Best PDF Readers in 2026
Updated
In short: Foxit PDF Reader is ranked #1 of 26 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of MuPDF and KDAN PDF. The best-ranked option with a free plan is MuPDF. The lowest first paid tier on this page is KDAN PDF at $5/mo.
Reading PDFs can mean reviewing a document, completing a form, or listening to its text. Compared on annotation tools, form filling, OCR support, and text-to-speech, these readers offer different capabilities for working with document content. Offline access and platform support help you assess where you can use them, while free-plan availability and paid-from pricing provide cost details. Foxit PDF Reader, MuPDF, and KDAN PDF are among the options shown. Think about the tasks you handle most often and whether you need access across platforms or without a connection.
26 PDF readers ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
26ranked
9free plans on this page
$5/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list PDF Readers 25 channels on this page · 100 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromAnnotation toolsOCR supportForm fillingOffline accessText-to-speechPlatform support Spec sheet Score
01 Foxit PDF Reader Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsYesOCR supportnot statedForm fillingYesOffline accessYesText-to-speechYesPlatform supportcross-platform 6/8spec lines stated 8.1
02 MuPDF Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsYesOCR supportnot statedForm fillingYesOffline accessYesText-to-speechnot statedPlatform supportcross-platform 5/8spec lines stated 7.9
03 KDAN PDF Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsYesOCR supportnot statedForm fillingnot statedOffline accessnot statedText-to-speechnot statedPlatform supportnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.6
04 StarForce Reader Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsYesOCR supportnot statedForm fillingnot statedOffline accessYesText-to-speechnot statedPlatform supportcross-platform 4/8spec lines stated 7.6
05 Okular Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsYesOCR supportnot statedForm fillingYesOffline accessnot statedText-to-speechYesPlatform supportcross-platform 5/8spec lines stated 7.5
06 Javelin PDF Reader Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsYesOCR supportnot statedForm fillingYesOffline accessYesText-to-speechYesPlatform supportcross-platform 6/8spec lines stated 7.4
07 Adobe Scan Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsYesOCR supportnot statedForm fillingYesOffline accessnot statedText-to-speechYesPlatform supportcross-platform 5/8spec lines stated 7.2
08 Launchpad Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsnot statedOCR supportnot statedForm fillingnot statedOffline accessnot statedText-to-speechnot statedPlatform supportnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.1
09 Evince Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsYesOCR supportnot statedForm fillingYesOffline accessYesText-to-speechnot statedPlatform supportdesktop 5/8spec lines stated 6.9
10 SumatraPDF Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsYesOCR supportnot statedForm fillingNoOffline accessYesText-to-speechYesPlatform supportdesktop 6/8spec lines stated 6.8
11 Adobe Acrobat Reader Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsYesOCR supportnot statedForm fillingYesOffline accessnot statedText-to-speechYesPlatform supportcross-platform 5/8spec lines stated 6.7
12 LiquidText Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsYesOCR supportadvancedForm fillingnot statedOffline accessnot statedText-to-speechnot statedPlatform supportcross-platform 4/8spec lines stated 6.7
13 GoodReader Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsYesOCR supportnot statedForm fillingYesOffline accessnot statedText-to-speechYesPlatform supportcross-platform 5/8spec lines stated 6.6
14 Kiosk Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsYesOCR supportnot statedForm fillingnot statedOffline accessYesText-to-speechnot statedPlatform supportcross-platform 4/8spec lines stated 6.4
15 QuickTime Player Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsYesOCR supportbasicForm fillingYesOffline accessYesText-to-speechnot statedPlatform supportcross-platform 6/8spec lines stated 6.2
16 Highlights Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsYesOCR supportadvancedForm fillingnot statedOffline accessYesText-to-speechnot statedPlatform supportcross-platform 5/8spec lines stated 6.0
17 Papers Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsYesOCR supportnot statedForm fillingYesOffline accessYesText-to-speechnot statedPlatform supportdesktop 5/8spec lines stated 6.0
18 Timeshift Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsYesOCR supportnot statedForm fillingnot statedOffline accessYesText-to-speechnot statedPlatform supportdesktop 4/8spec lines stated 6.0
19 Zathura Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsnot statedOCR supportnot statedForm fillingnot statedOffline accessnot statedText-to-speechnot statedPlatform supportcross-platform 1/8spec lines stated 6.0
20 Komodo PDF Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsnot statedOCR supportnot statedForm fillingnot statedOffline accessnot statedText-to-speechnot statedPlatform supportcross-platform 2/8spec lines stated 5.9
21 Mozilla PDF.js Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsYesOCR supportnot statedForm fillingYesOffline accessnot statedText-to-speechnot statedPlatform supportcross-platform 3/8spec lines stated 5.9
22 Preview Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsYesOCR supportnot statedForm fillingYesOffline accessYesText-to-speechnot statedPlatform supportdesktop 5/8spec lines stated 5.9
23 Skim Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsYesOCR supportnot statedForm fillingnot statedOffline accessnot statedText-to-speechnot statedPlatform supportdesktop 3/8spec lines stated 5.9
24 XpdfReader Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsnot statedOCR supportnot statedForm fillingnot statedOffline accessnot statedText-to-speechnot statedPlatform supportdesktop 1/8spec lines stated 5.9
25 Aiseesoft Free PDF Viewer Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAnnotation toolsnot statedOCR supportnot statedForm fillingnot statedOffline accessnot statedText-to-speechnot statedPlatform supportdesktop 2/8spec lines stated 5.7
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Annotation tools | OCR support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foxit PDF Reader | 8.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | none |
| 2 | MuPDF | 7.9 | Free plan | $299/mo | Yes | — | Yes | none |
| 3 | KDAN PDF | 7.6 | Free plan | $5/mo | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 4 | StarForce Reader | 7.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 5 | Okular | 7.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | none |
| 6 | Javelin PDF Reader | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 7 | Adobe Scan | 7.2 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 8 | Launchpad | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 9 | Evince | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | none |
| 10 | SumatraPDF | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | none |
| 11 | Adobe Acrobat Reader | 6.7 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 12 | LiquidText | 6.7 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | advanced |
| 13 | GoodReader | 6.6 | No | — | No | — | Yes | — |
| 14 | Kiosk | 6.4 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 15 | QuickTime Player | 6.2 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | basic |
| 16 | Highlights | 6.0 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | advanced |
| 17 | Papers | 6.0 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | none |
| 18 | Timeshift | 6.0 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 19 | Zathura | 6.0 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 20 | Komodo PDF | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 21 | Mozilla PDF.js | 5.9 | No | — | — | — | Yes | — |
| 22 | Preview | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 23 | Skim | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | none |
| 24 | XpdfReader | 5.9 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 25 | Aiseesoft Free PDF Viewer | 5.7 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which PDF reader is ranked first on Specifiction?
Foxit PDF Reader is ranked #1 of 26 with a score of 8.1. MuPDF is second and KDAN PDF third.
How many of these have a free plan?
9 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, KDAN PDF has the lowest first paid tier we found: $5/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.