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Okular VS Foxit Reader

Compare Okular VS Foxit Reader and see what are their differences

Okular logo Okular

Okular is a universal document viewer based developed by KDE.

Foxit Reader logo Foxit Reader

Foxit Reader is a free and light-weight multi-platform PDF document viewer.
  • Okular Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-02
  • Foxit Reader Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-05

Okular features and specs

  • Open Source
    Okular is an open-source software, which means the source code is freely available. Users can modify and distribute it according to their needs.
  • Multi-Format Support
    Okular supports a wide array of document formats including PDF, PostScript, DjVu, CHM, XPS, ePub, and more, providing versatile document reading capabilities.
  • Cross-Platform
    Okular is available for multiple operating systems including Linux, Windows, and macOS, making it accessible to a wider range of users.
  • Annotation Tools
    It includes powerful annotation features allowing users to add notes, highlight text, and draw shapes directly on documents.
  • Customizable Interface
    The interface is highly customizable, enabling users to tweak the appearance and functionality to match their preferences.
  • Tabbed Browsing
    Okular supports tabbed browsing, allowing users to open multiple documents in a single window, enhancing multitasking.

Possible disadvantages of Okular

  • Limited Advanced PDF Editing
    While Okular provides basic annotation features, it lacks advanced PDF editing capabilities like modifying text and images within a PDF.
  • Learning Curve
    New users might find the extensive range of features and settings overwhelming, leading to a steeper learning curve compared to simpler document viewers.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users have reported performance issues when handling very large files, which can result in slower operation and responsiveness.
  • Dependency on KDE Libraries
    To get the best experience, Okular requires KDE libraries, which might not be ideal for users who prefer not to integrate KDE components into their system.
  • Mobile Support
    Okular does not have a dedicated app for mobile platforms like Android and iOS, limiting its usability on tablets and smartphones.

Foxit Reader features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Foxit Reader is known for its fast performance and low resource consumption, making it suitable for older computers.
  • Feature-Rich
    It offers a wide range of features including annotation tools, form filling, digital signatures, and integration with cloud services.
  • Security
    Foxit Reader includes robust security features such as sandboxing, which helps protect against malicious PDF files.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, with customizable toolbars and a ribbon-style menu similar to Microsoft Office.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Foxit Reader is available on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Possible disadvantages of Foxit Reader

  • Advanced Features Require Paid Version
    Many of the more advanced features, like advanced editing and OCR, are only available in Foxit PDF Editor, a paid version of the software.
  • Regular Updates Required
    Frequent updates can be disruptive for some users and can sometimes require reconfiguration of settings.
  • Complex for Beginners
    The abundance of features can be overwhelming for new or basic users who only need simple PDF viewing capabilities.
  • Occasional Performance Issues
    While generally lightweight, some users have reported occasional performance lags when handling very large or complex PDF files.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There are occasional compatibility issues with certain PDF files, which may not render or function properly in Foxit Reader.

Analysis of Okular

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Okular is generally regarded as a good document viewer due to its features, flexibility, and open-source nature, which ensures continual updates and community support.

Why this product is good

  • Okular is considered good for several reasons: it is a versatile open-source document viewer developed by the KDE community, supporting various file formats including PDF, PostScript, and ePub. It offers a range of features such as annotation tools, form filling, text extraction, and multimedia support. Additionally, it is cross-platform, available on different operating systems like Linux, Windows, and macOS, making it accessible for a wider range of users.

Recommended for

    Okular is recommended for students, educators, professionals, and any users who require a reliable and feature-rich document viewer capable of handling a wide range of file formats. It is particularly beneficial for those who value open-source software and need robust annotation and document management tools across different platforms.

Analysis of Foxit Reader

Overall verdict

  • Foxit Reader is generally regarded as a reliable and efficient PDF reader. While it may not have all the premium features of Adobe Acrobat, it offers more than sufficient functionality for most users' needs. Compared to some other PDF readers, its performance and range of features make it a strong competitor.

Why this product is good

  • Foxit Reader is considered good because it is lightweight, fast, and packed with features such as annotation tools, form-filling capabilities, and secure file sharing options. Its interface is user-friendly, and it offers multi-platform support, which is appealing to users who work across different devices and operating systems. Additionally, it provides robust security features to protect your documents.

Recommended for

    Foxit Reader is recommended for users who need a versatile and efficient PDF reader that is not resource-intensive. It is particularly useful for professionals, students, and anyone who frequently works with PDFs and values having annotation and security tools without the need for extensive editing capabilities or higher-cost software solutions.

Okular videos

okular, program for annotating your books in linux

More videos:

  • Review - Review: Okular || Awesome PDF Viewer || Best PDF Viewer that I have tried yet.
  • Review - Okular Document Viewer vs Atril Document Viewer

Foxit Reader videos

Foxit Reader Free PDF Reader Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Okular and Foxit Reader)
PDF Tools
30 30%
70% 70
PDF Editor
30 30%
70% 70
PDF Readers And Editors
43 43%
57% 57
PDF Creator
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Okular and Foxit Reader

Okular Reviews

10 Best PDF Expert Alternatives for Various Tasks in 2022
Verdict: Okular is an open source and can be used free, which is probably its main advantage. At the same time, its basic functionality is meant to be not only highly competitive with PDF Expert but rather overcomes it because the letter can be used only under paid subscription. This PDF Expert alternative is one of the most all-in-one PDF readers, which is compatible not...
Source: fixthephoto.com
8 Best eBook Readers for Linux
Okular is another open-source and cross-platform document viewer developed by KDE and is shipped as part of the KDE Application release.
Source: itsfoss.com

Foxit Reader Reviews

  1. Comparatively better than other apps


The Most Recommended 9 Free PDF Readers in 2023
Foxit Reader is a reader with many functions. It is perfectly compatible with all Windows systems and is a PDF reader for Windows.
10 Best PDF Expert Alternatives for Various Tasks in 2022
If compared, the functionality of these two products, Foxit Reader proves to possess tools, which are more effective for editing text in PDF docs. Such features as adding quick markup, highlighting text, underlining, and strikethrough, are the reasons, wherefor diverse users often prefer to choose this PDF Expert alternative product.
Source: fixthephoto.com
3 Ways to Add Image to PDF for Free
Foxit Reader is a tool similar to the above 2 products. Foxit Reader and adobe have almost the same functions, the difference between them is the pricing of their advanced features. Foxit Reader is cheaper than Adobe, but not comparable to GeekerPDF, which is free.
5 alternatives to Adobe Acrobat Reader
Foxit Reader is a very smooth PDF reader and a good alternatives to Adobe Reader. In addition to reading, it also provides annotation, form filling and signature functions.
Top 5 Best Free Alternatives to Adobe Acrobat DC
Foxit Reader has a safe reading mode which helps control things like internal links and javascript integration. This is because the Foxit Reader has ubiquitous nature, it makes it a popular target for malware and virus developers.
Source: whatvwant.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Okular seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 44 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Okular mentions (44)

  • Signing PDFs
    If you mean signing as in "signing with your handwritten signature", you could use Okular () which easily allows you to do that. Filling out forms also works nicely. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Alexandria: A minimalistic cross-platform eBook reader
    I was in a similar position lately until I found Okular. Have you tried it? https://okular.kde.org/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Help with PDF's
    I would try Okular first, though, which is free and open source: https://okular.kde.org/. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • EPUB 3.3 becomes a W3C recommendation
    KDE's okular might be a good choice. I haven't personally used it for epub but I know it supports it. https://okular.kde.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Are there any good PDF viewers for large (10Mb+) datasheets that can save search results in the actual PDF, and take notes on the PDF?
    I use okular, don't think it has web export though. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

Foxit Reader mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Foxit Reader yet. Tracking of Foxit Reader recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Okular and Foxit Reader, you can also consider the following products

Sumatra PDF - Sumatra PDF is a slim PDF/DjVu/EPUB/XPS/CHM/CBR/CBZ/MOBI viewer for Windows.

Adobe Acrobat DC - Make your job easier with Adobe Acrobat DC, the trusted PDF creator. Use Acrobat to convert, edit and sign PDF files at your desk or on the go.

Evince - Evince is a document viewer for multiple document formats: PDF, Postscript, djvu, tiff, dvi, XPS...

MuPDF - MuPDF is a lightweight PDF and XPS viewer.

PDF-XChange Editor - The smallest, fastest, most feature-rich PDF editor/viewer available

Foxit PhantomPDF - Edit PDF files with our feature-rich PDF Editor. Download Foxit PDF Editor to convert, sign, scan / OCR & more. A speedy PDF Editor alternative to Adobe Acrobat.