Xreader review
A free Linux viewer with broad format support and basic PDF annotation tools.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Xreader is a free, open-source desktop document viewer maintained by Linux Mint. It is intended for Linux Mint, LMDE, and compatible Linux environments, making it a practical fit for users who need straightforward PDF and document access on Linux. The viewer handles PDF and PostScript files, with optional backends supporting DJVU, DVI, XPS, comics, TIFF, and other document formats. Core reading tools include page navigation, zoom, a sidebar, fullscreen viewing, hyperlink navigation, table-of-contents bookmarks, document properties, and text search with clipboard copying.
Its feature depth is focused on everyday reading rather than advanced document workflows. Xreader can print complete documents or selected page ranges, open password-protected documents, and provide basic PDF highlighting, underlining, and squiggle annotations. Offline access and desktop use suit local files and routine reading tasks. For Linux users who want one viewer across several document formats, the broad backend support is a notable advantage over a narrowly focused PDF reader. It is also distributed under the GNU General Public License version 2, which aligns with an open-source software preference.
The main trade-off is scope and platform coverage. Xreader is Linux-only, so it is not a fit for users seeking a cross-platform reader. Interactive form filling, OCR, and text-to-speech are not verified capabilities, which makes the product less suitable for document-processing, accessibility, or form-centric workflows. Choose Xreader for free Linux viewing, navigation, printing, password handling, and basic annotations across multiple formats. Consider an alternative if your work depends on verified forms, OCR, text-to-speech, or support beyond compatible Linux environments.
Xreader pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free, GPL-licensed, and open source
- Supports PDF, PostScript, DJVU, DVI, XPS, comics, TIFF, and more
- Includes search, bookmarks, printing, and basic PDF annotations
- Where it doesn't
- Linux-only availability limits platform choice
- Interactive form filling is not verified
- OCR and text-to-speech are not verified
Xreader fact sheet, pricing and score →
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