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Okular alternatives

Top PDF Editors like Okular

The most popular alternative to Okular is Sumatra PDF, which has a free version. Other great alternatives to Okular are Adobe Acrobat, PDFgear, Foxit PDF Editor, and PDF24 Tools.

Most alternatives to Okular are in the PDF Editors category, compared here by price, platform and features.

Okular alternatives
AllFreeOpen source
6 apps

All Okular alternatives

  1. Sumatra PDF is a small, fast document reader for Windows that opens PDF, EPUB, MOBI, XPS, DjVu and comic book files. It focuses on quick startup and a minimal interface rather than editing, with basic annotation support and a portable version that runs without installation. It is free and open source under the GPLv3.

    6 Sumatra PDF alternatives

    Pros

    • Very fast startup and a minimal interface
    • Opens PDF, EPUB, MOBI, DjVu and comic book files
    • Portable version runs without installation

    Cons

    • Available on Windows only, with no Mac or Linux version
    • No PDF editing and only basic annotations
    Cost / License
    FreeOpen source
    Categories
    Platforms
  2. Adobe Acrobat is the PDF application from Adobe, the company that created the format. The free Acrobat Reader views, annotates and signs files, while paid Acrobat Standard and Pro add text and image editing, OCR, conversion to and from Office formats, redaction, comparison and e-signature requests. An AI Assistant can summarise documents and answer questions about them.

    11 Adobe Acrobat alternatives

    Pros

    • Reference PDF tool from the company that created the format
    • Free Reader for viewing, annotating and signing
    • Pro adds editing, OCR, redaction, comparison and signature requests

    Cons

    • Editing and conversion require a costly subscription
    • Heavy app with frequent prompts to upgrade
    Cost / License
    FreemiumProprietary
  3. PDFgear is a free PDF application from Singapore-based PDF Gear Tech for reading, editing, converting, merging, compressing and signing documents. It includes OCR for scanned files and a Copilot assistant that summarises PDFs and carries out edits from chat requests. It is available on Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android and the web, without watermarks or a required account.

    10 PDFgear alternatives

    Pros

    • Free editing, conversion and signing without watermarks
    • No account required to use the apps
    • Copilot assistant summarises PDFs and applies edits from chat

    Cons

    • Text editing is less precise than in Acrobat or Foxit
    • Younger product with less of a track record than established editors
    Cost / License
    FreeProprietary
    Categories
  4. Foxit PDF Editor is a commercial PDF editor from Foxit Software, positioned as an alternative to Adobe Acrobat for businesses. It edits text and images, runs OCR on scans, converts to and from Office formats, protects and redacts documents and handles e-signatures, with an AI assistant for summaries and translation. It is sold by subscription with a free trial, and the separate Foxit PDF Reader is free.

    10 Foxit PDF Editor alternatives

    Pros

    • Full PDF editing, OCR, redaction and e-signatures
    • Lighter alternative to Acrobat with a familiar ribbon interface
    • Available on Windows, Mac, mobile and the web

    Cons

    • Subscription required after the free trial
    • The Mac version has fewer features than the Windows one
    Cost / License
    Free trialProprietary
  5. PDF24 Tools is a free collection of PDF utilities from the German company Geek Software, covering merging, splitting, compressing, converting, OCR, editing, signing and redacting. The tools run in the browser, and the PDF24 Creator app for Windows offers the same features offline along with a virtual PDF printer. There is no paid tier, and the website shows ads.

    10 PDF24 Tools alternatives

    Pros

    • Completely free, with no paid tier
    • Wide range of tools, including OCR, redaction and signing
    • Windows app works offline and adds a virtual PDF printer

    Cons

    • The website shows ads alongside the tools
    • The desktop app is Windows only
    • Interface is functional rather than modern
    Cost / License
    FreeProprietary
    Categories
    Platforms
  6. Stirling-PDF is an open-core PDF application you can run on your own server, typically with Docker, so documents never leave your infrastructure. It bundles tools to merge, split, compress, convert, OCR, sign, redact and edit PDFs, plus a REST API and pipelines for automating repetitive jobs. The core is MIT-licensed and free; paid plans add enterprise features such as SSO.

    7 Stirling-PDF alternatives

    Pros

    • Self-hosted, so documents never leave your infrastructure
    • Dozens of tools for merging, OCR, redaction and conversion
    • REST API and pipelines automate repetitive jobs

    Cons

    • Requires running a server, typically with Docker
    • SSO and other enterprise features are paid
    Cost / License
    FreemiumOpen source
    Categories

Okular vs its alternatives at a glance

Pricing, platforms and the key features of Okular, compared with its most popular alternatives.

Okular vs its alternatives at a glance
AppPricingPlatformsAd-freeElectronic signaturesOffline modePDF annotation
OkularFreeOpen sourceWindows, Linux
Sumatra PDFFreeOpen sourceWindows
Adobe AcrobatFreemiumWeb, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, Browser extension
PDFgearFreeWeb, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android
Foxit PDF EditorFree trialWeb, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android
PDF24 ToolsFreeWeb, Windows

Okular alternatives: frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Okular?

The most popular alternative to Okular is Sumatra PDF: Lightweight open source PDF and ebook reader for Windows. Other great alternatives are Adobe Acrobat, PDFgear, Foxit PDF Editor, and PDF24 Tools.

Is there a free alternative to Okular?

Yes, 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan, including Sumatra PDF, Adobe Acrobat, PDFgear, and PDF24 Tools.

Is there an open source alternative to Okular?

Yes, 2 open source alternatives are listed, including Sumatra PDF and Stirling-PDF.

Is Okular free?

Yes, Okular is free to use.

Compare Okular with its alternatives

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