Evince vs SumatraPDF

Last updated: July 10, 2023
Evince and SumatraPDF are both software tools used for viewing and managing PDF documents, but they have distinct differences in terms of their features, user interface, and platform compatibility.

1. Features: Evince is a versatile document viewer that supports various file formats, including PDF, PostScript, DjVu, and more. It provides a range of features for viewing and navigating through documents, such as page zooming, searching for text, and thumbnail previews. Evince also offers options for adding annotations and bookmarks to PDF files. SumatraPDF, on the other hand, is primarily focused on providing a lightweight and fast PDF viewing experience. It supports basic features like text search, bookmarking, and customizable viewing options. While Evince offers a more extensive range of features and supports multiple file formats, SumatraPDF's streamlined feature set makes it highly efficient for quick PDF viewing.

2. User Interface: Evince provides a user-friendly interface with a clean layout and intuitive controls. It offers a range of options for navigating through pages, adjusting zoom levels, and accessing additional tools. Evince's interface is designed to be accessible to users of all levels of experience. SumatraPDF, on the other hand, has a minimalistic interface that prioritizes simplicity and speed. It provides a clean and clutter-free reading environment, allowing users to focus on the document without distractions. SumatraPDF's interface is lightweight and straightforward, making it a suitable choice for users who prefer a no-frills PDF viewing experience.

3. Platform Compatibility: Evince is primarily developed for Linux-based systems and is the default document viewer for several Linux distributions. It is also available for Windows and can be installed separately. On the other hand, SumatraPDF is primarily designed for Windows-based systems, offering a native application that integrates seamlessly with the operating system. While SumatraPDF is primarily available for Windows, there are third-party software and emulation options that allow users to run it on other platforms, such as macOS and Linux. However, Evince provides better out-of-the-box compatibility for Linux users.
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Evince
Evince is a document viewer for multiple document formats. The goal of evince is to replace the multiple document viewers that exist on the GNOME Desktop with a single simple application.
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SumatraPDF
SumatraPDF, also known as Sumatra, is a free and open-source software PDF reader for Microsoft Windows only. The program also opens Open XML Paper Specification, DjVu, EPUB, XPS, CHM, CBZ and CBR, and MOBI files