Komodo PDF
Komodo PDF is a free, open-source PDF reader for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with an AI panel for questions about a document.
What Komodo PDF is
Komodo PDF is a free, open-source PDF reader for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with an AI panel for questions about a document. The reader supports continuous scrolling, zoom, fit-width and fit-page views, document outlines, and text selection. A badge marks pages without a text layer, such as scanned images. Answers can cite document passages; selecting a citation jumps to and highlights its source. Komodo indexes passages in a local vector store and can turn to general knowledge when the document lacks an answer, indicating when it has done so.
Chat works with OpenAI-compatible providers using the reader’s own API key, and with local chat endpoints. The maker says Komodo has no backend, sends no telemetry, and does not upload documents to Komodo; remote chat sends retrieved passages to the configured provider. With local ONNX embeddings and a local chat endpoint, the maker says documents stay on the laptop. API keys are stored in the operating system keyring, with an encrypted on-disk fallback. The project is GPLv3 and displays version 0.1.1. The maker describes it as a focused reader rather than an Acrobat clone.
Good
- Free and open source under GPLv3.
- Citations jump to and highlight passages.
- Marks pages without a text layer.
- Supports local chat endpoints.
- API keys use the system keyring with encrypted fallback.
Watch out
- Remote chat sends retrieved passages to the configured provider.
- Focused reader, not an Acrobat clone.
- The displayed version is 0.1.1.
Who it suits
Komodo PDF suits readers who want PDF navigation plus document-grounded question answering. Those seeking local processing can use local embeddings and a local chat endpoint, while remote chat sends retrieved passages to the chosen provider.
Verdict
Komodo PDF combines standard reading controls with an AI panel that can cite document passages. Consider its remote-chat data flow and focused scope when deciding whether it fits your PDF workflow.
Plans and prices
From Komodo PDF's own pricing page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Komodo PDF | Free | Free and open source · GPLv3 · Windows 10/11 (x64) · macOS and Linux builds from source |
The facts
Each one read from Komodo PDF's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- AI routing
- When the document does not answer a question, the assistant can fall back to general knowledge and indicate that it did so.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Citations
- Users can click an answer citation to jump to and highlight its source passage.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The maker lists Windows EXE, MSI, and portable ZIP downloads and says SHA-256 checksums are published with releases.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Chat works with OpenAI-compatible providers using the user's own API key; local chat endpoints are also supported.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Key storage
- API keys are stored in the operating system keyring with an encrypted on-disk fallback.checked 8 Oct 2026
- License and version
- The site identifies Komodo PDF as GPLv3 open source and displays version 0.1.1.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Limitations
- The maker describes Komodo as a focused reader with a grounded AI panel rather than an Acrobat clone.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Local use
- With local ONNX embeddings and a local chat endpoint, the maker says documents never leave the user's laptop.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The maker says Komodo has no backend, sends no telemetry, and does not upload documents to Komodo; remote chat sends retrieved document passages to the configured provider.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Product
- Komodo PDF is a local-first PDF reader with an AI panel that answers questions about a document using page-cited sources.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Reading
- The reader supports continuous scrolling, zoom, fit-width, fit-page, document outlines, and text selection.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Retrieval
- Komodo indexes document passages into a local vector store and retrieves relevant passages for questions.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Scanned pages
- A per-page badge identifies pages without a text layer, such as scanned images.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker links to a contributing guide and a bug-report page on GitHub.checked 8 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 24 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Platforms
- The available installer targets Windows 10/11 x64; macOS and Linux prebuilt binaries are not ready, but the maker says both can be built from source.checked 8 Oct 2026
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