GoodWriter Alternatives: Top Picks for Document Management
GoodWriter has long been a go-to application for anyone needing to read, annotate, or create documents in open standard formats like PDFs, HTML, and DAT. Its robust features for highlighting, handwriting, inserting text and images, and even signing documents directly on your iPad and iPhone make it incredibly versatile. However, users often seek GoodWriter alternative solutions due to specific platform needs, advanced features, or simply exploring other options. This article dives into the best alternatives that can meet or even exceed your document management expectations.
Top GoodWriter Alternatives
Whether you're looking for a free solution, a cross-platform powerhouse, or a tool with highly specialized features, there's a GoodWriter alternative out there for you. Here are some of the top contenders that offer similar, if not enhanced, capabilities for managing your PDFs and other documents.
Foxit Reader
Foxit Reader is a highly popular free PDF software available across multiple platforms including Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and iPhone. It stands out as a strong GoodWriter alternative due to its comprehensive features like PDF annotation, form filling, lightweight design, and the ability to sign and edit PDF files. Its portable version and support for multiple languages add to its versatility, making it an excellent choice for broad compatibility.
Evince
Evince is an open-source and free document viewer primarily for Linux, supporting a wide array of formats including PDF, Postscript, DjVu, and TIFF. As a GoodWriter alternative, it offers a lightweight solution for viewing documents, with features like PDF annotation and multiple language support. Its open-source nature appeals to users who prioritize community-driven development and customization.
Xodo
Xodo is a free, powerful cross-platform PDF viewer and annotator available on Windows, Android, iPhone, and iPad, making it a highly versatile GoodWriter alternative. Key features include PDF annotation, creation of PDF files, splitting and merging PDFs, and integrations with cloud services like Google Drive and Dropbox. Its ad-free experience, night mode, and support for styluses enhance the user experience, providing a comprehensive tool for all your PDF needs.
GoodReader
GoodReader is a paid iOS PDF reader for iPhone and iPad, offering strong capabilities in annotation, file management, and third-party service connectivity. While similar in name, it acts as a robust GoodWriter alternative with features like sync with Dropbox and iCloud, cloud sync, and a night mode/dark theme, making it ideal for iOS users seeking advanced document handling and synchronization.
PDF Expert
PDF Expert is a commercial application for Mac, iPhone, and iPad, designed for reading and annotating PDF documents. It stands out as a strong GoodWriter alternative due to its ability to highlight text, make notes, and fill PDF forms, with compatibility with Preview and Adobe Acrobat. Features like file compression, editing PDFs, and Dropbox integration make it a powerful tool for professional and personal use.
PDF Studio
PDF Studio is a Freemium, commercial PDF editor available on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Chrome OS, making it a comprehensive GoodWriter alternative for various desktop environments. It offers an all-in-one suite of PDF features including creating, converting, reviewing, and editing documents. Key features like signing PDF files, batch processing, OCR, PDF annotation, and the ability to convert PDF to Word documents provide extensive functionality.
Atril
Atril is a free and open-source multi-page document viewer for Linux. While simpler than GoodWriter, it serves as a lightweight alternative for viewing PostScript, EPS, DjVu, DVI, XPS, and PDF documents. Its basic features like support for Javascript and PDF annotation make it a straightforward choice for Linux users.
ezPDF Reader
ezPDF Reader is a commercial PDF viewer for Android and iPhone that serves as a capable GoodWriter alternative, particularly known for its powerful features like Text-to-Speech (TTS), annotations, and PDF form filling. It's designed for clear viewing and efficient interaction with PDF documents on mobile devices.
PDF Reader Pro
PDF Reader Pro is a Freemium and commercial all-in-one PDF office suite available on Mac, Windows, Android, and iPhone, making it a robust GoodWriter alternative. It offers extensive features for reading, editing, annotating, creating & filling forms, converting, OCR, and signing PDFs. Capabilities like Bates numbering, splitting and merging PDFs, converting images to PDF, and comprehensive conversion options (e.g., PDF to Word, Excel, HTML) make it a powerful choice for diverse document needs.
Freda
Freda is a free program for reading electronic books (ebooks) on Windows and Android phones. While primarily an ebook reader, its Dropbox integration can be useful for accessing documents, making it a simple GoodWriter alternative for users focused on reading and basic cloud access on these platforms.
With a wide array of GoodWriter alternative options available, from feature-rich PDF suites to lightweight document viewers, you're sure to find a solution that perfectly fits your workflow and budget. Explore these alternatives to discover the best fit for your document management needs, whether you prioritize specific annotation tools, cross-platform compatibility, or open-source flexibility.