Free tools to edit pdfs have almost everything you need to power up a website or a new business idea. However, in spite of their numerous features, some users are still ignorant of the fact that there are best tools to edit pdfs out there which are available for free for everyone.
A PDF is a very common file format, and its popularity continues to grow. They are used for all types of tasks, such as storing digital documents and transferring them across the Internet. Portable Document Format (PDF) files are great due to their cross-platform compatibility, but editing them can be a nuisance. PDF files were designed for sharing information and not for making much modifications which means that unless you’ve the original source file i.e., the Word or Excel document that was used to create it; making changes to your PDFs can be quite challenging. There are several free PDF editors available online
If you want to convert your PDF with ease, then use a free tool to edit PDF. The best free online tools to edit PDF gives you the flexibility and options available by editing any other file format. The best word processing tools are ideal for getting work done efficiently and effectively.
So this article is dedicated to all the people who really get troubled while editing PDF documents and are not aware of the advanced technology. Here we have listed down the best options available in the market today.
Advantages of Online Applications
Protects privacy
Any work done using PDF software on your computer remains between you and the computer. No matter if it’s a school activity book or a 10 million contract, the privacy remains intact. On the other hand, online PDF services might not be the most trusted source to upload sensitive documents.
You never know what goes behind the system, and you have no control over it.
No chances of data leakage
The data you enter on your PDF software remains within the system and has no way to spread outside of it. While I expect the online services to be the same, such is not the case every time and with every website.
You’re not fully aware of how your data is being stored or processed. Hackers are one threat, but there are also other concerns like identity theft and fraud.
I’d also like to mention that, if you’ve signed and agreed on a non-disclosure agreement with a company, you’re absolutely not allowed to upload any of those documents to these online PDF services.
24/7 availability
It might not seem like a big thing, but it’s important to note that convenience is necessary. With the software installed on your computer/laptop, you don’t need an active internet connection to run it. It can be done offline.
There are also literally no chances of it being down or under maintenance, unless you purposely wish to update it. You can access it 24/7 on demand.
So, when is it alright to use an online PDF editor? I believe probably when your document isn’t one that is confidential. If you’re editing a PDF that is easily available on the internet, then you can use the online PDF editors. Or else, for private documents, usage of the software is recommended.
PDF BOB
What We Like
- Super easy to use.
- No user account required.
- Supports multiple conversion methods.
- Use it in several languages.
- Zero ads and saves without a watermark.
What We Don’t Like
- Doesn’t edit existing text.
- Few font options.
- Only one upload source (your computer).
PDF BOB is a free online PDF editor that requires no user account. Just upload your PDF, make the changes you need to, and then export it to PDF again to finish up.
There are several tools here to edit your PDF, like a text tool that lets you select a custom color and font type, an image picker, an underliner, a colored pencil/marker, and a few shape tools.
You can also use this website to delete pages from the PDF and add new ones to it. When you save, there’s even a password option to secure the document.
PDFelement
What We Like
- Lets you edit the PDF’s text directly.
- Supports adding images, links, and custom watermarks.
- The background of the PDF pages can be edited.
- Headers and footers can be included in the PDF.
- Supports combining several PDFs into one.
- PDF pages can be cropped.
- Can insert, extract, delete, and rotate PDF pages.
- Editing embedded forms is easy.
- Can password-protect the PDF.
What We Don’t Like
- Free version places a watermark on the PDF.
- Requires large OCR feature download.
- Must log in to save the document.
PDFelement is free, but with a major limitation: It places a watermark on every page of the document. That being said, the watermark is behind everything, so you can still see the content, and it’s important to realize that it supports some truly great PDF editing features.
This program would be a truly free PDF editor if it weren’t for the fact that the free edition will not save without first putting a watermark on every single page of the PDF.
Depending on what you’ll use the PDF for, however, the features it supports might be enough for you to consider living with the watermarks.
When you’re done editing, you can save back to PDF or any of the several other supported formats, including Word and other MS Office formats. To export or save, you have to have a Wondershare account.
Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS are supported.
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.
Acrobat® Pro DC PDF Editing Software
There is no doubt that the Adobe Acrobat PDF editor sets the pace for PDF editing and is widely regarded as the best PDF editing tool for Windows 10; however, it is considered to be overpriced. It is important to note that PDF editing is not just for large businesses but also for individuals and small businesses, and therefore the price is critical. But Adobe is still a great PDF editor with top-class features that helps users convert, edit, and annotate, among other functions.
Pros
- One of the best PDF editors with top-notch features.
- It is easy to use with a decent and friendly user interface.
- OCR technology is available to edit scanned PDFs.
Cons
- It is a more expensive PDF editor when compared to other alternatives.
- It may not be suitable for individuals and small businesses due to the cost.
Price: It costs $179.88 for one year or $14.99 per month for the subscription.
System Support: This PDF editor can be compatible with all Windows systems.
Foxit Phantom PDF Software to Edit PDFs
This is another PDF text editor capable of editing your PDF files in Windows systems. Apart from the editing feature, Phantom PDF can also perform other functions, including merging and splitting PDFs, annotating and sharing PDF files, creating PDF forms, and converting PDFs to other file formats. What’s more, you can also add encryption to PDFs, redact PDFs, and sign PDFs.
Pros
- Provides a trial of 14 days to customers to try it out.
- With the OCR function, users can work with scanned PDFs.
Cons
- The trial version has limited features.
- The user interface of this PDF text editor isn’t as easy to use.
Price: It comes in three versions: standard, business, and education. The standard version is $159 in a one-time payment.
System Support: It supports all Windows systems as well.
EasePDF
Best for the online tools for your PDF files.
EasePDF Pricing: EasePDF offers a free plan. It also offers premium membership plans i.e. Monthly Plan ($4.95 per month), and an Annual Plan ($49.95 per year).
EasePDF is an online platform for converting and editing PDFs. It is an all-in-one solution that has functionalities to edit, compress, split, merge, and rotate a PDF. It provides more than 30 tools. It is a regularly updated platform. The platform is safe to use as it performs the automatic deletion of links and files in 24 hours.
Features:
- EasePDF will let you convert word, excel, PPT, jpg, and HTML documents to PDF format.
- Similarly, you can convert PDF to Word, Excel, PPT, JPG, and HTML.
- It provides security to your documents through 256-bit SSL encryption.
- As it is an online tool, can be used on any platform like Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.
Verdict: EasePDF is a free online PDF converter. It is easy to use and eliminates the need to download and installation of the software. It provides encryption to your files. This online tool supports universal conversion and will let you convert files anytime, anywhere. It also offers premium membership plans.
Qoppa PDF Studio
Best for being a PDF Editor that can be used across most computing platforms such as Windows, macOS, Linux, and more.
PDF Studio Pricing: $89 One-Time Fee for 2 computers. Volume, Education & Non-Profit Discount available.
An easy-to-use, full-featured PDF editing software that is a reliable alternative to Adobe® Acrobat® and provides all PDF functions needed at a fraction of the cost. PDF Studio maintains full compatibility with the PDF Standard.
Features:
- Create, Upload, or Scan to PDF
- Annotate and Markup PDFs
- Convert From Multiple Formats
- Create & Fill Forms
- Merge & Split
- Secure PDFs
- Batch Processing
- OCR (Make PDF Searchable)
Verdict: This powerful PDF editor allows you to easily create, scan or convert documents to PDF as well as markup and edit existing PDFs.
At a fraction of the price as Adobe® Acrobat®, it also comes with very advanced features such as permanent redaction, imposition, file size reduction, preflight and even page resize! This editor can be used on multiple computing platforms such as Windows, macOS, Linux.
PDFelement
Best for offering good features and functionalities to edit PDFs and add forms.
PDFelement Pricing: It has two pricing plans for individuals i.e. PDF element Pro ($79 per year) and PDFelement Standard ($59 per year). For teams, PDFelement Pro is available for $109 per user per year. You can get a quote for PDFelement Business.
PDFelement is the easy-to-use tool for creating, editing, converting, and signing PDF documents. It supports Windows and Mac platforms. It is available in three solutions, PDFelement Standard, PDFelement Pro, and PDFelement Business. The mobile app is available for iOS and Android devices.
Features:
- PDFelement provides functionalities for converting scanned documents into editable PDFs.
- It has functionalities for creating PDFs, editing text & images in PDFs, securing & signing PDF files, converting PDFs, and filling out PDF forms.
- It can compress and optimize documents.
- It supports Optical Character Recognition (OCR).
- It provides features for adding a digital signature.
Verdict: PDFelement can help you with one-on-one technical support. It offers perpetual licensing and hence can be the perfect solution for individuals and enterprises.
Which factors should you consider while selecting top PDF editor software?
You should consider the following factors while selecting a PDF editor software:
- Easy to use
- Scan and OCR(Optical Character Recognition) features
- Functionalities for PDF operations like Create, Edit, Share, Print, etc.
- Collaboration for multiple users
- Security
- Mobile-friendliness
- Support and customer care service
Conclusion
If you want to convert your PDF with ease, then use a free tool to edit PDF. The best free online tools to edit PDF gives you the flexibility and options available by editing any other file format. The best word processing tools are ideal for getting work done efficiently and effectively.
You know that PDF is one of the best ways to send and share documents in almost every business. There are all kinds of different options for creating, editing and managing a PDF file on the market these days. Finding the right tool for you, can be challenging. Even though PDFs are so popular, many programs struggle to edit them, or manage them as easily as they might be able to with other file types.