Every once in a while we feel the need for editing a PDF document that we might have received over the email, created by yourself, or downloaded from the internet. While the much popular Adobe Acrobat Reader DC serves as the best tool for all our PDF manipulation needs, it also comes with an exorbitant price, which makes it an unideal choice for many users. Luckily, there are tons of PDF editor software and services available to use which also work as Adobe Acrobat alternatives. While some of those are completely free, some offer premium features against subscriptions with a limited trial period.
The PDF Editors covered here include software as well as services. These offer interesting PDF editing features, including adding and editing pre-existing PDF text, adding shapes, e-signatures, merging PDF or converting PDF to office formats, and a lot more. Today’s article focuses on 10 PDF Editors available on the internet. The list will give you a brief introduction about each software and also help you check the pros and cons of each tool. Let’s begin with the list.
1). Sejda PDF Desktop
It is a simple and clean PDF Editor that offers tons of useful features for manipulating PDF files. You can download Sejda PDF Desktop from its official website and start using it for free. However, the free version comes with limited access to the software and requires purchasing the license to unlock all premium features.
Below you can see major pros and cons of the free version of this PDF Editor software:
Pros:
- Edit pre-existing text or convert text to grayscale.
- Add new text.
- Insert links to pages within the PDF document.
- Add digital signature.
- Fill forms.
- Add images or convert existing images to grayscale.
- Whiteout or strikeout text.
- Highlight text.
- Add shapes (circle, rectangle).
- Add watermark to PDF files.
- Merge PDF files.
- Split or compress PDF files.
- Convert PDF files to Office (Word, Excel) or Image file formats.
Cons:
- No batch processing.
- Limited to 3 tasks per day.
- Supports documents up to 50 MB and 200 pages only.
- Supports Images up to 5 MB only.
- Combines PDF up to 30 files and 50 pages only.
Overall, using Sejda Desktop is quite easy. It offers a user-friendly interface with ‘pick and drag’ tools that make the entire PDF editing a quick and hassle-free experience.
Works With: Windows (64 Bit, 32 Bit), Mac, Linux.
Size: 202 MB (.MSI).
Note: If you rather like to work online, you can try its web version also.
2). PDF-XChange Editor (Desktop)
PDF-XChange Editor is a comprehensive PDF Editor software that offers around 117 powerful PDF viewing and editing features. Out of these 117 features, 77 features are free for private and commercial use. From offering the basic PDF manipulation functionalities (add or edit in-line text, add images, add web links, add annotations, etc.) to providing some of the exceptional PDF processing capabilities (PDF forms saving, using OCR and QR Codes, etc.), PDF-XChange Editor has left no stone unturned to match the qualities of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.
Below you can see major pros and cons of this PDF Editor software:
Pros:
- Edit or add base text and images.
- Add callouts and freehand annotations.
- Insert shapes and stamps.
- Sticky notes.
- Add audio content to PDF documents.
- Create, edit, or remove web links.
- Arrange or alight PDF content.
- Duplicate PDF content.
- Spell-check PDF document.
- Hand tool for easy navigation.
- Use of guides and rulers for editing with precision.
- Add Barcodes.
- Convert PDF to Word, Excel, PowerPoint files and OCR PDF pages.
Cons:
- Some features are overwhelming.
- Use of licensed features (such as digitally signing documents) are allowed, but with a ‘Buy Now’ watermark.
Overall, PDF-XChange is quite feature-packed.
Works With: Windows (64 Bit, 32 Bit).
Size: 143 MB (.EXE).
3). Gaaiho PDF Suite (Desktop)
It is yet another powerful PDF Editor Software that features base text and image editing in pdf files. Gaaiho PDF Suite is a paid software but it also comes with a 30-days trial period. Within the trial period, a user may evaluate the complete features of this PDF Editor software, including full-scale PDF editing, PDF to Office File conversion (and vice versa), form creation, commenting and review, Optical Character Recognition, Sign and Certify documents, etc., without any watermarks!
Below you can see major pros and cons of this PDF Editor software:
Pros:
- Edit base text.
- Type new text.
- Changing base fonts.
- Customizing page layouts.
- Insert table, graphics, and clipart.
- Insert hyperlinks and footnotes.
- Spell-check and word count.
- Design new forms or transform a document to forms.
- Merge and combine PDF files.
- Comment and review.
- Sign and certify PDF documents.
- Compress and distribute PDF documents.
- Intuitive and easy to use interface.
Cons:
- License is mandatory to continue use once the trial period ends.
- Designed primarily for corporate users.
The best part is, you can make the most of Gaaiho PDF Suite within its 30-days trail period, without getting your documents stamped with unnecessary watermarks.
Works With: Windows Server 2008 or higher / Windows Vista or higher.
Size: 133 MB (.EXE).
4). Inkscape (Desktop)
Inkscape is essentially a Vector Graphics Software. But, the fact is that it is available as a free, open-source application, which also works as a good alternative to a paid PDF Editor. Inkscape allows you to open a PDF document as an SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) file and edit its content using various available tools. Thus, it helps you easily tweak the content of your PDF documents offline, including editing text and images, shapes, highlighting or underlining PDF content, etc. Once you are done with the editing, you may save the file as PDF to get the final output.
Tip: To edit PDF text using Inkscape, you can select and delete the existing test and insert new text over the blank area.
Below you can see major pros and cons of this PDF Editor software:
Pros:
- Completely free.
- Edit PDF text.
- Add new text.
- Remove watermarks.
- Changing base fonts.
- Insert shapes.
- Highlight text.
- Underline text (freehand).
- Erase PDF content.
- Edit or manipulate graphics.
Cons:
- Cannot add comments, e-sign or certify PDFs.
- Cannot merge, compress, or distribute PDFs.
Although Inkscape doesn’t serve as a powerful PDF Editor, it is a good option if your primary concern is little bit text or image manipulation within PDFs.
Works With: Windows (64 Bit, 32 Bit), Linux.
Size: 79.7 MB (.MSI).
Also: Check this post to help you extract highlighted text from PDF.
5). PDFescape (Online)
PDFescape is a popular online PDF Editor service that allows you to view and make changes in your PDF files using any modern browser. You can simply visit this online PDF Editor and start using it by uploading the desired PDF. It offers common PDF editing features such as manipulating text and images, PDF form creation, annotating PDF content, document sharing, etc.
PDFescape is also available with desktop version and combining both these versions, 3 different subscription options are available (Free, Premium, Ultimate). The free subscription offers limited PDF editing features, but as you move from premium to ultimate, the features increase.
Tip: To edit PDF text using PDFescape, you can whiteout existing text and insert new text over the blank area.
Below you can see major pros and cons of this PDF Editor software:
Pros:
- Add/ edit text and images.
- Add hyperlinks.
- Whiteout or strikeout text.
- Add sticky notes.
- Insert comments.
- Underline and highlight text.
- Add shapes (rectangle, oval).
- Freehand marking.
- Rotate or Crop PDF pages.
- Create PDF forms.
- Fill PDF forms.
- Publish PDF forms and collect data.
- Save PDFs to PDFescape servers.
- Print or save PDFs locally without watermark.
Cons:
- Can’t Undo changes.
- Ad-based interface.
- Maximum File Size: 40 MB (1000 pages).
- Maximum Storage: 100 Files.
- Additional Cost on publishing 3+ files.
PDFescape is one handy option to review or edit PDF documents online for free. However there’s a strange mix of online and desktop versions with confusing price structure for premium features.
Works With: Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, Chrome, and Opera.
6). PDF Pro (Online)
PDF Pro is another online PDF Editor software which is available for free. It is a PDF suite for creating or reviewing PDF documents, editing PDF documents, signing or password protecting PDF documents, splitting or rotating, adding text on PDF documents and converting PDF documents to different formats.
PDF Pro allows a user export up to 3 PDF documents per month (download, email or print) without any registration. Pricing plans are available for users with higher demands.
Below you can see major pros and cons of this PDF Editor software:
Pros:
- Add or edit text in existing PDF documents.
- Create new PDF documents.
- Add signatures.
- Insert symbols, shapes, and images.
- Erase or highlight text.
- Add annotations such as comments and highlights.
- Office and Image file conversion to PDF and vice versa.
- Compress PDF.
- Watermark PDF.
- Merge or rotate PDF pages.
- Extract or reorder PDF pages.
- Split PDF file.
- Batch PDF file creation.
- Availability of tool tips.
- Fast and secure.
- Works well with big files.
- Ad-free interface.
Cons:
- Free version is limited to 3 Files per month.
Works With: Chrome, IE, Edge, Firefox and Safari.
Did You Know? You can edit PDF files using Microsoft Word as well. If you already own Microsoft Word, you can use it to edit pretty much everything within your PDF documents. Word 2013 and Word 2016 allows you to open a PDF file by converting it to a Word document (Link to PDF to Word Editors) and later make changes to it. With the help of MS Word, you can edit your PDF files the same way you edit your Word documents. All the available tools can be accessed through the Word’s Ribbon menu. This way, you can add or edit text, add shapes, add comments, insert SmartArt, hyperlinks, date or time, header footer, signature (and what not!) in your base PDF documents. Plus you can save them back as PDFs or Word documents.
7). PDF2Go (Online)
Another simple and easy to use Online PDF Editor is PDF2Go. It is a whole PDF suite which is similar to PDF Pro in many aspects. It features a similar list of tools to perform tasks individually, such as edit PDF, Compress PDF, Convert From/To PDF, Merge PDF, Protect PDF, Split PDF, etc.
PDF2Go allows uploading files through your local drive, a web link, Dropbox or Google Drive, or simply through drag and drop. The service is completely free with no limits on PDF exports or file size (100MB PDF tested).
Below you can see major pros and cons of this PDF Editor software:
Pros:
- Add/ edit text (whiteout text).
- Highlight text.
- Can add comments as text.
- Insert lines, arrows, shapes.
- Split, merge, rotate PDFs
- Insert checkmarks and images.
- Password protect/ unlock PDFs.
- Change PDF page size (e.g. letter to A4).
- Convert PDF to Office or Image formats and vice versa.
- Convert PDF content to text with OCR.
- Compress PDFs.
- Can undo, redo and reset changes.
- Fix broken PDFs.
- Works well with big files.
- No watermarks.
Cons:
- Cannot use sticky notes.
- Ad-based interface.
- Cannot e-sign PDFs.
- Can’t watermark PDFs.
Overall, PDF2Go is quite handy when it comes to PDF file conversion or improvement (compress, password protect, etc.). It lacks some powerful features such as signing and certifying PDF documents. Plus the site mentions that one can add watermarks to PDFs too, but I couldn’t find the option anywhere in the editor. Worth a try if you require basic PDF editing.
Works With: Chrome, Opera, Safari, Firefox and more.
Price: Free.
8). PDFzorro (Online)
PDFzorro is a web-based PDF Editor software. Instead of providing separate applications to perform different tasks, it offers all common PDF editing functionalities within a single editor window. You can choose tools from 3 different menus:
- The main file menu (insert blank page, print page, merge file, export file, etc.).
- Child page menu (move page in file, rotate page, cut or crop page, etc.), and
- The common tools menu (add text, line, rectangle, etc.).
This Online PDF Editor uses secure SSL connection and protect your files through encryption. It also offers to delete your files from its cloud storage once the editing is done.
Pros and cons of this PDF Editor:
Pros:
- PDF text editing such as add text, erase text, annotate text.
- Undo/ redo options.
- Add comments as text.
- Can add signatures as scanned image.
- Insert blank/ white pages.
- Merge files with PDF (Image, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF).
- Compress PDFs.
- Encrypt PDFs.
- Edit/ Set PDF metadata.
- Add letters to PDF (A resignation letter template is available).
- Delete or print pages.
- Change page format (e.g. A3 to A4).
- Export to Word, PowerPoint, Excel, DXF, XML or HTML.
- Save PDF to Google Drive (using extension).
- Delete PDFs from server.
- Send PDF via Mail.
Cons:
- Ad-based interface.
- Maximum allowed File Size is 50 MB.
- Cannot add sticky notes.
- Cannot watermark PDFs.
PDFzorro offers a quick and easy way to edit PDFs. Still, it limits the size of PDF file to 50 MB. Some of its features, such as adding letter, are also interesting and less common among other similar PDF Editor software. It also provides Chrome extension to open PDFs with Chrome and manipulate them (edit or merge).
Works With: Chrome, Opera, Safari, Firefox and more.
Price: Free.
9). Xodo PDF Reader and Editor
Xodo is available as a free web app, Windows 10 app, Chrome extension, etc., and it offers powerful PDF editing features. It includes writing directly on PDF documents, annotating PDF documents, highlighting or underlining text, filling PDF forms, signing PDF documents, etc.
This PDF Editor app is optimized for styluses and works well with tablets and mobile phones. Xodo offers camera support as well, so you can easily scan your documents as PDF, edit them if required, and print documents directly from the app. Plus, it offers a very interesting feature called ‘Xodo Connect’ that lets you connect with other users online and work with them on the same document.
Its pros and cons are as follows:
Pros:
- Add text, shapes, and arrows.
- Highlight, underline, and strikeout text.
- Add comments and sign.
- Add images.
- Text search.
- Crop, rotate or bookmark pages.
- Insert, delete or rearrange PDF pages.
- Take notes or fill PDF forms.
- Create new PDFs.
- Merge PDFs.
- Smooth navigation.
- Night mode for reading comfort in low light.
- No watermarks.
- Multi-tabbed interface to open different PDF files.
- Collaborative document editing.
Cons:
- No undo/ redo options.
- Cannot add sticky notes.
- ‘Erase’ feature not working.
- Cannot watermark PDFs.
Works With: Windows, Android, iPhone, and all browsers.
Price: Free.
10). DocHub (Online)
DocHub is an amazing online PDF editor that lets you connect with your Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox account to add PDF and quickly edit it. With this PDF Editor service, you can securely edit, sign, manage, share, or fax your PDF documents by creating a free account.
All common PDF editing features such as insert, highlight, comment, sign, erase, stamp, etc., are available. Plus, PDF page management features, such as merge, reorder, append, rotate, and delete are also available. DocHub offers lossless editing and is retina-display optimized. It also allows you to fill PDF forms and collaborate with others to edit same document (like Xodo).
Below you can see its pros and cons:
Pros:
- Add text, comments, shapes, and arrows.
- Erase, whiteout or highlight text.
- Undo, redo actions available.
- Insert image.
- Insert symbols.
- Sign documents.
- Rotate PDF pages.
- Merge, append, and reorder PDF pages.
- Share documents.
- No watermarks.
- Collaborative document editing.
Cons:
- Cannot add sticky notes.
- Adding watermark is also not supported.
DocHub supports OAuth 2.0 authentication and 128 to 256 bit EV SSL Encryption to ensure secure account access and file transfer. It stores and backups saved documents using 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard. DocHub is compatible with PDF documents, Open Office and Office documents, Text documents, and lets you export your documents as PDF or DOC.
Works With: All browsers.
Price: Free.
Final Thoughts:
So, this was our list of 10 best free PDF editors. Within the list, we have tried to cover all such desktop and online applications that provide text editing capabilities within PDF files. If you are not looking for PDF text editing and require basic PDF manipulation features such as adding notes or annotating PDF content, then all these PDF editors are best.
If you know any other software that must fit into this best free PDF editors, do let us know in comments. 🙂
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