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Best Free Alternatives to LiquidText 7.x (Live Collaboration)

Stop paying $79.99 (Pro One-Time) | $9.99/mo (Live Subscription). Discover professional-grade tools that won't break your budget.

Category: Active Reading & Document AnalysisVerified for 2025

Top Recommended Replacements

Sioyek

FREE

Top Researcher-Centric Alternative

Why we like it

100% free; built specifically for reading technical papers; features 'Portals' to view references without jumping pages; keyboard-driven (Vim-style); lightning fast.

Keep in mind

Steep learning curve (keyboard-heavy); lacks the fluid 'infinite canvas' and ink-drawing feel of LiquidText.

MarginNote 4

Best for Students (Flashcards + Mindmaps)

Why we like it

Converts highlights into mind maps and Anki-style flashcards automatically; superior for memorization-heavy study; works on iPad and Mac.

Keep in mind

The UI is arguably more cluttered/complex than LiquidText; focus is more on 'Study' than 'Synthesis'.

PDF-XChange Editor

FREE

Best for Windows Power Users

Why we like it

The fastest PDF engine on Windows; incredible OCR capabilities in the free version; granular control over comments and document properties.

Keep in mind

Strictly a linear document reader; lacks any 'workspace' or 'mind-mapping' functionality; Windows only.

Logseq / Obsidian Canvas

FREE

Best for Knowledge Management

Why we like it

Local-first privacy; infinite canvas that supports PDF embeds; links your PDF highlights directly to your 'Second Brain' database; 100% free.

Keep in mind

Not a dedicated PDF reader; requires manual setup to mirror LiquidText's excerpting workflow.

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