SumatraPDF
Focus: ebook reader, lightweight and windows. Shares pdf reader and open source with Sioyek. A Windows app, not a desktop app. Same 4.6 rating.
Windows AppFreeWindows
4.6Visit
Desktop App
Sioyek
A PDF reader built for textbooks and research papers.
Built with love by Shushant Lakhyani. Building bestproductivityresources.com
What is Sioyek?
Sioyek is a free, open-source PDF viewer designed for reading technical books and research papers. It previews references and figures without losing your place, jumps between linked sections, keeps searchable bookmarks and highlights, and can be driven almost entirely from the keyboard.
Third-party open-source projects. We are not affiliated with their authors; repositories are provided as-is by their maintainers. Review each project's license, code and security before installing. See our Disclaimer.
Pros
- Quick previews of references and figures
- Fast keyboard navigation
- Free and open source
Cons
- Interface is plain
- Takes time to learn the shortcuts
Who should use Sioyek
Students and researchers who read long technical PDFs every day.
Who may not need it
Anyone who only opens the odd PDF form or invoice.
Sioyek alternatives
Similar resources to Sioyek, picked from the directory.
Xournal++
Focus: handwriting, pdf annotation and pen input. Shares open source and github with Sioyek. Same 4.6 rating.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.6Visit
Linkwarden
Focus: bookmarks, read it later and web archive. Shares open source and github with Sioyek. A web app, not a desktop app. Adds Web, iOS and Android. Rated 4.7 (Sioyek: 4.6).
Web AppFreeWeb, iOS
4.7Visit
Anki
Focus: spaced repetition, flashcards and study. Also in Learning and Research, like Sioyek. Adds Android, iOS and Web. Same 4.6 rating.
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.6Visit
FreshRSS
Focus: rss reader, news aggregator and feeds. Shares open source and github with Sioyek. A web app, not a desktop app. Adds Web. Same 4.6 rating.
Web AppFreeWeb, Cross-Platform
4.6Visit
Open Notebook
Focus: notebooklm alternative, research and ai chat. Shares open source and github with Sioyek. An AI tool, not a desktop app. Adds Web. Same 4.6 rating.
AI ToolFreeWeb, Cross-Platform
4.6Visit
Free alternatives to Sioyek
Free resources that cover similar ground.
Awesome Jev Projects
Focus: awesome list, discovery and curated. Shares open source and github with Sioyek. A website, not a desktop app. Adds Web. Rated 4.4 (Sioyek: 4.6).
WebsiteFreeWeb
4.4Visit
Internet Archive
Focus: digital library, wayback machine and archives. Also in Research and Learning, like Sioyek. A website, not a desktop app. Adds Web. Rated 4.7 (Sioyek: 4.6).
WebsiteFreeWeb
4.7Visit
MIT Deep Learning Book
Focus: deep learning, book and pdf. Also in Learning and Reading, like Sioyek. A course, not a desktop app. Adds Web. Rated 4.7 (Sioyek: 4.6).
CourseFreeWeb
4.7Visit
NetNewsWire
Focus: rss reader, mac app and news. Shares open source with Sioyek. Adds iOS. Rated 4.7 (Sioyek: 4.6).
Desktop AppFreemacOS, iOS
4.7Visit
Arc Search
Focus: Browser, AI and Summarization. Also in Research and Learning, like Sioyek. An iOS app, not a desktop app. Adds iOS. Same 4.6 rating.
iOS AppFreeiOS
4.6Visit
How to Use AI to Study Smarter
Focus: study, learning and ai. Also in Learning and Research, like Sioyek. A YouTube Video, not a desktop app. Adds Web. Rated 4.5 (Sioyek: 4.6).
YouTube VideoFreeWeb, Cross-Platform
4.5Visit
Are you the maker of Sioyek?Get a free Featured badge for your site, a share image and ready-to-paste posts. No sign-up.
Free Notion database
1,100+ ways people are making money online
Real online businesses, creators and projects, broken down by how they make money: apps, online stores, AI tools and more. Free on Gumroad.
Get the free databaseFree Notion database
399+ ways to make money online
Hundreds of online income methods in one place, so you can compare options and pick one to try. Free on Gumroad.
Get the free listFor research and ideas only. Results vary and nothing here is a promise of income. See our Disclaimer.
Weekly newsletter
Everything new, every Monday.
One short email every Monday with everything shipped that week: new free tools and websites, new guides, new free browser tools and what's new in my free Gumroad libraries, plus how the site is growing. Free, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
Join the newsletterYou sign up on Gumroad, which stores your email to send the newsletter. See our Privacy Policy.