Skim
ActiveOverview
Skim is a PDF reader and note-taker designed for macOS, focused on reading and annotating scientific papers and other PDF files. It supports viewing, note-taking, highlighting, and navigation features for studying documents.123
Key Features
- Viewing PDFs - Supports viewing PDF and PostScript files with full-screen mode and presentations.
- Adding and editing notes - Allows adding, editing notes, and viewing all notes and highlights.
- Highlighting text - Highlights important text with one-swipe modes.
- Snapshots - Captures snapshots of pages for easy reference.
- Navigation - Uses table of contents, thumbnails, and visual history.
- Export notes - Exports notes as text and saves PDFs without notes.
- LaTeX integration - Supports SyncTeX and PDFSync for interaction with LaTeX.
- AppleScript support - Provides extensive scripting capabilities.
- Bookmarks - Enables bookmarking pages.
- Customizable - Highly customizable interface and behaviors.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Full access to all features |
Platforms & Requirements
Skim runs on macOS 10.10 or higher, with current version 1.7.14 requiring macOS 10.13 or higher and Sierra version 1.6.21 available for older systems. It stores notes in extended attributes on supported file systems like HFS+.135
Integrations & Ecosystem
- BibDesk
- LaTeX (SyncTeX, PDFSync)
- AppleScript
- Spotlight
- Apple Remote Control
- SkimNotes framework
- Third-party applications
Alternatives
| App | Difference |
|---|---|
| Preview | Built-in macOS app with basic PDF viewing but limited annotation compared to Skim's advanced note-taking. |
| Adobe Acrobat Reader | Cross-platform with broader features but heavier and less focused on academic annotation than Skim. |
| Zotero PDF Reader | Integrated with reference management, differs by emphasizing citation workflows over standalone reading. |
| PDF Expert | Commercial app with more editing tools but requires payment unlike free Skim. |
Reputation
Skim is regarded as a reliable, lightweight PDF tool for macOS users, particularly academics annotating papers, with strengths in customization, LaTeX integration, and note management. It maintains an active development track on SourceForge with recent releases like 1.7.14. Some users note occasional gatekeeper issues on macOS requiring manual approval, and it's macOS-exclusive limiting broader adoption.13410
Sources (10)
- https://skim-app.sourceforge.io
- https://skim-app.sourceforge.io/manual/SkimHelp.html
- https://sourceforge.net/projects/skim-app/
- https://sourceforge.net/p/skim-app/wiki/FAQ/
- https://skim-app.sourceforge.io/screenshots.html
- https://skim-app.sourceforge.io/mailingLists.html
- https://skim-app.sourceforge.io/manual/SkimHelp_47.html
- https://skim-app.sourceforge.io/manual/SkimHelp_43.html
- https://skim-app.sourceforge.io/developers.html
- https://skim-app.sourceforge.io/relnotes.html