Okular
Free document viewer from KDE with annotation and signatures
- #9 of 11 in best PDF editors
- Free and open source
- Free to use
- Open source
- LinuxWindowsmacOSAndroid
Ranked 9 of 11 in best PDF editors
A free, open-source viewer with annotation and signature checks on Linux, Windows, macOS and Android. It is mainly a viewer, so text and page editing are limited compared with the editors above.
Best for Free annotation and signing on Linux
About Okular
Okular opens PDF files and other document formats, lets you select text, add annotations and check digital signatures. It is a viewer first, so its editing is limited to annotation and signing rather than rewriting text or pages.
Okular is free software and part of the KDE desktop family, but it runs on other systems too. Because it does not rewrite PDF content, it suits review and signing rather than full editing. It is a good fit for people who want a free, capable reader and annotator, especially on Linux.
Key features
- Annotation tools
- Digital signature checks
- Free software
- Linux, Windows, macOS and Android
- Text selection
Strengths
- Free software under GPLv2 or later
- Annotation and signature checks
Limits
- Mainly a viewer, so editing is limited
- Less useful for rewriting PDF content
Where Okular ranks
How Okular compares
| Product | Score | Price | Platforms | Free plan | Pricing model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#7 iLovePDF | 81.5 | Free plan, paid upgrades | WebWindowsmacOSiOSAndroid | Free tier with limited processing | Freemium, Premium monthly or yearly |
#8 PDFgear | 80.5 | Free | WindowsmacOSiOSWeb | Free software and free online tools | Free |
| #9Okular | 79.5 | Free and open source | LinuxWindowsmacOSAndroid | Free | Open source |
#10 Stirling PDF | 78.5 | Free and open source | WebSelf-hosted | Free for individual use | Open source; free for individuals |
#11 PDFsam | 77.0 | Free and open source | WindowsmacOSLinux | Free, no limits | Open source |
The full comparison table for best PDF editors has all 11 products.
Alternatives to Okular
All 10 alternatives
Questions about Okular
- Is Okular free?
- Okular can be used without paying: Free software under GPLv2 or later. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
- Is Okular open source?
- Yes. Okular publishes its source code under the GPL-2.0-or-later license.
- Which platforms does Okular support?
- Okular is available on: Linux, Windows, macOS, Android.
- What is Okular best for?
- Free annotation and signing on Linux. In our ranking of PDF editors it is number 9 of 11 with a score of 79.5.
- What are the best alternatives to Okular?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are Adobe Acrobat, PDF-XChange Editor, Foxit PDF Editor, Smallpdf.
Show this ranking on your site
If you make or maintain Okular, this badge links back to this page and shows its current rank. It updates when the ranking does.
<a href="https://listme.name/software/okular"><img src="https://listme.name/badge/okular.svg" height="28" alt="Ranked #9 of 11 PDF editors on listme.name"></a>Articles that mention Okular
All articles- Roundups · 6 min readFree alternatives to Adobe Creative Cloud, app by appFree and open-source replacements for Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, Premiere Pro and Acrobat, with the gaps and free-plan limits to expect.
- Guides · 5 min readHow to choose a PDF editor: editing, signing, OCR and privacyChoose a PDF editor by task, OCR, offline or browser use, platforms and price. Compare Adobe Acrobat, PDF-XChange, Foxit, Smallpdf, Sejda and Okular.
- Roundups · 5 min readBest free alternatives to Microsoft OfficeCompare LibreOffice, ONLYOFFICE, Google Docs, WPS Office and Zoho Workplace, and learn where Microsoft file format compatibility can fall short for your documents.
