This 20-year-old open-source Adobe alternative makes modern PDF readers feel bloated
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An open-source, 20-year-old PDF reader called SumatraPDF is praised as a lightweight alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader. It focuses purely on fast, distraction-free document viewing rather than a full editing suite, supports additional formats like EPUB, MOBI, XPS, DjVu, CHM, CBZ, and CBR, and offers a config file for power-user customization of zoom, navigation, and shortcuts.
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SumatraPDF is ridiculously simpleThe interface feels like a time capsuleIt supports much more than just PDFsLess is moreThe open-source benefitQuestions this post answers
What file formats does SumatraPDF support besides PDF?
SumatraPDF supports several document and ebook formats beyond PDF, including EPUB, MOBI, XPS, DjVu, CHM, CBZ, and CBR. It can open these directly from Windows without installing extra plugins or software, and the interface and reading controls stay consistent across all supported formats. For anyone comparing lightweight readers across formats, daily.dev surfaces tool comparisons like this one.
How can I customize SumatraPDF beyond its built-in settings menu?
SumatraPDF, being open source, includes a configuration file that lets users edit settings directly rather than relying only on the interface. This allows changes to default zoom levels, navigation behavior, and keyboard shortcuts that aren't otherwise exposed in the app's menus. Developers tuning their toolchain configs can find similar customization tips on daily.dev.