well as PDFs.… Read the review → |
Kindle Create is Amazon’s desktop formatting software for authors preparing Kindle eBooks, paperbacks, comics, and illustrated books. It accepts DOC, DOCX, PDF, JPEG, and PNG files, then provides tools for reflowable and print-replica… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
SumatraPDF — where it wins
- Opens PDFs, ebooks, comics, DjVu, XPS, CHM and images
- Supports PDF annotations, form filling, search and read-aloud
- Portable build runs without installation or registry writes
Where it doesn't
- Available for Windows only
- OCR support is not included
- Some editing and accessibility features are documented for pre-release 3.7
Kindle Create — where it wins
- Imports DOC, DOCX, PDF, JPEG, and PNG files
- Supports reflowable, print-replica, comic, and print-book layouts
- Exports KPF and reflowable EPUB with previews across devices
Where it doesn't
- Runs only on Windows and macOS desktop systems
- Does not export PDF files
- Support is provided through documentation
- SumatraPDF7.4/10 · Free plan
A format-flexible Windows reader with annotations, forms and portable operation at no cost.
Visit Sumatra PDFFull verdict → - Kindle Create6.6/10 · Free plan
A free desktop formatter for authors creating Kindle and print-ready book files.
Visit Kindle CreateFull verdict →
More comparisons
All file reader software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
Last updated · How we research and update