Create PDF:Best 10 Free PDF Creators with Reviews (2024 Updated)
There are multiple tools that you can find online to create PDFs. But finding the best tool in terms of features, ease of use, cost, and compatibility is the real challenge. Moreover, the specific needs and preferences for tools are different, and with too many recommendations, it makes it tough to choose the right tool for you. We will guide you with selecting the real free and best tool to use for creating PDFs. This article contains information about each pdf creator with official references, so stick to it until the end.
Part 1: Best 10 Free PDF Creators
Below are the 10 Free PDF Creators you can download and install on your PC. Some of them are online, so it doesn’t require installation.
1. WPS PDF - Highly Recommended with Free Trial
You can create professional and polished PDF documents effortlessly with WPS Office, the all-in-one office suite designed to meet your needs. Along with other office applications, it has an excellent PDF tool that is free to use. With its PDF tool, you can create, merge, split, edit, compress, and convert PDFs.
Moreover, it also supports batch PDF printing, batch renaming, and OCR features. Unlike its competitors, WPS Office has most tools available for free. Although it has a premium version, its free version is feature-rich enough that caters to the needs of an individual.
Main Features
Powerful PDF creation from various file formats
Easy-to-use interface for seamless navigation
Extensive editing options for customizing PDF documents
Integrated commenting and annotation features for collaboration
OCR technology for converting scanned PDFs and images into editable text
Robust security features, including password protection and permissions settings
Seamless integration with popular cloud storage services
Cross-platform compatibility for creating PDFs on different devices and operating systems
Free Version: Available
Premium Price
The subscription fee is $3.99 for one month, $18.99 for 6 months, and $29.99 for 12 months.
Trustpilot Rating: 4.8
Supported Devices
Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
Pros
Feature-rich: OCR, Annotation, Cloud storage
Compatible with Microsoft Office formats
Cross-platform support :Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
User-friendly interface.
Cons
Some Features require a premium subscription.
Occasional compatibility issues with the complex document formatting.
Ways to free download
You can download it from the official WPS Office website.
App Store link:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wps-office-best-ms-alternative/id1491101673
Google Play link:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cn.wps.moffice_eng&hl=en&gl=US&pli=1
Reviews
Reviewer: Emily
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
WPS Office is my go-to PDF creator because it's easy to use, offers great customization options, and produces high-quality PDFs. I highly recommend it for both personal and professional use.
Reviewer: Michael
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
WPS Office has been a game-changer for me. With its seamless integration with other WPS Office tools, I can create and convert PDFs effortlessly.
2. Adobe Acrobat - The Earliest PDF Software
Adobe Acrobat is the gold standard in PDF creation, providing a comprehensive suite of tools to create, edit, and manage PDF documents with unmatched precision and reliability. Its PDF-creating abilities are so robust that formatting, fonts, and layouts of your original documents are preserved to perfection, ensuring your PDFs look polished and consistent. It comes with an intelligent form filler that automatically detects form fields and populates them accurately, saving you time and eliminating errors.
Main Features
Reliable and industry-standard PDF creation capabilities
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for converting scanned documents into editable text
Collaboration features, including shared reviews and commenting
Comprehensive security options, such as digital signatures
Form filling and interactive form features for editing PDF forms
Integration with cloud storage services
Cross-platform compatibility for creating PDFs
Powerful document conversion capabilities
Free Version
Adobe Acrobat offers a free trial.
Premium Price
The standard version costs $12.99/month, while the Pro version costs $19.99/month.
Trustpilot Rating: 1.2
Supported Devices: Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
Pros
Robust editing capabilities
Advanced features and reliable performance
Integration with other Adobe products.
Cons
The premium version is expensive
New users may find it hard to use
Ways to free download
Adobe Acrobat is available for download from its official website.
App Store link
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/adobe-acrobat-reader-edit-pdf/id469337564
Google Play link
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adobe.reader&hl=en&gl=US
Reviews
Reviewer: Jessica
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Adobe Acrobat is a powerful PDF creator with advanced features. From editing to security options, it has everything I need to handle my PDF documents professionally.
Reviewer: David
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Adobe Acrobat is the industry standard for PDF creation. It is a user-friendly interface and comprehensive functionalities make it worth the investment.
3. Foxit - Easy for PDF Beginners
Foxit PDF Editor is a special desktop software designed for professionals and businesses that empowers you to create remarkable PDF documents that make an impact. You can automate certain actions, like batch processing and document organization, to save time and increase productivity. Your PDFs are secured with password encryption, digital signatures, and redaction tools in Foxit. In addition, with its collaboration feature, you can easily add comments, highlights, and markups.
Main Features
Efficient and intuitive PDF creation with high-quality results
Robust editing tools for making precise modifications to PDF documents
OCR technology for converting scanned documents and images into editable text
Collaboration features, including commenting, reviewing, and document sharing
Advanced security options, such as encryption
Form creation and filling capabilities for interactive PDF forms
Integration with popular cloud storage services for seamless file management
Batch processing for efficient handling of multiple files at once
Free Version
It offers a free trial.
Trustpilot Rating: 2.6
Supported Devices: Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
Pros
Feature-rich
User-friendly interface
Extensive collaboration options
Advanced editing capabilities.
Cons
The premium version is costly
Compatibility issues with certain browsers
Ways to free download
It can be easily downloaded from the official website of Foxit.
App Store link
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/foxit-pdf-editor/id507040546
Google Play link
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.foxit.mobile.pdf.lite&hl=en&gl=US
Reviews
Reviewer: Sarah
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Foxit is a reliable and efficient PDF creator. Its fast conversion speed and excellent output quality make it a go-to tool for creating professional-looking PDFs.
Reviewer: Jason
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Foxit is my preferred PDF creator because of its user-friendly interface and customizable options.
4. PDFFiller - Best for Budget Saver
PDFfiller is a comprehensive software that revolutionizes how you create and manage PDF documents. It simplifies the process of creating PDFs either from scratch or converting from other formats like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. It also comes with a form filler, and you can easily complete interactive forms and efficiently populate repetitive information across multiple forms. It is collaborative in nature and seamlessly integrates with popular cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive.
Main Features
Modify text, images, and pages in PDF documents.
Easily fill out interactive PDF forms and convert files to and from PDF format.
Sign PDFs electronically with legally binding digital signatures.
Access and manage PDFs stored in popular cloud storage services.
Protect PDFs with password encryption and redaction features.
Extract text from scanned documents and images for editing and searching.
Free Version
The free version is available on a trial basis.
Premium Price
Its Basic plan costs $8/month, and the Premium costs $15/per month
Trustpilot Rating: 4.5
Supported Devices: Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
Pros
Easy to use
Extensive document editing features,
Robust form-filling capabilities.
Cons
The free version has limited features
Requires internet
Ways to free download
It is a web-based application, and you can use it using its official website.
App Store link
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pdffiller-pdf-document-editor/id571613512
Google Play link
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pdffiller&hl=en&gl=US
Reviews
Reviewer: Emma
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
PDFfiler is a decent PDF creator with basic features. While it gets the job done, it lacks some advanced functionalities compared to other tools in the market.
Reviewer: Ryan
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
PDFfiler is a straightforward PDF creator that delivers what it promises making it suitable for simple PDF conversions.
5. PDFCreator - Full Features for Creating PDFs
PDF Creator is an outstanding tool with exquisite features to take your PDF creation game to another level. Its automated features help to optimize your individual workflow. It supports multiple languages making it easy for people to work together from different ethnicities. It has amazing features to help you save time like it skips all interactions with the application and saves the files with your predefined file name at your preferred location.
Main Features
PDF creation from any printable document or file format
Customizable PDF settings for quality, compression, and security
Merge multiple documents into a single PDF
Password protect and encrypt PDFs
Add watermarks, headers, and footers to PDF pages
Convert images or scanned documents into searchable PDFs using OCR
Automate PDF creation with the use of profiles and scripting
Digital signatures for authenticating and validating documents
Free Version: Available
Premium Price
It is available for free.
Trustpilot Rating: 4.5
Supported Devices: Windows
Pros
Merge multiple files
Enhanced security
Wide range of Output formats
Con
The free version has ads
Compromised quality in the conversion
Ways to free download
Download it from PDFForge.
Software: PDFCreator
Reviewer: Olivia
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
PDFCreator is a reliable PDF creator that offers a range of customizable options. It's a great tool for converting various file formats to PDF effortlessly.
Review 2:
Software: PDFCreator
Reviewer: Ethan
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
PDFCreator gets the job done, but it lacks some advanced features compared to other PDF creators. It's a decent option for basic PDF conversions.
6. SmallPDF - Free for Online PDF Makers
If you are looking for an easy, lightweight, and free application, SmallPDF is the best choice. It lets you generate high-quality PDFs with ease and efficiency. It has impressive features that make your workflow more smooth, like merging multiple documents into a single, cohesive PDF, eliminating the need for manual organization.
Main Features
Convert different file formats (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) to PDF
Merge multiple PDFs into a single document
Split large PDF files into smaller, more manageable files
Compress PDFs to reduce file size while maintaining quality
Edit PDFs by adding text, images, or shapes
Remove and rearrange pages within a PDF document
Secure PDFs with password protection and encryption
Convert scanned documents or images into searchable PDFs using OCR
Free Version
It offers a free trial giving you access to 21 different tools.
Premium Price
Its Pro version costs $9/month.
Trustpilot Rating: 2.7
Supported Devices:Windows, macOS, Linux-based devices, iOS, and Android
Pros
Wide range of PDF Tools
Cloud-based application
Cross-platform compatibility
Safe and secure
Cons
Dependent on Internet
File Size limitations in the free version
Ways to free download
Download it from the SmallPDF website.
App Store link
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smallpdf-pdf-scanner-editor/id1485259500
Google Play link
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smallpdf.app.android&hl=en&gl=US
Reviews
Reviewer: Lily
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Perfect for quick conversions, SmallPDF is a convenient online PDF creator that's easy to use and produces high-quality PDFs.
Reviewer: Daniel
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
SmallPDF is a lifesaver when it comes to PDF creation. Its simplicity, fast processing, and integration with cloud storage make it my favorite.
7. PDF Expert - Full-featured Editor for Apple
PDF Expert is an amazing PDF creation software available for macOS and iOS that empowers professionals to produce exceptional PDF documents with unrivaled precision and efficiency. It can convert different formats to PDF like Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. It allows you to effortlessly modify text, images, and layouts to achieve pixel-perfect precision. This application seamlessly integrates with cloud storage services for easy access and synchronization across devices. It offers security by using digital signatures for authentication and maintaining the integrity of your files.
Main Features
Advanced editing tools for precise modifications to PDF documents
Annotate and mark up PDFs with highlighting, underlining, and other tools
Fill out interactive forms and sign documents electronically
Merge multiple PDFs into a single document
Split PDFs into separate pages or extract specific pages as needed
Secure PDFs with password protection
Seamless integration with cloud storage services
Free Version: Available
Premium Price
You can either buy it for $6.67/month or $139.99 for a lifetime.
Trustpilot Rating: 4.5
Supported Devices:macOS and iOS.
Pros
Annotation and Markup tools
Seamless document synchronization
Cloud storage integration
Advance PDF form filling
Cons
Paid application
Not available for Android users
Ways to free download
Download it from PDFExpert.
App Store link
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pdf-expert-editor-reader/id743974925
Reviews
Reviewer: Sophia
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
PDF Expert is an outstanding PDF creator and Its annotation and editing features are top-notch.
Reviewer: Ava
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
PDF Expert is my go-to PDF creation and editing tool. From annotating and editing to securely signing documents, PDF Expert delivers top-notch performance and exceeds my expectations.
8. PDFelement - Easy for Creating PDFs
PDFelement allows you to convert a wide range of file formats, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, into dazzling PDFs that captivate your audience. It has a powerful editor where you can edit text, images, and pages effortlessly and achieve pixel-perfect precision. With collaboration, you can keep track of real-time comments and markups.
Main Features
OCR technology for converting scanned documents and images into text
Annotate and mark up PDFs with comments, highlighting, and drawing tools
Fill out interactive forms and create custom forms
Combine multiple files into a single PDF document
Split PDFs into separate pages or extract specific pages as needed
Secure PDFs with passwords, permissions, and digital signatures
Batch processes multiple files for efficient PDF creation
Free Version: Available
Premium Price
You can either buy the annual plan for $79.99 or a lifetime plan for $129.99
Trustpilot Rating: 4.0
Supported Devices: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Pros
Batch Processing
Form creation and filling
Annotation and markup
Cons
Difficult to use for beginners
Limited features in the free version
Ways to free download
You can download it from the WonderShare website.
App Store link
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pdfelement-pdf-editor-scanner/id1516765045
Google Play link
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wondershare.pdfelement&hl=en&gl=US
Reviews:
Reviewer: Emily
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
PDFelement is my go-to PDF creator. It offers a comprehensive set of features, including editing, conversion, and form filling.
Reviewer: Michael
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
PDFelement is a versatile and user-friendly PDF creator. With its customizable options and robust functionalities, I can easily create professional-looking PDFs.
9. PDF Candy - Fastest for Online PDF Makers
PDF Candy is an all-in-one online platform that empowers you to create professional-grade PDF documents effortlessly. With its extensive range of features and intuitive interface, PDF Candy is the ultimate tool for generating high-quality PDFs tailored to your specific needs. It comes with a user-friendly interface that beginners feel comfortable using for the first time. In addition, you can access it anywhere on any device just by connecting to the internet.
Main Features
Create PDFs from different file formats, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and images.
Convert web pages and URLs into PDF documents
Merge multiple PDFs into a single file
Split PDFs into separate pages or extract specific pages
Compress PDFs to reduce file size without compromising quality
Add watermarks, page numbers, and other elements to PDFs
Protect PDFs with passwords and set permissions
Rotate and rearrange pages within a PDF documents
Free Version: Available
Premium Price
The basic version of PDF Candy costs $6.99/month.
Trustpilot Rating: 4.3
Supported Devices: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, and Android
Pros
Batch Processing
Multiple File Format Support
Cloud-based application
Variety of tools
Cons
It requires internet
File size limitation in the free version
Google Play link
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pdf.pdfcandy&hl=en&gl=US
Reviews
Reviewer: Jessica
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Candy PDF is a simple and straightforward PDF creator. It's suitable for basic PDF conversions but lacks some advanced features compared to other tools.
Reviewer: David
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Candy PDF is an easy-to-use PDF creator that gets the job done efficiently. It's a reliable tool for converting documents to PDF format.
10. PDF24 Creator - Professional for Creating PDFs
PDF24 is another powerful software for creating PDFs on your PC. It lets you convert a wide range of file formats, including images and documents, into high-quality PDFs with just a few clicks. Moreover, you can add annotations, merge or split pages, and extract specific content. Its comprehensive features, user-friendly interface, and exceptional performance make it a great choice.
Main Features
Free software for creating PDF documents
Convert various file formats, including images and documents, to PDF
Comprehensive editing options, such as adding annotations, merging, or splitting
Batch processing capabilities for creating multiple PDFs simultaneously
Supports Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for recognizing text
Encryption and security features and digital signatures
Integrated virtual printer for creating PDFs from any printable document
Free Version: Available
Premium Price:
It is free to use.
Trustpilot Rating: 3.3
Supported Devices: Windows only
Pros
Supports OCR
Versatile Editing options
Encryption for security
Supports batch processing
Cons
The free version Contains Ads
Only available for Windows
Ways to free download
Download it from the Official website of PDF24 Creator.
Reviews
Reviewer: Sarah
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
PDF24 Creator is a reliable PDF creator with a range of useful features. It offers customizable options and delivers high-quality output.
Reviewer: Jason
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
PDF24 Creator is a decent PDF creator that provides the essential features for converting files to PDF format. While it may lack some advanced functionalities, it's suitable for basic PDF conversions.
Part 2: How to Choose the Best PDF Creator?
How to Choose the Best PDF Creator?
Keeping in view the details of different PDF Creators, it is evident that WPS Office is the best choice because it is free and it is a hybrid software available online and offline Moreover, it ensures that the converted PDFs faithfully retain the formatting, layout, and quality of the original documents.
This attention to detail guarantees that text, images, tables, and other elements are accurately represented in the PDFs. Its standout customization excels in adjusting settings such as page size, orientation, margins, compression levels, and security options.
Product |
Compatibility |
PDF OCR |
Annotate PDF |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WPS Office |
Windows, Mac, Smartphone |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Adobe Acrobat |
Windows, Mac, Smartphone |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Foxit |
Windows, Mac, Smartphone |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
PDFfiler |
Windows, Mac, Smartphone |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
PDFCreator |
Windows |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
SmallPDF |
Windows, Mac, Smartphone |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
PDF Expert |
Mac and iOS |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
PDFelement |
Windows, Mac, Smartphone |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Candy PDF |
Windows, Mac, Smartphone |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
PDF24 Creator |
Windows |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
How to Choose the Best PDF Creator for Windows?
Being a Windows user, you may be thinking of the best PDF Creator for Windows. Below are the most prominent aspects of PDF creator if you can find in any tool, they are good to use with Windows.
Compatibility with Windows OS
Before installing or buying a PDF creator, make sure to confirm that it is fully compatible with the version of Windows you are using, such as Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7. Moreover, it is wise to check the system requirements for smooth installation and optimal performance.
Supported File Formats
For the best PDF Creator for Windows, it must support a variety of file formats it should be capable of converting a range of file types, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, image files (JPEG, PNG), HTML, and more. This ensures flexibility and the ability to convert various document formats into PDFs.
Customizations and Settings
While looking for a suitable PDF Creator for Windows, must check for the customization option that it is offering. It should allow you to adjust settings such as page size, orientation, image compression, font embedding, metadata, and security options like password protection, and permissions.
FAQs
Q1: What is the Difference Between a PDF Creator and a PDF Editor?
A PDF creator is a software or tool that allows you to generate PDF files from various sources such as documents, images, or web pages. While A PDF editor is a software or tool that enables you to modify, manipulate, and enhance existing PDF files. Unlike a PDF creator, a PDF editor allows you to change the content, structure, and appearance of a PDF document.
Q2: How do you create a fillable PDF?
You can create a fillable PDF using software or online tools like Adobe Acrobat by clicking on Tools and then clicking create form. Then choose the file that you want to convert into a fillable PDF and the software will automatically detect form fields in your document.
Q3: How to create a PDF from a Word document?
You can create a PDF from a Word document using different methods like Save As or Export as PDF in Microsoft Word, Print to PDF method, or online conversion tools like WPS PDF tool. Using a high-quality tool will save your formatting and minimize the effort.
Summary
Finding the best tool to create a PDF document is a challenge, especially when you have dozens of tools available. Almost all of these tools have identical features, some of which are available for multiple operating systems, while others are restricted to only specific ones. It is recommended to use free software, which is available both online and offline and has exciting features.
WPS Office is the best software for this purpose because It is an all-in-one Office Software with Writer, Spreadsheets, Presentations, and a PDF Toolkit. WPS PDF tools allow you to convert PDF files to and from Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and image files online for free. The major benefits of using the WPS PDF tool for PDF creation are the high-quality output that maintains original formatting and layouts, and its unmatched customization options including adjusting settings such as page size, orientation, margins, compression levels, and security options. . Try WPS Office for PDF creation, and its features will amaze you.
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