SumatraPDF vs Foxit PDF Reader

SumatraPDF: what it's good at

SumatraPDF opens documents almost instantly and stays out of the way, reading PDF, ePub, MOBI, CBZ, DjVu and XPS. A refreshing alternative to heavyweight readers when all you need is to read a document.

• Opens documents near-instantly
• Reads PDF, ePub, MOBI, DjVu and CBZ
• Portable single-executable option
• Tiny installation footprint

Foxit PDF Reader: what it's good at

Foxit PDF Reader is a lighter, faster alternative to Adobe's reader while still supporting annotation, commenting, form filling and digital signatures — the usual pick when Acrobat Reader feels too heavy.

• Annotation and commenting tools
• PDF form filling and signing
• Noticeably lighter than Acrobat Reader
• Available on every major platform

Which should you choose?

Both are free, so the honest answer is that you can install either and decide for yourself — that is the advantage of free software over a paid trial.

Both run on Windows. Only Foxit PDF Reader supports macOS, Linux, Android, iOS. If open source matters to you, SumatraPDF publishes its source code and Foxit PDF Reader does not.

We deliberately do not publish a star rating for either. We have no way to verify a rating that would be honest at scale, and an invented one would be worse than none — so we give you the facts and let you decide.

Frequently asked questions

Is SumatraPDF better than Foxit PDF Reader?

Neither is universally better. SumatraPDF extremely fast, minimal PDF and ebook reader, while Foxit PDF Reader fast, full-featured PDF reader with annotation tools. The right pick depends on your platform and workflow.

Are both really free?

SumatraPDF is open source and Foxit PDF Reader is free. Both can be downloaded without paying.

Can I install both?

Yes. Since neither costs anything, installing both and comparing them on your own files is usually the fastest way to decide.