Javelin PDF Reader vs MuPDF

Javelin PDF Reader is a free app for viewing standard PDFs and files secured with Drumlin DRM. Readers are available for Windows 8/10/11, macOS 10.13 or later, Android 7 or later, and iOS or iPadOS 9 or later. Reading tools include hyperlinks, navigation trees, different page layouts, text search, annotation, and markup; offline reading also supports zoom and Read-Aloud text-to-speech. DRM-protected files can prevent copying and onward distribution, and publishers can set hard expiry dates or expiry periods that begin at first viewing. Printing is limited to desktop and laptop devices and depends on publisher permission, with controls for copies and page counts. Dynamic watermarks can show device or user details, a filename, authorization code, and date and time. Screen-capture protection varies by platform: it is optional on Windows and macOS, always set on Android, and offers a subset of facilities on iOS. Authorization records may include device details and IP address and are retained for three years. Corporate networks may require proxy configuration or web authorization.

MuPDF is an embeddable SDK for developers working with PDFs and other document formats in desktop, cloud/server, or embedded projects. It supports viewing, editing, extracting, signing, rendering, redacting, annotating, splitting, merging, compressing, and converting documents. Listed inputs include PDF, ePUB, image formats, SVG, CBZ, and XPS; outputs include PDF, text, HTML, PostScript, print formats, PNG, SVG, and PNM/PAM. Developer bindings include MuPDF Core, PyMuPDF, MuPDF.js, and MuPDF.NET. The open-source release is AGPL-licensed, and embedding it in a product may require a commercial license. For server-based use of the open-source software, the licensing terms require disclosure of application source code to users interacting with it. Commercial licenses provide an alternative without AGPL code disclosure and include technical support and free upgrades. The Commercial plan is listed at $299 a month and includes one licensed domain and one preview domain for testing; a 14-day trial is also listed. Open-source users can seek community help through Discord and the bug tracker.