XpdfReader
XpdfReader is a free, open-source desktop PDF viewer and toolkit for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
What XpdfReader is
XpdfReader is a free, open-source desktop PDF viewer and toolkit for Linux, macOS, and Windows. The Qt-based viewer is for reading PDFs, while command-line utilities can extract text, convert PDFs to PostScript or HTML, and inspect document information, fonts, attachments, pages, and images. The toolset includes pdftotext, pdftops, pdftohtml, pdfinfo, pdffonts, pdfdetach, pdftoppm, pdftopng, and pdfimages. Xpdf works offline and can read an optional configuration file documented in the xpdfrc(5) man page. The project licenses it under GPL version 2 or 3, not later GPL versions. Developers incorporating Xpdf source in a distributed program can use the GPL or obtain a commercial source license. The command-line tools are also described as portable to systems with a suitable C++ compiler. Xpdf uses FreeType, libpng, and zlib. Redistribution of unmodified binary copies must include the listed documentation files, and users who cannot compile it can email for help.
Good
- Works offline on Linux, macOS, and Windows
- Includes text extraction and PDF conversion utilities
- Optional configuration file is supported
- Free under GPL version 2 or 3
Watch out
- Not licensed under later GPL versions
- Redistributed binaries must include specified documentation
Who it suits
XpdfReader suits desktop users who want a PDF viewer alongside command-line utilities for extracting or converting documents. Developers should review the GPL terms and redistribution requirements before incorporating or distributing it.
Verdict
XpdfReader combines a desktop viewer with a substantial set of command-line PDF utilities. Its GPL version limits and redistribution requirements matter if you plan to include it in another program.
Plans and prices
From XpdfReader's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Xpdf | Free | GPL v2 or GPL v3; commercial source license available |
The facts
Each one read from XpdfReader's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Command-line tools
- The tools include pdftotext, pdftops, pdftohtml, pdfinfo, pdffonts, pdfdetach, pdftoppm, pdftopng, and pdfimages.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Commercial licensing
- The project says developers incorporating Xpdf source into a distributed program can use the GPL or purchase a commercial source license.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Configuration
- Xpdf utilities can read an optional configuration file described in the xpdfrc(5) man page.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Distribution requirement
- Redistributed unmodified binary copies must include the README, man pages or help files, COPYING, and COPYING3 documentation.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The repository lists FreeType, libpng, and zlib as libraries used by Xpdf.checked 9 Oct 2026
- License
- Xpdf is licensed under GPL version 2 or 3, and the project states that it is not licensed under later GPL versions.checked 9 Oct 2026
- OCR support
- nonechecked 24 Sep 2026
- Offline access
- Yeschecked 24 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- Xpdf is an open source PDF viewer and toolkit that includes a PDF text extractor, a PDF-to-PostScript converter, and other utilities.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project says users who cannot compile Xpdf on their system can email for help.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Supported systems
- The viewer and command-line utilities run on Linux, Windows, and OS X; the command-line tools are also described as portable to systems with a decent C++ compiler.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Viewer toolkit
- The Xpdf viewer uses the Qt cross-platform GUI toolkit.checked 9 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 24 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Platform support
- desktopchecked 24 Sep 2026
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