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Skim vs FreePDF

Side-by-side comparison for macOS

Skim

8.0
Productivity

PDF reader and note-taking application

FreePDF

6.5
Productivity

Reader that supports translating PDF documents

Metric Skim FreePDF
Category Productivity Productivity
AI Score 8.0 6.5
30-day Installs 1.4K 16
90-day Installs 3.9K 47
365-day Installs 12.9K 400
Version 1.7.14 5.1.2
Auto-updates Yes No
Deprecated No No
GitHub Stars 6.7K 364
GitHub Forks 241 34
Open Issues 20 4
License MIT AGPL-3.0
Language Rust JavaScript
Last GitHub Commit 1mo ago 3mo ago
First Seen Jul 31, 2013 Nov 4, 2025

Reviews

Skim

Skim is a robust PDF reader and note-taking application known for its efficiency and active development. It offers a modern approach to PDF management with features like annotation and search, benefiting users who need a reliable tool for document review and editing.

Skim is a PDF reader and note-taking application that allows users to view, annotate, and search PDF documents efficiently.

Pros

  • + Efficient PDF handling and annotation features
  • + Active development and regular updates
  • + Built with Rust for performance and reliability

Cons

  • - Limited community discussion and engagement
  • - Potential confusion with other meanings of 'skim'

FreePDF

FreePDF is a free, open-source PDF reader with a unique translation feature, making it ideal for students and researchers who need to translate academic papers. It offers a user-friendly interface and supports custom translation engines, enhancing its versatility.

FreePDF is a PDF reader that supports translating PDF documents.

Pros

  • + Unique translation feature for PDF documents
  • + Open-source and free to use
  • + Supports custom translation engines

Cons

  • - No auto-update feature
  • - Limited community support and discussion