Software Alternatives & Startups

Sumatra PDF VS PDFsam Basic

Compare Sumatra PDF VS PDFsam Basic and see what are their differences

Sumatra PDF

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

Rating
0 reviews
PDFsam Basic

A free and open source software to merge, split, rotate and extract pages from PDF files

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, PDFsam Basic should be more popular than Sumatra PDF. It has been mentioned 6 times since March 2021.

social mentions
1 vs 6
PDF Tools popularity
85% vs 15%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 96

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Sumatra PDF
PDFsam Basic
Website sumatrapdfreader.org pdfsam.org
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Sumatra PDF 6 features
PDFsam Basic 5 features
  • Lightweight
    Sumatra PDF is known for its small footprint, making it quick to download and install. It runs efficiently on older hardware.
  • Speed
    The application is fast to open and navigate, even with large PDF files, enhancing the user experience.
  • Simplicity
    Sumatra PDF offers a minimalistic interface that is easy to navigate for users who need a straightforward PDF reader without unnecessary features.
  • Portable Version
    Sumatra PDF offers a portable version that can be run without installation, ideal for use on multiple computers or USB drives.
  • Free and Open Source
    The software is free to use and open-source, allowing users to inspect the code and contribute to its development.
  • Support for Multiple Formats
    In addition to PDFs, Sumatra PDF supports ePub, Mobi, XPS, DjVu, CHM, and comic book formats (CBZ and CBR), making it versatile.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Features
    Sumatra PDF lacks advanced features such as form filling, text editing, and annotations, which are available in other PDF readers.
  • No Document Editing
    The application does not support document editing, which can be a drawback for users needing to make changes to their PDFs.
  • Basic User Interface
    The simplistic design might not appeal to users who prefer a more modern or visually appealing interface.
  • Restricted Customization
    Sumatra PDF offers limited customization options, providing fewer settings and user preferences compared to other PDF readers.
  • No Cloud Integration
    The software lacks integrated support for cloud storage services, which can be inconvenient for users who manage documents online.
  • No Advanced Security Features
    Sumatra PDF does not include advanced security features such as digital signatures or encryption, which are essential for some professional users.
  • Cost
    PDFsam Basic is free to use, making it accessible for users who need basic PDF capabilities without financial investment.
  • Simplicity
    Offers a straightforward interface that is easy to navigate, even for users with minimal technical expertise.
  • Functionality
    Provides essential PDF operations like splitting, merging, rotating, and extracting pages, meeting the needs of most basic users.
  • Cross-Platform
    Available on multiple operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux, ensuring broad accessibility.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source application, PDFsam allows users to inspect and modify the source code, ensuring transparency and customization.

Possible disadvantages

  • Advanced Features
    Lacks advanced PDF editing features found in paid software like text editing, form filling, or OCR.
  • Performance
    May not handle very large PDF files as efficiently as some paid alternatives, potentially leading to slower processing times.
  • User Support
    Limited user support options compared to professional paid versions, which may offer dedicated customer service.
  • Interface
    Although functional, the user interface can be seen as basic or outdated, lacking the polished look of some commercial software.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Sumatra PDF
PDFsam Basic

Overall verdict

  • Sumatra PDF is a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable and efficient PDF reader. Its performance, coupled with its simplicity, makes it a top recommendation for those who need a no-frills document viewer.

Why this product is good

  • Sumatra PDF is considered good because it is lightweight, fast, and easy to use. Its simplicity and minimalistic design make it an excellent choice for users who need a straightforward PDF reader without any unnecessary features. It has a quick load time and supports a variety of document formats including PDF, ePub, MOBI, CHM, XPS, DjVu, CBZ, and CBR. Additionally, it is open-source and doesn't require installation, making it ideal for users who prioritize portability.

Recommended for

    Sumatra PDF is especially recommended for users who need a fast and lightweight PDF reader with basic functionalities. It's ideal for those who want a simple tool for reading PDFs and other document formats without the complications of advanced features. It is also suitable for users who value open-source software.

No analysis of PDFsam Basic yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Sumatra PDF 2 videos + Add
PDFsam Basic 0 videos + Add

Sumatra PDF my favorite PDF reader for Windows

More videos

  • - Sumatra PDF A FREE Portable PDF reader for Windows 10 | Alternative To Adobe PDF Reader

No PDFsam Basic videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Sumatra PDF
PDFsam Basic
85% 85%
15% 15%
88% 88%
12% 12%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Sumatra PDF no reviews yet
PDFsam Basic no reviews yet

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We have no reviews of PDFsam Basic yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Sumatra PDF 1 mention
PDFsam Basic 6 mentions
  • anyone know any good epub/pdf readers for windows 11?
    You can use your browser for both, there are extensions(FireFox - PDF & EPUB/Chrome - PDF& EPUB) for that. In case, you want you use a separate software for them, I suggest SumatraPDF--it handles both PDFs and .EPUB files. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • PDF-Merger
    It looks good and seems easy to use, however its function might already be covered by PDFSam Basic (also open-source). Source: over 3 years ago
  • concerned about work being stolen - plagiarism
    Free and open-source solution for pdf merging: https://pdfsam.org/pdfsam-basic/. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Service Manual Generac Guardian 24Kw G0072101
    Since PDFs are provided. You can build (merge) one using a tool such as PDFSam. Source: over 4 years ago

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Alternatives to Sumatra PDF and PDFsam Basic

When comparing Sumatra PDF and PDFsam Basic, you can also consider the following products.