Sumatra PDF

A tiny, fast, open-source PDF and ebook reader for Windows.

Open sourcePDF editors and e-signature tools

Verified facts: 4 of 4
Alternatives ranked: 5
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Sumatra PDF

Sumatra PDF is a small Windows reader that opens documents almost instantly and uses very little memory. Besides PDF it handles EPUB, MOBI, comic book archives, DjVu, XPS and CHM files, which makes it handy as a single reader for documents and ebooks. It can run as a portable app from a USB drive, has a minimal interface you can control mostly from the keyboard, and supports themes and a command palette. Many developers use it with LaTeX because it reloads a document automatically when the file changes. The app is free and open source, with no ads, bundled extras or subscription. Annotation is basic, it cannot fill complex forms as reliably as Adobe's reader, and it does not edit documents. It is also Windows only, with 32-bit, 64-bit and ARM builds, and the developer has explained there are no plans for Mac or Linux. If you just want to read PDFs quickly, it is hard to beat.

Best for: Windows users who want the fastest, lightest possible reader with no extras.

What works

Opens files instantly and uses little memory
Reads ebooks and comics as well as PDF
Free, open source, no ads, portable version

Why people leave

Windows only
Basic annotation and limited form support
No editing tools

Top Sumatra PDF alternatives

See all 5

1
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Heavier but handles complex forms and signatures more reliably.
66.5
2
Okular
Free and open source too, with much stronger annotation tools.
62.6
3
PDF-XChange Editor
Still fast on Windows, with far more annotation and editing options.
59.6
4
PDFgear
Free Windows app that adds editing, conversion and signing.
57.2
5
PDF24 Tools
Free Windows toolkit for the merging and converting Sumatra does not do.
55.3

Why people left Sumatra PDF

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Sumatra PDF: common questions

Is Sumatra PDF free?

Yes. Sumatra PDF is free, open-source software.

Is Sumatra PDF open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at sumatrapdfreader/sumatrapdf.

What platforms does Sumatra PDF run on?

Sumatra PDF is available for Windows.

What are the best alternatives to Sumatra PDF?

The highest-ranked Sumatra PDF alternatives right now are Adobe Acrobat Reader, Okular and PDF-XChange Editor. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 Sumatra PDF alternatives

Sumatra PDF facts

4 of 4 verified

Price: Free and open source; Checked Oct 25, 2026sumatrapdfreader.org(opens source in a new tab); “Sumatra PDF is completely free and open source, with no ads or bundled software.”
Platforms: Windows only; Checked Oct 25, 2026sumatrapdfreader.org(opens source in a new tab); “No — Sumatra PDF is a Windows-only application.”
Formats: PDF, EPUB, MOBI, comics and more; Checked Oct 25, 2026sumatrapdfreader.org(opens source in a new tab); “Many formats — PDF, EPUB, MOBI, comic books”
Windows versions: Windows 7 to 11, incl. ARM64; Checked Oct 25, 2026sumatrapdfreader.org(opens source in a new tab); “Windows 7, 8, 10 and 11 — native Windows application, 32-bit, 64-bit, and ARM64”