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PDF Expert alternatives · PDF Editors

Open-source alternatives to PDF Expert

PDF Expert is not described as open source on its own site. 4 of the 45 other PDF editors in this directory are open source, according to their own sites.

PDF Expert has a free plan. Paid plans start at $79.99 per year. All of them are free or have a free plan.

4 tools · Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from

How each one differs from PDF Expert

  1. Skim

    Free PDF reader and note-taker for Mac, built for papers

    • Skim is free. PDF Expert starts at $79.99 per year.
    • Only PDF Expert lists an iOS app.
    • Skim is open source, according to its own site.
    • Skim also covers notes and highlights.
    Skim vs PDF ExpertSkim pricing and details

  2. Stirling PDF

    Open-source PDF editor you can run on your own machine or server

    • Stirling PDF starts at $99 per month for 100 users (Team). PDF Expert starts at $79.99 per year.
    • Only Stirling PDF lists a web app.
    • Only Stirling PDF lists Windows and Linux apps.
    • Only PDF Expert lists an iOS app.
    Stirling PDF pricing and details

  3. PDFsam

    Split and merge PDFs offline, with paid Visual and Enhanced editions

    • PDFsam starts at $34.90 per user / year (PDFsam Visual); PDFsam Basic is free. PDF Expert starts at $79.99 per year.
    • Only PDFsam lists Windows and Linux apps.
    • Only PDF Expert lists an iOS app.
    • PDFsam is open source, according to its own site.
    PDFsam pricing and details

  4. SumatraPDF

    Small, free PDF, eBook and comic reader for Windows

    • SumatraPDF is free. PDF Expert starts at $79.99 per year.
    • Only SumatraPDF lists a web app.
    • Only SumatraPDF lists a Windows app.
    • Only PDF Expert lists macOS and iOS apps.
    SumatraPDF pricing and details

Common questions

Is there an open-source alternative to PDF Expert?

Yes. Skim, Stirling PDF, PDFsam and SumatraPDF are open source, according to their own sites.

Is PDF Expert open source?

PDF Expert is not described as open source on its own site. The listing was checked on Nov 9, 2026 against the pages it cites.

When was this checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Nov 9, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices and plans without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.

This page is built from the listings. A tool is here because its listing says so, and the order is how close each is to PDF Expert: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.