PDF is the most widely used document format in the world. Now, whether you want to open, create, edit or convert pdf files in windows environment, you can use a series of free pdf tools or online pdf tools to complete your task. I will introduce you free pdf editing tools and free pdf converter tools with step-by-step screenshots.
Sometimes you might need to convert a PDF file to a Word document so that you can make some changes in it. While there are many ways of doing it, PDF Candy offers a possibility to convert PDF to Word well-thought-out. It’s more convenient as the user doesn’t need to retype text in a new format, open and save each file individually, waste time finding the right software and so on. Besides, the process is easy as it gets: upload your PDF, start editing and download the result – your Word file is ready.
Information is the driving force of today’s world. It is essential that information be managed effectively. Computer applications are available to help you store, manage and distribute your information in text documents. If you have many PDF files that need to be managed, you can choose a useful PDF-related application to manage them so that they remain readable and easily accessible.
The idea of this article about best free pdf tools is to collect the most useful and reliable online tools for making high-quality PDF files from almost any file. The list includes some pieces of software that can be easily used by anyone, so if you’re looking for good ways to create PDF files without buying expensive software, this article is for you.
How to choose the best free PDF editor for you
Picking the best free PDF editor is a lot like picking a paid version of a document editor — identify exactly what you want to do with a PDF file and go for the program that offers the features that will let you get that done.
This can be as simple as deciding whether you need a PDF editor that handles document creation and design or whether you just want something that can leave comments and suggestions on a digital file.
Because this is free software, you should pay attention to any limitations imposed on the free tier. Are there restrictions on the size of the documents you can edit or are certain tools locked behind a paywall? If the answer to the latter question is yes, figure out whether it’s worth it just to pay up for that particular feature.
If you’re doing your PDF editing from a computer, check to see if you’ve got built-in software that can handle the job. Mac users, for example, might not realize how good Preview is at annotating documents and adding signatures to PDFs. You can save a lot of time searching for the best free PDF editor if it’s already there right under your nose.
PDF Candy
Best free PDF editor
SPECIFICATIONS
Developer: Icecream AppsCompatibility: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, SafariCategory: OCR, PDF editing, file conversionUpgrade from free version: NoneTODAY’S BEST DEALSVIEW AT PDF CANDY
REASONS TO BUY
+OCR feature+Extensive file-conversion and -creation features+Solid PDF-layout tools
REASONS TO AVOID
-Limited text-editing features
PDF Candy may be one of the more compelling free PDF editors, mostly because it offers an OCR option not available in other free PDF editors.
While you can’t edit the OCR’d text directly within PDF Candy’s web-based PDF editor, you can upload a PDF file and have PDF Candy extract text and create a text document, RTF file, or Word document in both .doc and .docx formats.
PDF Candy’s tool set is formidable. You can use 44 tools to create or convert PDF files. Additionally, you’ll find tools for rearranging pages within a document, adding watermarks, protecting PDF files with passcodes, editing metadata within a PDF file, splitting or adding pages to documents, and extracting images.
All these tasks are as simple as selecting the tool, uploading a document and allowing PDF Candy to work its magic.
When you finish one task on a document, you’ll get a list of other tools you can use for different tasks. Once your changes are complete, you can download the edited document or upload a new document to work on. PDF Candy keeps all of your documents in a queue so you can download them all at once after you’ve finished making changes to them.
While the actual text-editing tools in PDF Candy are as limited as on every other free PDF-editing app, everything else PDF Candy has to offer puts it head and shoulders above the other free options.
PDFescape
Ample annotation tools for free
SPECIFICATIONS
Developer: Red SoftwareCompatibility: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, SafariCategory: PDF annotationUpgrade from free version: $36 (premium), $72 (ultimate) per yearTODAY’S BEST DEALSVIEW AT PDFESCAPE
REASONS TO BUY
+Web-based annotation tools are easy to understand and use+Page limit has increased to 100 pages+Impressive feature set for a free app
REASONS TO AVOID
-Very limited fonts
PDFescape is an excellent option for online PDF editing. Simple to use and available to anyone with a web browser, PDFescape may be all you need to edit and annotate PDF files.
Previously, PDFescape had a limit of either a 10MB or 50-page PDF file. That 10MB file-size limit remains in place, but you can now edit files of up to 100 pages for free.
PDFescape offers ample annotation tools. You can use the app to fill out forms, create form fields, insert text and web links, highlight text, add sticky notes, redact or strike out text, crop and rotate images, add or remove pages and even lock and encrypt PDF documents.
You’ll have to contend with severely limited font options, however. PDFescape offers five fonts, one of which is a generic “signature” font that looks nothing like your own signature. But otherwise, you’ll find a lot more tools in PDFescape than you will in the typical, bare-bones free PDF editor.
Apple Preview
A free option for Mac users
SPECIFICATIONS
Developer: AppleCompatibility: macOSCategory: : PDF annotation; image editingUpgrade from free version: NoneTODAY’S BEST DEALSVIEW AT APPLE
REASONS TO BUY
+Included with every Mac+Includes image-editing tools+Excellent annotation tools and options for adding signatures to documents
REASONS TO AVOID
-Not available for other platforms-Markup tools aren’t easy to find-No OCRAdvertisement
Apple’s Preview application is built into every version of macOS, including macOS BIg Sur. Not only is it capable of working with PDF files, but it also offers a number of other image-editing features. It is the multitool of the image-editing universe, capable of opening virtually any image file you may encounter.
The bulk of Preview’s markup capabilities aren’t obvious when you first open the app, although you’ll find a few basic tools for rotating pages and highlighting text on the basic toolbar.
Preview’s full set of markup tools appears when you click a small markup button that looks like a pencil tip located next to the search tool in the Preview toolbar.
Those markup tools include text-selection options; drawing tools you can use to add freehand drawings to a document; a text tool for adding additional text to a document; a tool that adds shapes and notes; and a signature tool that you can use to capture your signature using your Mac’s camera, a tablet or your trackpad.
Preview is a solid option for basic PDF editing, and if you own a Mac, accessing Preview’s powers is as simple as launching the app.
PDF24 Creator
Best overall – a feature-rich free PDF editor
TODAY’S BEST DEALSVISIT SITE
REASONS TO BUY
+Completely free+Fast and light+Lots of features for every need
REASONS TO AVOID
-Occasionally a bit clunky
PDF24 Creator may have a somewhat dated website but this is because this free PDF editor and converter has been around since 2006. It’s made by a small team based in Berlin and is the project of Geek Software.
In addition to being surprisingly feature-rich for a free PDF editor, PDF24 Creator is a very small program that can easily run on older systems. In terms of features, it allows you to create new PDFs, merge existing ones, compress a PDF, convert a PDF to other formats, extract specific pages to create a new document and optimize a PDF for the web. PDF24 Creator also lets you apply OCR to a PDF so that you can convert scanned images to text.
PDF24 Creator has a minimalistic user interface and it’s clear that the program is designed around speed first and foremost. All of the important features are easy to find and when you first open the software, you’re presented with a grid of editing options.
SmallPDF
Best for multiple languages – Smallpdf supports 24 different languages
TODAY’S BEST DEALSVISIT SITE
REASONS TO BUY
+Cloud-based+Powerful range of tools+Allows you to convert PDFs to other formats
REASONS TO AVOID
-Can only process two documents per day
Smallpdf was created in Switzerland back in 2013 with the aim of creating a single tool to compress and edit PDFs. One thing that sets this PDF editor apart from the competition is that it’s available in 24 different languages and used in 195 countries around the world.
Smallpdf’s main focus is providing an excellent user experience that makes its online PDF editor very easy to use. On its website, you can upload a PDF and begin making annotations and taking notes. You can also add pictures, text and shapes to a PDF. Once you’ve made the necessary changes, Smallpdf allows you to compress a PDF or export it as a Word, Excel or PowerPoint file
If you want even more functionality, you can upgrade to Smallpdf’s paid version. While the web version is slightly cheaper, you can pay a bit more to take advantage of the desktop version so you can work offline. The company also offers a 7-day free trial so you can test out its paid features for yourself before deciding if you want to upgrade.
Nitro Pro PDF File Editor
The Nitro Pro PDF editor offers many PDF editing features similar to other PDF editors for Windows 10 listed above. Its features include the ability to edit, create and merge, review, and collaborate, among others. In addition, the Nitro editor will allow you to fill, sign, and secure your PDF files. It supports all windows operating systems and comes in 2 versions, personal and business. The professional version costs $179.99 and has its own set of more advanced features.
Pros
- It is easy to use and also fast.
- Includes OCR technology for editing scanned PDFs.
Cons
- It is expensive in comparison to other top PDF editor software.
- The trial version has limited features.
Price: The professional version costs $179.99 with its own set of features.
System Support: It can work on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10/11 PDF editor.
How we test free PDF editors
In testing free PDF editors, we use the same process as when we test paid versions, though we make note of the limitations that can come with free software. We consider both general PDF editors as well as applications that are specifically designed for annotations.
When looking at free PDF editors, I use a few different types of documents that comply with file-size limitations. These include text-heavy files, documents with a mix of formatted images and text, and simple documents with text and images inserted into the document in a linear fashion.
While free apps don’t often include features like text recognition, I tested that feature when it was available. I also tried making changes to text, replacing and adding images and adding annotations with each product.
Conclusion
PDF is a common format used in many industries. For example book printing companies use it, while tax filing and accounting firms find it indispensable as well. PDF tools let you overcome the shortcomings of this popular format and address your needs.
A PDF editor is a must-have when you work with documents in this format on a daily basis. There are many obvious benefits: it is faster to edit this type of files on your device, and you can edit documents on the go. In other words, you no longer need to install costly software; at the same time you do not have to be online.