Best Foxit PDF Reader Alternatives in 2026
The top Foxit PDF Reader alternatives are Okular, Preview and SumatraPDF: 15 PDF readers our editors would look at instead of Foxit PDF Reader, in our ranking order.
Foxit PDF Reader: A free cross-platform reader with collaboration, forms, signatures, and cloud integrations. Where it falls short: OCR is documented for PDF editor rather than PDF reader.
Switching from Foxit PDF Reader? For most pdf readers buyers the best Foxit PDF Reader alternative is Okular, built for free open-source desktop PDF reading.
Why People Look for a Foxit PDF Reader Alternative
- OCR is documented for PDF Editor rather than PDF Reader
- Web use requires an internet connection
- AI document analysis excludes OCR documents
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallOkular9.2
Free open-source desktop PDF reading
Visit Okular - Best free optionOkular9.2
Has a free plan
Visit Okular
All 15 Foxit PDF Reader Alternatives, Ranked
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.
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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
Foxit PDF Reader Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Foxit PDF Reader?
Okular: #2 in our PDF Readers ranking, with an editor score of 9.2 out of 10. A capable open-source desktop reader with annotations, forms, signatures and accessibility tools.
Is there a free alternative to Foxit PDF Reader?
Yes. Okular, Preview, SumatraPDF, Mozilla PDF.js and KDAN PDF have a free plan or a free tier (14 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for Foxit PDF Reader alternatives?
OCR is documented for PDF Editor rather than PDF Reader; Web use requires an internet connection; AI document analysis excludes OCR documents.
How do I switch from Foxit PDF Reader?
Export your data from Foxit PDF Reader (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Foxit PDF Reader.
How to Switch from Foxit PDF Reader
- Export your data from Foxit PDF Reader (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Foxit PDF Reader.
Foxit PDF Reader vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Annotation tools | Form filling | Platform support | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foxit PDF Reader | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Cross-platform | 9.4 |
| 1 | Okular | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Cross-platform | 9.2 |
| 2 | Preview | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Desktop | 9.1 |
| 3 | SumatraPDF | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Desktop | 9.0 |
| 4 | Mozilla PDF.js | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Web | 8.8 |
| 5 | KDAN PDF | Yes | $59.99/yr | Yes | 8.7 | ||
| 6 | Evince | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Desktop | 8.6 |
| 7 | Adobe Acrobat Reader | Yes | Yes | Yes | Cross-platform | 8.5 | |
| 8 | Papers | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Desktop | 8.5 |
| 9 | Skim | Yes | Free | Yes | Desktop | 8.4 | |
| 10 | GoodReader | No | Yes | Yes | Mobile | 8.3 | |
| 11 | MuPDF | Yes | $299/unit/mo | Yes | Cross-platform | 8.2 | |
| 12 | StarForce Reader | Yes | Free | 7.8 | |||
| 13 | LiquidText | Yes | Yes | Cross-platform | 7.8 | ||
| 14 | Aiseesoft Free PDF Viewer | Yes | Free | Desktop | 7.6 | ||
| 15 | Zathura | Yes | Free | Yes | Cross-platform | 6.9 |
Head-to-Head
- 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
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update