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EnglishWhat Is pdfreaders.org?
Updated
pdfreaders.org is a directory site that lists Free Software PDF readers across major operating systems. It exists to help you choose a PDF viewer that respects the four freedoms — to use, study, share, and improve the software — rather than proprietary alternatives whose internal workings are trade secrets. If you want a PDF reader you can inspect, redistribute, or modify, and you care about keeping control over your own privacy and data, this site is aimed at you.
What the site actually provides
The homepage is a curated list of PDF readers, each with a short description and its supported platforms. It does not host the downloads itself; it points to project pages and assumes you will usually install through your operating system's package manager.
The site also makes an argument, not just a list. It notes that PDF exists in several versions — some qualifying as Open Standards, some certified by ISO, and some encumbered by software patents — and encourages promoting the Open Standard versions because Open Standards guarantee interoperability, competition, and choice.
The readers listed
| Reader | Platforms | Notes from the site |
|---|---|---|
| Evince | GNU/Linux | GNOME document viewer; displays many formats besides PDF |
| Skim | Mac OS X | PDF reader and note-taker for OS X |
| SumatraPDF | Windows | PDF, eBook, XPS, DjVu, CHM, Comic Book reader; powerful, small, portable, starts very fast |
| Okular | GNU/Linux, Windows | KDE document viewer; also displays postscript, doc, odt and other formats; well integrated with Konqueror |
| Xpdf | GNU/Linux | Lightweight, straightforward viewer with a plain motif interface. The site warns that XpdfReader builds are non-free and advises against them |
| qpdfview | GNU/Linux, NetBSD, FreeBSD | Simple tabbed PDF viewer |
| gv | GNU/Linux, Mac OS X | Lightweight postscript and PDF viewer with xaw3d interface; successor to ghostview |
| sioyek | GNU/Linux, Mac OS X, Windows | Designed for reading research papers and technical books |
| MuPDF | GNU/Linux, Android, Windows | Listed without further description |
| Zathura | GNU/Linux | Listed without further description |
How to use it
- Identify your operating system.
- Scan the platform column for readers that match.
- Pick based on your secondary needs — for example, SumatraPDF if you want something small and fast on Windows, Okular if you need extra document formats, or sioyek if you read research papers and technical books.
- Install through your distribution's package manager where possible. The site notes that most Free Operating Systems provide package management and do not require manual downloads from project pages; your distributor's website has the instructions.
- Go to the project's download page only if you want source code to build the software yourself.
What it is not
- It is not a download host. Files come from the individual projects or your package manager.
- It is not a comparison of features, speed, or rendering quality. Descriptions are brief and platform-focused.
- It does not cover proprietary readers except to note that alternatives to Adobe's reader exist but, like Adobe's, keep their internal workings secret and do not respect your right to control your own privacy and data.
Who should use this list
Choose from this list if software freedom and privacy are your priority and you want a reader you can study, share, and improve. If you mainly need a specific proprietary feature, or your organization mandates a particular viewer, this list will not settle that question — it is a starting point organized around licensing and platform, not around feature benchmarks.