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Komodo PDF
What it is
Komodo PDF is a free, GPLv3 open-source PDF reader for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its local-first reader provides continuous scrolling, zoom, fit-width and fit-page views, document outlines, and text selection. An AI panel answers questions using passages indexed in a local vector store, and clicking a citation jumps to and highlights the source passage. Pages without a text layer, including scanned images, receive a badge. If the document lacks an answer, the assistant can use general knowledge and indicate that fallback. Chat works with OpenAI-compatible providers through your own API key or with local endpoints. The maker says Komodo has no backend, sends no telemetry, and does not upload documents to Komodo; remote chat sends retrieved passages to the selected provider. Local ONNX embeddings and a local chat endpoint keep documents on the laptop, according to the maker. API keys use the operating-system keyring with encrypted fallback. Version 0.1.1 is displayed.
For and against
For
- Free GPLv3 open-source software
- Citation links highlight source passages
- Windows, macOS, and Linux support
- Local chat endpoint option
- No telemetry stated by maker
Against
- Focused reader, not an Acrobat clone
- Remote chat sends passages to provider
- Version 0.1.1 is displayed
- AI provider may require your API key
The verdict
Komodo PDF combines standard reading controls with cited document questions and local-use options. Its focused scope and provider requirements are important considerations for broader PDF workflows.
Who it suits
It suits readers who want a focused PDF viewer with document-grounded questions and citations. It is also aimed at people preferring open-source, local, or self-managed AI connections.
Plans and prices
Komodo PDF
Free and open source · GPLv3 · Windows 10/11 (x64) · macOS and Linux builds from source
Read 8 Oct 2026 · komodopdf.com
On the record
- AI routing
- When the document does not answer a question, the assistant can fall back to general knowledge and indicate that it did so.komodopdf.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Citations
- Users can click an answer citation to jump to and highlight its source passage.komodopdf.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The maker lists Windows EXE, MSI, and portable ZIP downloads and says SHA-256 checksums are published with releases.komodopdf.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Chat works with OpenAI-compatible providers using the user's own API key; local chat endpoints are also supported.komodopdf.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Key storage
- API keys are stored in the operating system keyring with an encrypted on-disk fallback.komodopdf.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- License and version
- The site identifies Komodo PDF as GPLv3 open source and displays version 0.1.1.komodopdf.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Limitations
- The maker describes Komodo as a focused reader with a grounded AI panel rather than an Acrobat clone.komodopdf.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Local use
- With local ONNX embeddings and a local chat endpoint, the maker says documents never leave the user's laptop.komodopdf.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The maker says Komodo has no backend, sends no telemetry, and does not upload documents to Komodo; remote chat sends retrieved document passages to the configured provider.komodopdf.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Product
- Komodo PDF is a local-first PDF reader with an AI panel that answers questions about a document using page-cited sources.komodopdf.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Reading
- The reader supports continuous scrolling, zoom, fit-width, fit-page, document outlines, and text selection.komodopdf.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Retrieval
- Komodo indexes document passages into a local vector store and retrieves relevant passages for questions.komodopdf.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Scanned pages
- A per-page badge identifies pages without a text layer, such as scanned images.komodopdf.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker links to a contributing guide and a bug-report page on GitHub.komodopdf.com · read 8 Oct 2026
