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Skim alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Skim: mac only, and no editing, conversion or signing. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Skim, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Highlights currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Highlights logoHighlightsFree plan + paidNomacOS, iOS4 of 466.5
2PDF Expert logoPDF ExpertFree plan + paidNomacOS, iOS4 of 462.6
3PDFgear logoPDFgearFreeNoWindows, macOS, iOS +24 of 457.2
  1. Highlights logo

    1. HighlightsTop pick

    Best for: Researchers and students who annotate papers and keep notes in Markdown apps

    Free plan + paidmacOS, iOS

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Skim

    A modern Apple app for annotating papers, with Markdown export and iPad support.

    Pros

    • Exports annotations as Markdown, HTML and more
    • Citation lookup and reference manager support
    • One subscription across Mac, iPhone and iPad

    Cons

    • Apple platforms only
    • Not a general PDF editor
    • Key export features need Pro
    Visit Highlights Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Highlights a good Skim alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Monthly price
    $4.99 per month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026highlightsapp.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Annual price
    $29.99 per year
    Checked Oct 25, 2026highlightsapp.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    iPhone, iPad, Mac
    Checked Oct 25, 2026highlightsapp.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Export formats
    Markdown, HTML, TextBundle
    Checked Oct 25, 2026highlightsapp.net(opens source in a new tab)
  2. PDF Expert logo

    2. PDF Expert

    Best for: Mac, iPhone and iPad users who want a fast, well-designed PDF editor

    Free plan + paidmacOS, iOS

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Skim

    A polished Mac editor that also edits text and fills forms.

    Pros

    • Fast with large files and pleasant to read in
    • One subscription covers Mac, iPhone and iPad
    • Excellent Apple Pencil annotation on iPad

    Cons

    • Apple platforms only
    • Editing and conversion need a subscription
    • Fewer advanced prepress tools than Acrobat
    Visit PDF Expert Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is PDF Expert a good Skim alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Platforms
    Mac, iPhone, iPad
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pdfexpert.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Money-back guarantee
    30 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pdfexpert.com(opens source in a new tab)
    System requirement
    macOS Monterey or later
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pdfexpert.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Education discount
    30% off annual plan
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pdfexpert.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. PDFgear logo

    3. PDFgear

    Best for: Students and home users who want free editing and conversion without an account

    FreeWindows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Skim

    Free Mac app that adds editing and conversion.

    Pros

    • Free editing, conversion and signing with no sign-up
    • Apps on desktop, mobile and the web
    • Built-in AI summaries and chat

    Cons

    • Less proven on complex or unusual PDFs
    • No advanced preflight or accessibility tools
    • Long-term funding model is unclear
    Visit PDFgear Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is PDFgear a good Skim alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    Free, no sign-up
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pdfgear.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pdfgear.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Android
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pdfgear.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Business features
    Free on Windows
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pdfgear.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Skim alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Highlights logo

Best Skim alternative for most people

Highlights

A modern Apple app for annotating papers, with Markdown export and iPad support.

Okular logo

Best Skim alternative for a free option

Okular

A free open-source annotator if you also use Linux or Windows.

PDF Expert logo

Best Skim alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

PDF Expert

A polished Mac editor that also edits text and fills forms.

Okular logo

Best Skim alternative for open source

Okular

A free open-source annotator if you also use Linux or Windows.

PDFgear logo

Best Skim alternative for Mac

PDFgear

Free Mac app that adds editing and conversion.

Okular logo

Best Skim alternative for Windows

Okular

A free open-source annotator if you also use Linux or Windows.

Okular logo

Best Skim alternative for Linux

Okular

A free open-source annotator if you also use Linux or Windows.

PDFgear logo

Best Skim alternative for iPhone and Android

PDFgear

Free Mac app that adds editing and conversion.

PDFgear logo

Best Skim alternative for working in the browser

PDFgear

Free Mac app that adds editing and conversion.

Skim alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Skim?

Highlights ranks first right now. A modern Apple app for annotating papers, with Markdown export and iPad support. PDF Expert and Okular follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Skim?

Yes. Highlights (free plan + paid), PDF Expert (free plan + paid), Okular (open source) and PDFgear (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Skim?

Yes: Okular.

Which Skim alternatives work on Linux?

Okular runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Skim?

The complaints we hear most: mac only; no editing, conversion or signing; dated interface.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Skim, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.