Preview vs Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js) : Which is Better?

Preview icon

Preview

Preview is the image viewer and PDF viewer of the macOS operating system. Developed by Apple

License: Free

Apps available for Mac OS X

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Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js) icon

Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js)

PDF.js. A general-purpose, web standards-based platform for parsing and rendering PDFs. Developed by Mozilla Labs

License: Open Source

Apps available for Mac OS X Windows Linux Google Chrome Opera

Preview VS Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js)

Preview is a user-friendly, macOS-native application that excels in basic PDF viewing and annotation but lacks advanced features and cross-platform support. In contrast, Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js) is an open-source, cross-platform solution that is highly customizable and integrates well with web browsers, making it suitable for various applications, albeit with a potentially slower performance compared to native apps.

Preview

Pros:

  • User-friendly interface
  • Fast rendering of PDFs
  • Supports annotations and highlights
  • Built-in support for macOS
  • Integration with other Apple apps
  • Good for basic editing and filling forms
  • Supports multiple file formats
  • Offline access

Cons:

  • Limited advanced editing features
  • Not available on Windows
  • No cloud storage integration
  • Limited collaboration features
  • Can be slow with large files

Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js)

Pros:

  • Open-source and free to use
  • Cross-platform compatibility
  • Extensive customization options
  • Supports a wide range of PDF features
  • Regularly updated with new features
  • Great for developers to integrate into applications
  • Built-in support for various web browsers
  • Good for viewing complex documents

Cons:

  • Can be slower than native apps
  • Requires JavaScript to function properly
  • Limited support for advanced form filling
  • May not have all features of dedicated PDF software
  • User interface can be less intuitive

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