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Evince
What it is
Evince is a free document viewer for Linux desktop users. It opens PDF, PostScript, DjVu, DVI, XPS, OXPS, and Comic Book Archive files, and can display supported documents as full-screen presentations. Users can fill out interactive forms, including text fields and scrollable list boxes. For PDF documents, Evince can add notes and text highlights; annotations are not available for other file types. It also supports SyncTeX, which synchronizes a TeX source file with its resulting PDF. The help documents printing for DVI, DjVu, PDF, PostScript, and TIFF files. Password-protected PDFs can be opened by entering the password when prompted. Evince cannot edit files. Some Linux distributions may need an additional backend package to support every listed format. The project wiki recommends obtaining Evince through the user's Linux distribution and points to packages or source for other download options. The help site provides user documentation and explains how to report application bugs.
For and against
For
- Opens seven listed document formats.
- Can fill interactive forms.
- PDFs support notes and text highlights.
- Supports full-screen presentations and SyncTeX.
Against
- Cannot edit files.
- Annotations are limited to PDF files.
- Some distributions may need additional backend packages.
The verdict
Evince covers document viewing, form filling, and PDF annotations on Linux. Check format support for your distribution, and note that editing files is not supported.
Who it suits
It suits Linux desktop users who need to view supported documents, fill forms, or annotate PDFs. It is not a document editor.
Plans and prices
Evince
Free software
Read 4 Oct 2026 · apps.gnome.org
On the record
- Annotation limit
- Annotations can only be added to PDF files.teams.pages.gitlab.gnome.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Annotations
- Users can add notes and comments to PDF documents, including text annotations and highlights.teams.pages.gitlab.gnome.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Annotation tools
- Yesapps.gnome.org · read 24 Sep 2026
- Current GNOME listing
- The GNOME apps directory currently lists Papers as its document viewer and links to its Flathub download, issue tracker, and translation page.apps.gnome.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Document editing
- Evince cannot be used to edit files.teams.pages.gitlab.gnome.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Format availability
- Some Linux distributions may not support every listed format by default; the relevant backend package may need to be installed.help.gnome.org · read 3 Oct 2026
- Formats
- Supported formats include PDF, PostScript, DjVu, DVI, XPS, OXPS, and Comic Book Archive.help.gnome.org · read 3 Oct 2026
- Form filling
- Yesapps.gnome.org · read 24 Sep 2026
- Forms
- Evince can be used to fill out interactive forms.help.gnome.org · read 3 Oct 2026
- Getting the app
- The project wiki recommends obtaining Evince from the user's Linux distribution and points to packages or source for other download options.wiki.gnome.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Help and support
- The help site provides user documentation and directs users to file bugs against Evince to report problems.teams.pages.gitlab.gnome.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Interactive forms
- Evince supports filling out interactive forms, including text fields and scrollable list boxes.teams.pages.gitlab.gnome.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Limit
- Evince cannot be used to edit files.help.gnome.org · read 3 Oct 2026
- Linux format caveat
- Some Linux distributions may not support every listed format by default because the required backend package may be missing.teams.pages.gitlab.gnome.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- OCR support
- noneapps.gnome.org · read 24 Sep 2026
- Offline access
- Yesapps.gnome.org · read 24 Sep 2026
- Password-protected PDFs
- When opening a password-protected PDF, Evince prompts the user to enter its password.teams.pages.gitlab.gnome.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Platform support
- desktopapps.gnome.org · read 24 Sep 2026
