MuPDF
7.7#1 in pdf sdksFrom $299 a monthFree planAndroidiOSWebLinux
VisitMuPDF vs XpdfReader
XpdfReader
6.1#15 in pdf readersFree planFree planLinuxmacOSWindows
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | MuPDF | XpdfReader |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial licensing | Commercial licenses offer ownership and control of products without AGPL code disclosure and include technical support and free upgrades. | The project says developers incorporating Xpdf source into a distributed program can use the GPL or purchase a commercial source license. |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Platform support | cross-platform | desktop |
| Purpose | MuPDF is a fast, embeddable SDK for managing PDF and other document formats. | Xpdf is an open source PDF viewer and toolkit that includes a PDF text extractor, a PDF-to-PostScript converter, and other utilities. |
| Support | Open-source users can seek community help through Discord and the bug tracker, while commercial license holders can contact technical support by replying to their introductory email. | The project says users who cannot compile Xpdf on their system can email for help. |
MuPDF plans
- Commercial$299 a month
- Enterprise—
- AGPL LicenseFree
- OEM Distribution LicensePriced on request
- Subscription LicensePriced on request
XpdfReader plans
- XpdfFree
Pick MuPDF if…
MuPDF is for developers who need document handling in desktop, cloud/server, or embedded software. It may suit teams evaluating an open-source option, provided they can meet AGPL terms or arrange commercial licensing.
Pick XpdfReader if…
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.