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Get a Free Software PDF reader!

The Portable Document Format (PDF) is a popular format to publish formatted text and documents. There are several different versions of it, some qualifying as an Open Standard , some certified by ISO and some encumbered by software patents . You might want to promote the versions that are Open Standards, because Open Standards guarantee interoperability, competition and choice. Read more

There are many programs to read and write PDF documents. All of the PDF readers in the following list are Free Software , respecting your basic four freedoms to use, study, share, and improve them. This gives you control over your computer and helps protect your privacy. Read more

Evince

Platforms: GNU/Linux

The document viewer of the Gnome project can display many document formats beside PDF.

Skim

Platforms: Mac OS X

PDF reader and note-taker for OS X.

SumatraPDF

Platforms: Windows

a free PDF, eBook, XPS, DjVu, CHM, Comic Book reader for Windows. Sumatra PDF is powerful, small, portable and starts up very fast.

Okular

Platforms: GNU/Linux Windows

The document viewer of the KDE project also displays postscript, doc, odt and other formats. It is well integrated with the KDE web browser Konqueror.

Xpdf

Platforms: GNU/Linux

A lightweight, straightforward pdf viewer using a plain motif interface. The XpdfReader builds are non-free, we advise against them.

PDF.JS

Platforms: Firefox

PDF.JS is not a standalone application for viewing pdf, but a plugin available for various web browsers. It may suit you when you come across a lot of pdf files online or in an environment where you cannot or do not want to install a full desktop application.

qpdfview

Platforms: GNU/Linux NetBSD FreeBSD

A simple tabbed PDF viewer.

gv

Platforms: GNU/Linux Mac OS X

A lightweight postscript and pdf viewer with xaw3d interface. Successor to ghostview.

sioyek

Platforms: GNU/Linux Mac OS X Windows

A PDF viewer designed for reading research papers and technical books.

MuPDF

Platforms: GNU/Linux Android Windows

Zathura

Platforms: GNU/Linux

Other proprietary alternatives to Adobe's PDF reader also exist, but, like it, their internal working is a trade secret and these programs do not respect your right to control your own privacy and data.

Help us translating the interface / the download webpages of your favorite PDF reader!

Note that most Free Operating Systems provide package management systems and do not require you to download any files manually from project pages. You will find instructions on how to install these packages on the website of your distributor. The download pages referred to will provide source code, should you desire to build the software. Go to the top

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