Okular alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data
Common reasons people leave Okular: cannot edit existing text or convert files, and macOS only through untested nightly builds. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Okular, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Sumatra PDF currently ranks first.
No alternatives match these filters.
Show all 5 alternativesThe best Okular alternative for…
The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.
Best Okular alternative for most people
Sumatra PDFLighter and faster on Windows, if you mostly read rather than annotate.
Best Okular alternative for a free option
Adobe Acrobat ReaderBetter for awkward forms that only render properly in Adobe's viewer.
Best Okular alternative for a free plan you can upgrade
XodoCross-platform viewer and editor, including a Linux desktop app.
Best Okular alternative for open source
PDFsamFree open-source app for the splitting and merging Okular does not do.
Best Okular alternative for Mac
Master PDF EditorA paid editor with a native Linux build that can change existing text.
Best Okular alternative for Windows
Sumatra PDFLighter and faster on Windows, if you mostly read rather than annotate.
Best Okular alternative for Linux
Master PDF EditorA paid editor with a native Linux build that can change existing text.
Best Okular alternative for iPhone and Android
Adobe Acrobat ReaderBetter for awkward forms that only render properly in Adobe's viewer.
Best Okular alternative for working in the browser
Adobe Acrobat ReaderBetter for awkward forms that only render properly in Adobe's viewer.
Okular alternatives: common questions
What is the best alternative to Okular?
Sumatra PDF ranks first right now. Lighter and faster on Windows, if you mostly read rather than annotate. Adobe Acrobat Reader and Master PDF Editor follow it in our ranking.
Is there a free alternative to Okular?
Yes. Sumatra PDF (open source), Adobe Acrobat Reader (free), PDFsam (open source) and Xodo (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.
Is there an open-source alternative to Okular?
Yes: Sumatra PDF and PDFsam.
Which Okular alternatives work on Linux?
Master PDF Editor, PDFsam and Xodo run on Linux.
Why do people switch from Okular?
The complaints we hear most: cannot edit existing text or convert files; macOS only through untested nightly builds; KDE-style interface feels out of place on Windows.
How is this list ranked?
Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Okular, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.