The SumatraPDF Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about SumatraPDF in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
SumatraPDF
The Insider’s Guide
Small, free PDF, eBook and comic reader for Windows
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among PDF editors, read from SumatraPDF’s own pages.
Made by Krzysztof Kowalczyk · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from SumatraPDF’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on SumatraPDF’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 31 of the 45 other PDF editors we grade
SumatraPDF is a free, open-source reader for PDF, EPUB, MOBI, comic book, DjVu, XPS and CHM files. It is a native Windows app with a portable option, plus a browser version. It is built for viewing documents quickly and does not position itself as a PDF editor.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about SumatraPDF, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It only reads, so it will not edit a PDF, and the desktop app is Windows only.
- 1
Best for opening PDFs and ebooks quickly on Windows
SumatraPDF is a free, open-source reader for PDF, EPUB, MOBI, comic, DjVu, XPS and CHM files, with a portable build.
- 2
It is free
SumatraPDF has no paid plan at all. Everything: the app is free and open source, with no ads or bundled software.
- 3
It runs on 2 platforms
Windows and Web.
- 4
Many document formats
Opens PDF, EPUB, MOBI, CBZ and CBR comics, DjVu, XPS, CHM and common image formats, including JPEG XL and HEIC.
- 5
Light and fast
The site describes an app that opens documents instantly with minimal memory use.
- 6
Portable option
Can run without installation, for example from a USB drive.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 31 of 45
That is against the other PDF editors we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
SumatraPDF is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
SumatraPDF at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, Windows
- Made by
- Krzysztof Kowalczyk
- Category
- PDF Editors
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for opening PDFs and ebooks quickly on Windows
SumatraPDF is a free, open-source reader for PDF, EPUB, MOBI, comic, DjVu, XPS and CHM files, with a portable build. It only reads, so it will not edit a PDF, and the desktop app is Windows only.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source, with no ads or bundled software, and anyone can download and run it. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole app is free to download and use, with nothing held back. |
| Features | D | It opens many document formats but the pages list no editing, so for a PDF editing category it covers one narrow function, viewing. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating is on record, but you install or unzip it and open a file, with nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | A Windows desktop app in 32-bit, 64-bit and ARM64 builds, plus a browser version. There is no Mac, Linux or phone app. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who SumatraPDF is for
- Fits if you want a light Windows viewer for PDFs, ebooks and comics
- Works for people who keep a portable reader on a USB stick
Who it is not for
- Too light for editing, as the pages list no way to change text or pages
- Skip it if you use a Mac or Linux, since the FAQ says there is no version for them
- Not for you if you want phone apps, as none is listed
- Watch out: support is a GitHub discussions forum and documentation, not a help desk
Good to know
Good for
- Windows users who want a fast, minimal document viewer
- Readers of EPUB, MOBI and comic book files
- Running a reader from a USB drive
Worth knowing
- Windows only for the desktop app; the FAQ says there is no Mac or Linux version.
- The home page presents it as a reader; the pages read do not list editing features such as changing text or pages.
- Support is through a GitHub discussions forum and documentation.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
SumatraPDF is free to use.
Free and open source, with no ads or bundled software, and anyone can download and run it.
Free
$0
Free and open source, with no ads, bundled software or subscription.
The free plan
Everything: the app is free and open source, with no ads or bundled software.
Read from sumatrapdfreader.org on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: Web and Windows
Small, free PDF, eBook and comic reader for Windows. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, keyboard-first, documents.
It opens many document formats but the pages list no editing, so for a PDF editing category it covers one narrow function, viewing.
- Many document formats
- Opens PDF, EPUB, MOBI, CBZ and CBR comics, DjVu, XPS, CHM and common image formats, including JPEG XL and HEIC.
- Light and fast
- The site describes an app that opens documents instantly with minimal memory use.
- Portable option
- Can run without installation, for example from a USB drive.
- Customization
- Keyboard shortcuts, themes and the toolbar layout can be changed.
- Windows builds
- Native 32-bit, 64-bit and ARM64 builds for Windows 7, 8, 10 and 11.
- Web version
- A browser version is linked from the site's main navigation at web.sumatrapdfreader.org.
Where it runs
- Web
- Windows
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
SumatraPDF is made by Krzysztof Kowalczyk.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
31/45
Other PDF editors it is graded above
SumatraPDF's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 31 of the 45 other PDF editors we grade, and level with 7.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 39 of 45) and worst on features (D, above 0).
SumatraPDF has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 46 PDF editors we grade, cut by the letter each got. SumatraPDF’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 31 of 45
- AFree plan and trialAbove 39 of 45
- DFeaturesAbove 0 of 45
- BEase of useAbove 11 of 45
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 5 of 45
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 32 PDF editors. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. SumatraPDF is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
SumatraPDF is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 31 of the 45 other PDF editors we grade.
What you could make
- Documents: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. SumatraPDF’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
PDF-XChange Editor, PDFgear, Foxit PDF Editor, PDF Reader Pro and Skim
The 5 tools SumatraPDF is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
PDF-XChange Editor
Free plan · from $62 one-time
Windows PDF editor with a free edition and perpetual licenses.
- Only SumatraPDF lists a web app.
- SumatraPDF is open source, according to its own site.
- PDF-XChange Editor can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.4GPA
PDFgear
Free
Free PDF editor for desktop, mobile and web with an AI copilot.
- Only PDFgear lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- Only PDFgear lists a browser extension.
- SumatraPDF is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
Foxit PDF Editor
Free trial · from $129.99/yr
PDF editor for Windows, Mac and web, yearly or as a one-time license.
- SumatraPDF has a free plan. Foxit PDF Editor does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Foxit PDF Editor lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- SumatraPDF is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.0GPA
PDF Reader Pro
Free plan · from $59.99/yr
PDF viewer and editor for Mac, Windows, mobile and web.
- Only PDF Reader Pro lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- SumatraPDF is open source, according to its own site.
- PDF Reader Pro can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
Skim
Free
Free PDF reader and note-taker for Mac, built for papers.
- Only SumatraPDF lists a web app.
- Only SumatraPDF lists a Windows app.
- Only Skim lists a macOS app.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is SumatraPDF free?
Yes. SumatraPDF is free to use.
How much does SumatraPDF cost?
SumatraPDF lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does SumatraPDF work on?
SumatraPDF is available on Windows and Web.
Does SumatraPDF have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. SumatraPDF is listed for Windows and Web.
Does SumatraPDF have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. SumatraPDF is listed for Windows and Web.
Is SumatraPDF open source?
Yes. SumatraPDF is open source, according to its own site.
Does SumatraPDF work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Who makes SumatraPDF?
SumatraPDF is made by Krzysztof Kowalczyk.
What are the alternatives to SumatraPDF?
The closest alternatives to SumatraPDF in our directory are PDF-XChange Editor, PDFgear, Foxit PDF Editor, PDF Reader Pro and Skim.
How does SumatraPDF compare with other PDF editors?
SumatraPDF's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 31 of the 45 other PDF editors we grade, and level with 7.
Is SumatraPDF good value for money?
ToolGPA grades SumatraPDF A for value for money. SumatraPDF has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of SumatraPDF?
SumatraPDF is free, so making your own would save you nothing. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 31 of the 45 other PDF editors we grade.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from SumatraPDF’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from SumatraPDF's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Krzysztof Kowalczyk. Prices change, so check sumatrapdfreader.org before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- SumatraPDF, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/sumatrapdf
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "SumatraPDF: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/sumatrapdf
Know someone choosing between PDF editors?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/sumatrapdf/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded PDF editors after SumatraPDF, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- PDF Editors Insider's GuideEvery one of the 46 PDF editors we grade, compared
- PDFgear Insider's GuideFree PDF editor for desktop, mobile and web with an AI copilot3.4 GPA
- Stirling PDF Insider's GuideOpen-source PDF editor you can run on your own machine or server3.2 GPA
- Online2PDF Insider's GuideFree browser tool to convert, merge, edit, compress and unlock PDFs3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what SumatraPDF’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. SumatraPDF is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Krzysztof Kowalczyk. Prices and plans change: check sumatrapdfreader.org before you buy.