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Sumatra PDF alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Sumatra PDF: windows only, and basic annotation and limited form support. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Sumatra PDF, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Adobe Acrobat Reader currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Adobe Acrobat Reader logoAdobe Acrobat ReaderFreeNoWindows, macOS, iOS +24 of 466.5
2PDFgear logoPDFgearFreeNoWindows, macOS, iOS +24 of 457.2
3PDF24 Tools logoPDF24 ToolsFreeNoWeb, Windows4 of 455.3
  1. Adobe Acrobat Reader logo

    1. Adobe Acrobat ReaderTop pick

    Best for: Anyone who needs a reliable free viewer for forms and signatures that other apps struggle with

    FreeWindows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Sumatra PDF

    Heavier but handles complex forms and signatures more reliably.

    Pros

    • Handles complex forms and odd PDFs very reliably
    • Free commenting, highlighting, form filling and signing
    • Available on every major desktop and mobile platform

    Cons

    • Frequent prompts to upgrade to paid Acrobat
    • Heavier and slower to open than lightweight viewers
    • Cannot edit text or convert documents
    Visit Adobe Acrobat Reader 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 Adobe Acrobat Reader a good Sumatra PDF alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Forms and signing
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Annotation
    Comments, highlights, freehand drawing
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. PDFgear logo

    2. 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 Sumatra PDF

    Free Windows app that adds editing, conversion and signing.

    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 Sumatra PDF 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)
  3. PDF24 Tools logo

    3. PDF24 Tools

    Best for: Anyone who wants free PDF tools without accounts, including offline use on Windows

    FreeWeb, Windows

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Sumatra PDF

    Free Windows toolkit for the merging and converting Sumatra does not do.

    Pros

    • All tools free, with no account or upgrade tier
    • Offline Windows app with a virtual PDF printer
    • MSI installer for company-wide deployment

    Cons

    • Desktop app is Windows only
    • Website shows ads
    • Basic editing of existing text
    Visit PDF24 Tools Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    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 PDF24 Tools a good Sumatra PDF alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Desktop app
    Free for private and business use
    Checked Oct 25, 2026tools.pdf24.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Offline use
    Yes, Creator works offline
    Checked Oct 25, 2026tools.pdf24.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Desktop platforms
    Windows only
    Checked Oct 25, 2026tools.pdf24.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Online tools
    All current systems and browsers
    Checked Oct 25, 2026tools.pdf24.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best Sumatra PDF alternative for…

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

Adobe Acrobat Reader logo

Best Sumatra PDF alternative for most people

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Heavier but handles complex forms and signatures more reliably.

Okular logo

Best Sumatra PDF alternative for a free option

Okular

Free and open source too, with much stronger annotation tools.

PDF-XChange Editor logo

Best Sumatra PDF alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

PDF-XChange Editor

Still fast on Windows, with far more annotation and editing options.

Okular logo

Best Sumatra PDF alternative for open source

Okular

Free and open source too, with much stronger annotation tools.

PDFgear logo

Best Sumatra PDF alternative for Mac

PDFgear

Free Windows app that adds editing, conversion and signing.

PDF24 Tools logo

Best Sumatra PDF alternative for Windows

PDF24 Tools

Free Windows toolkit for the merging and converting Sumatra does not do.

Okular logo

Best Sumatra PDF alternative for Linux

Okular

Free and open source too, with much stronger annotation tools.

Adobe Acrobat Reader logo

Best Sumatra PDF alternative for iPhone and Android

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Heavier but handles complex forms and signatures more reliably.

Adobe Acrobat Reader logo

Best Sumatra PDF alternative for working in the browser

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Heavier but handles complex forms and signatures more reliably.

Sumatra PDF alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Sumatra PDF?

Adobe Acrobat Reader ranks first right now. Heavier but handles complex forms and signatures more reliably. Okular and PDF-XChange Editor follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Sumatra PDF?

Yes. Adobe Acrobat Reader (free), Okular (open source), PDF-XChange Editor (free plan + paid) and PDFgear (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Sumatra PDF?

Yes: Okular.

Which Sumatra PDF alternatives work on Linux?

Okular runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Sumatra PDF?

The complaints we hear most: windows only; basic annotation and limited form support; no editing tools.

How is this list ranked?

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