PDF (a.k.a. Portable Document Format) has become a preferred file format, especially in professional settings. That’s right, because it’s not only compatible but also more secure than other file formats. One thing that PDFs are missing is the ability to edit documents. This is exactly why you need to use a PDF editing app to edit, annotate, and even convert other file types to PDF. Although the market is flooded with PDF editors, not all of them are secure and perform assigned tasks with the required efficiency. What are the best PDF editors? To help you find the right contender based on your professional or personal needs, we’ve listed some of the best PDF editors that can get the job done. So, let’s explore the roundup now and pick a complete PDF solution!
A collection of the best PDF editors you should use
You have to be very cautious when choosing a PDF editor. So, I think a little brainstorming beforehand is a must.
Which PDF editor should you choose?
Let’s get the elephants out first! Your choice of PDF editor boils down to two key aspects: professional and personal needs. Although other essential factors such as proficiency, ease of use, and affordability can also play an important role. If efficiency and top-of-the-line tools are important, and you’re skilled enough to take full advantage of advanced editing features, choose a full-featured PDF editor. It’s as simple as it sounds.
But just in case you only need to work on the PDF once in Blue Moon and choose a lightweight or online PDF editor that is available for free. Most of them come with all the essential tools that allow you to convert and annotate PDF files with ease. Keeping these two requirements in mind, we have opted for both paid and free PDF editing apps/software. Now that the conversation is over, it’s the right time to start.
Foxit PhantomPDF
Best PDF Editor Recommendation: If versatility is your priority, Foxit PhantomPDF will be the right answer for your needs. Although PhantomPDF is a powerful PDF editor, it’s very easy to use, allowing you to create and edit documents at will. Plus, it comes with several handy tools that will allow you to keep all your PDFs organized and clutter-free. Another notable feature is the PDF converter, which lets you convert documents to PDF without affecting the layout, which is important if you don’t want to compromise on quality.
As someone who has to work with PDFs frequently, especially in a professional setting, I’ve been looking for seamless collaboration features. In my experience, PhantomPDF looks good enough to provide intuitive collaboration so that the entire team can work together on a single project. In addition, it allows for easy sharing and integration with ECM and cloud storage, which is very helpful for businesses. Everything is taken into account; PhantomPDF has what makes it one of the best PDF editors on the market.
Pricing: Free, $79 for the Standard version and $99 for the Business version
Platform: Windows and macOS
Nuance Power PDF
Best PDF Editor Software Download: Nuance products have long been one of the top PDF editors across the board. So, I think many of you will find this app to rank highly in this lineup. The highlight of the software has always been a range of powerful tools that allow for more control over PDF editing. Whether it’s annotating PDF files, converting documents to PDF, or converting paper documents and images into editable PDFs, the app covers all the essential aspects.
The Power PDF editor also works well when merging and splitting PDFs. When you’re creating a large project or an impressive presentation, the ability to merge multiple PDFs and other document collections like Word, Excel, PowerPoint into one searchable PDF becomes very handy. The integrated spell checker plays a vital role in ensuring that your document is free of spelling mistakes when filling out forms.
Not only that, but the app also provides an effective way to reduce the size of PDF files so that you can easily upload them to the web or send them via email. Best of all, you can encrypt your files with 40-bit and 128-bit encryption to give your data the protection you need and the necessary control over whether you can view, print, edit, copy, or annotate documents.
Pricing: Free trial, $129-$179
Supported Platforms: Windows and macOS
Wondershare PDFelement
What are the best PDF editors? If I were to choose an all-in-one PDF editor that would meet the needs of both professional and casual users, I would choose Wondershare PDFelement. What makes this software more advantageous than many other similar software is its flexibility. Unlike many other competitors, it doesn’t require an extensive learning curve for all those equipped with high-end tools. When it comes to editing PDF files, this software makes everything simple. In addition, it may have state-of-the-art OCR technology that can easily convert scan results into fully editable documents in over 25 languages.
Another feature that makes it a great tool is the ability to convert PDFs to many other file types such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, HTML, images, and more. In addition to quickly converting PDF files, it also ensures that their layout remains intact. In case you want to protect your files from prying eyes, you can choose to use the password protection feature to encrypt your documents before sharing them. In short, if you’re looking for flexibility and ease of use, give Wondershare PDF element a try.
Pricing: Free trial, $69/$79
Supported Platforms: Windows and macOS
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
Best PDF Editor Recommendation: In the seemingly crowded PDF editor market, “Adobe Acrobat Reader” has always stood out to me. Admittedly, it’s much more expensive than many other premium products, and it also guarantees a steep learning curve that can be put off for the average user in no time. However, if you’re after professional-grade PDF editing, ignoring Acrobat Reader isn’t the right thing to do. The app is very good at viewing, printing, and commenting on PDFs without compromising on quality.
When it comes to versatility, Acrobat leads the way due to its support for a wide range of file formats. So, whether you’re working on forms or multimedia, it gets the job done. What’s more, it connects to Adobe Document Cloud so that you can work seamlessly across computers and mobile devices. By implementing secure syncing, your data will be protected from unauthorized access.
Pricing: Free trial, $12.99/$14.99/mo
Supported Platforms: Windows and macOS
PDF Expert
Best PDF Editor Collection: I don’t think there are too many PDF editors on the market that are as elegant as PDF Expert. Whether you want to streamline the process of reading PDFs, annotate files with the required precision, or edit them with a variety of modern tools, it has you covered. The app offers a variety of themes like day, night, and sepia to make reading documents an enjoyable experience. With a quick search index, it ensures that you don’t have to spend a lot of time looking for what you’re looking for.
But what caught my eye in PDF Expert was the sheer number of annotation tools. So, if you have an iPad and like to use a digital stylus like the Apple Pencil to take notes or sketch images, you’ll love annotating PDFs thanks to support for all multitasking gestures. It also comes with Touch bar support, so you can quickly access some of your favorite tools to speed things up. In addition, it allows you to sign documents so that they look certified and professional.
Pricing: Free, $79 (3 licenses for 1 Mac)
Supported platforms: macOS, iOS, and iPadOS
PDF Architect 7
Best PDF Editor Software Download: If there is a PDF editor that can rival Adobe’s products in more than one way, then it has to be PDF Architect. First of all, the software has a super convenient batch creation feature that lets you convert multiple files to PDF. If you often need to work with PDF files and need a very fast converter, then it might be the choice for you. Plus, it has scanner integration to help you scan documents directly to PDF. With OCR technology, you can search for text and turn it into an editable document.
One of my favorite features in PDF Architect is the ability to easily sign documents. While many other PDF editors offer document signing capabilities, I think it offers more flexibility when it comes to custom signatures. Also, the app looks proficient in collaboration as well, which is great for teamwork. Not only that, but it also provides a convenient way to view documents. Keeping all these notable features in mind, PDF Architect is a reliable PDF solution worth choosing for both professional and personal needs.
Pricing: Free, $49/year (Standard) $69/year (Professional) $89/year (Pro+OCR)
Supported Platforms: Windows
Sejda
Well, I’ve saved this for those who are looking for a useful PDF editor without breaking the bank. Yes, you heard it right! Sejda is a web-based application for basic PDF editing. Even though it’s an online PDF editor, it has some very useful annotation tools that let you delete, underline, highlight, and even draw. In addition, you can include your digital signature and use shapes to give your document an impressive look. With the quick undo button, it ensures that you can easily get rid of unwanted changes.
Pricing: Free
Icecream PDF split and merge
If you want to have a lightweight PDF editor that allows you to split and merge PDF files easily, you shouldn’t miss Icecream PDF. This software does what it says and makes the task of splitting documents and merging them very simple without any limitations. It’s also designed to work with password-protected PDFs so that you don’t have to bother with decrypting your files before processing them. By including a useful PDF reader, you can view all PDF files in your preferred layout.
Pricing: Free, $19.95 for the Pro version
Platform: Windows and macOS
easy PDF
What are the best PDF editors: Looking for a completely free PDF editor that can easily do your job? If yes, I suggest you try a simple PDF. This online PDF editor comes with many tools such as PDF to Word converter, PDF compression, PDF to GIF, and many more to make it easy for you to work with PDF files. In addition, the online PDF editor has a very handy OCR (Optical Character Recognition) tool that allows you to convert paper documents and images into editable PDFs. It’s worth noting considering that not many PDF apps come with this useful feature. Even in terms of efficiency, Easy PDF outperforms many other counters due to its ability to convert documents without compromising quality.
Pricing: Free
PDFescape
Best PDF Editor Recommendation: Another web-based PDF editor program that caught my attention. I must say, I’m very impressed with what PDFescape has to offer. It has a variety of features, including PDF editing, form filling, page arrangement, printing, saving, and form publishing. The freemium version is ad-supported and has basic features, while the premium version ($2.99 per month) has no ads and also offers high-end tools. I love its simple layout, it feels familiar. In addition, it converts documents to PDF without any noticeable delay. When it comes to annotation, PDFescape can stay fortified with features like sticky notes, inserts, deletes, and more.
Pricing: Free, $2.99 per month for the Pro version
The top PDF editing app at your fingertips
So, these are the best PDF editor collections for you. There are a variety of options to choose from, and hopefully, you will find the right answer for your needs. But before turning your attention to other stories, share your thoughts on apps that look more promising. Also, let us know about the famous contenders that may be missing from the lineup.
