Top 10 Best Free PDF Editors With Reviews And Download Guide
All looking for a best free PDF editor. A PDF editor is used to view and edit a PDF document. There are numerous PDF editors available on the internet. Everyone has their features and benefits. It is difficult for novice users to select the best among these PDF editors.
This article will guide you on the top ten best free PDF editors' download procedures and reviews.
Part 1: 5 Best Free PDF Editors for Windows
Windows users need a free PDF editor to view, edit, and create different documents. The best PDF editor should load the document faster. It should have all the advanced editing features and include extra functionalities, e.g., converting, compressing, and protecting the documents. Here is a list of the top five best PDF editors for Windows.
1. WPS Office - Free Highly Recommended
WPS Office is an industry leading with free PDF editing software nowadays. It is a complete office suite containing a Writer, Presentation, Spreadsheet, and PDF editing tool. WPS PDF has many features that make it stand out as the best PDF editor of all the PDF solutions available. The interface of the PDF editor is similar to Microsoft Word, making it easy to use for everyone. You can add text, header, footer, and images to the document. You can also fill and sign your document using the WPS PDF editor. All the text formatting options of Microsoft Word are available in the WPS PDF editor, e.g., bold, italicize, underline, align text, and many more.
Supported Devices
Microsoft Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS
Price
Freely available
Pros
Supports file formats of Adobe Acrobat Reader
Includes PDF converter to convert into different formats easily
Includes features of PDF Combine and PDF Split
User-friendly interface
Protect your document using a password
Batch PDF printing option
It consists of a screen recorder, also
Scan the QR code to get your document on your mobile phone
Snip and Pin function
Free Download Steps
Step 1: Visit the Official Website of WPS PDF.
Step 2: Click on the Free Download button and run the installer to install WPS Office.
Review by Keilah Renée
This is one of the best design apps I have ever used. Simple, easy, and free. You can quickly fill in checkmark boxes, sign a signature, and line it up. I finished filling out my document in 3 mins and could save and print it as a PDF which could be downloaded to my PC, Windows system, and phone with no ads. I suggest this app to everyone.
2. Foxit PDF Editor - Widely Used
Product Description
Foxit PDF Editor is a widely used PDF editing software. It is available for individual as well as team use. You can create and edit PDF documents free and easily collaborate with your colleagues. It is also available for mobile devices to easily access your documents from anywhere.
Supported Devices
Available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices.
Price
Available as a one-month free trial.
Pros
Easily modify the content of your PDF
Export PDF content into Word, Excel, PowePoint, and other formats
Scan, OCR, and edit scanned documents
Foxit eSign to sign your PDF documents
Create a new PDF with PDF editor Cloud
Include AI to work more productively - integration with ChatGPT to rewrite a text or create a document summary.
Cons
Not a user-friendly interface
It costs too much to edit a simple document
Free Download Steps
Step 1: Visit the official website of Foxit and click the Download Free Trial button.
Step 2: Select your desired software package from the next page and click the Free Trial Download button.
Step 3: Enter the required information in the pop-up window.
Step 4: Your download will start automatically after entering details and clicking on Free trial.
3. PdfFiller - Quick-to-Use
Product Description
PdfFiller is the best free pdf editor online. It provides an easy-to-use interface for users to edit their documents. You can easily create a form and share them with others to fill it. You can also add your company logo to the PDF document.
Supported Devices
It is accessible on the web from any internet-connected device.
Price
It is free to use for a limited-time trial period.
Pros
No need for installation
Easily accessible on any device from anywhere
Supports popular file formats including PDF, Word, Excel, etc.
You can share the edited documents online easily
Cons
Only available online and requires an internet connection to work
Free usage is only for a limited trial period. You have to pay after the trial period ends.
Free Download Steps
You can access it using any web browser. There is no need for installation.
4. Adobe Acrobat DC - Original and Oldest
Product Description
Adobe Acrobat is a famous and oldest PDF software millions use to edit and view PDF documents. It is a professional and feature-rich PDF editor. You can create, edit, convert, protect, and compress your PDF files using Adobe Acrobat DC.
Supported Devices
Are available for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.
The price
PDF edit feature is not free to use. You must purchase a paid license to use this feature.
Pros
View, store, edit, and share PDF
Fill the forms and sign them digitally to share with others using a link
Stores your documents in Cloud for easy access
Add text boxes, sticky notes, comments, and highlights to the document
Cons
Heavy software - take some time to load your document
The PDF edit feature is not free
Free Download Steps
Visit the official website of Adobe Acrobat and simply click on the Download button.
5. Nitro PDF - Effective PDF Editor
Product Description
Nitro PDF is a lightweight and practical free PDF editor. It is available for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS users. It includes features of PDF creation, editing, converting, and compressing the PDF file. You can sign your document digitally and secure it with a password.
Supported Devices
It is compatible with all Windows and Mac devices.
Price
Free to use for one month.
Pros
Free trial includes all features
Easily edit and share PDF with anyone
Convert PDF to Word, Excel, and other formats
Supports creating documents from 300 different file formats
Cons
Free to use for one month only - needs a paid subscription thereafter.
The app responds slowly to large-size documents.
Free Download Steps
Visit the official website of Nitro PDF and click on the Get Started Free button.
Click the Try Nitro Pro Free button.
Enter the required information in the pop-up window and proceed to download the installer. Run the installer to download and install Nitro PDF.
Part 2: 5 Best Free PDF Editors for Mac
If you are a Mac user, we have also prepared a list of Mac's five best free PDF editors.
1. WPS Office - Feature-rich PDF Editor
Product Description
WPS Office - the industry-leading and feature-rich software is also available for Mac. It is a complete office suite with Writer, Spreadsheet, Presentation, and PDF software. You can use the free PDF editor and enjoy world-class Writer - the best alternative to Microsoft Word. WPS PDF editor is the best alternative to Adobe Acrobat. It has all the features and functions of PDF editing and viewing.
Supported Devices
It is available for all Apple devices, including PC, Mac Book, iMac, iPad, and iPhones.
Price
WPS Office for Mac is free to use.
Pros
Free all-in-one office suite - includes a Writer, Presentation, Spreadsheet, and PDF editor
Easy file management across devices using WPS Cloud
Compatible with all MacOS versions
Supports widgets - easily edit recent documents
Support Sidecar - use your iPad as a secondary display for your Mac with Sidecar
Split Screen view - Manage your work area quickly on Mac without moving or adjusting windows manually.
Free Download Steps
Step 1: Visit the official website of WPS Office for Mac.
Step 2: Click the Free Download button and run the installer file to download and install the full WPS Office suite.
2. Apple Preview - Best free for Mac Users
Product Description
The Apple Preview is a built-in software in MacOS. It is a photo-viewing software; however, you can use Apple Preview to view and edit PDF files free. You can add text and images to the PDF using Apple Preview. You can also insert notes and comments and make free-hand drawings. It also includes inserting digital signs using the trackpad, camera, or iPhone.
Supported Devices
It is available as a default app for Mac devices.
Price
It is a default software included in all Mac devices.
Pros
No need to download - pre-installed on all Apple devices
Support PDF form filling
PDFs can be protected with password and encryption
Includes all PDF markup tools
Cons
Only available for Mac users
Limited sharing due to compatibility issues
Free Download Steps
There is no need to download Apple Preview as it is pre-installed on all Mac devices.
3. PDF Expert - A Leading Software in PDF processing
Product Description
PDF Expert is a premium PDF editing software. You can view, create, and edit PDF files free on Mac using PDF Expert. It has the options of PDF conversion, compressing, combining, and splitting. You can also annotate PDFs using PDF Expert.
Supported Devices
Mac. iOS
Price
It is not free to use. It costs $79.99 for paid subscription.
Pros
Simple text and image editing functions
Feature of PDF protection and encryption
Fast speed page organization
Cons
Not free to use
Limited features as compared with other leading PDF editors
Free Download Steps
Visit the official website of PDF expert and hit the Free Download button.
4. PDFpenPro - A Professional PDF Editor
Product Description
PDFpenPro is now called Nitro PDF. It is available for Mac and iOS users. You can easily edit, add signatures and images, annotate, and protect your PDFs using PDFpenPro. If you are a new Mac user, it is a convenient software.
Supported Devices
Mac, iOS
Price
Free for a limited trial period. It costs $124.95 after the trial period ends.
Pros
Includes all essential editing functions
Interface is similar to Apple Preview, so it is easy to use.
Correct mistakes in the original PDF with editable text blocks
Add page numbers, bookmarks, headers and footers, line numbers, and watermarks
Cons
No support for all languages
A Limited number of editing features
Free Download Steps
Step 1: Visit the official website of PDFpen and click on Try for Free.
Step 2: You will be redirected to the Nitro website. Click on the Try Free or Buy Now button to download PDFpenPro.
5. Cisdem - Easy to Use
Product Description
Cisdem PDF editor comes with all the editing options you need. You can drag and drop your PDF to the Cisdem editor for easy editing and customization. It provides an interface like a word processor for convenient editing functions.
Supported Devices
Mac, iOS
Price
Free for a limited trial period.
Pros
All-in-one PDF program to edit, annotate, convert, unlock, and protect PDF files
Intuitive and simple Interface
Support multi-languages
Cons
Not a free software
Free Download Steps
Visit the official website of Cisdem and click on Free download.
Part 3: Why PDF Editor Software Better Than Edit PDF Online
You can also edit PDFs using different online web apps. However, it is better to use PDF Editor software to edit your PDFs due to following reasons;
Security
You upload your document to a third-party server when you edit a PDF online. Your sensitive documents are vulnerable to data breaches. With a free PDF editor, you can edit your PDFs locally on your computer, keeping your data more secure.
Features
PDF editors offer a wide range of features that may not be available when editing PDFs online.
Quality
When you edit a PDF online, the quality of your document may be compromised. With a free PDF editor, you can edit your PDFs without compromising quality, ensuring your documents look as professional as possible.
Convenience
With a PDF editor, you can edit your documents offline without an internet connection.
Part 4: How to Edit PDF Files with WPS Office?
WPS Office provides all the advanced functions to edit your PDFs. You can easily edit and customize your PDFs using WPS Office PDF. To edit your PDF;
Step 1: Open your document with WPS Office.
Step 2: Click the Edit tab in the toolbar menu.
Step 3: Make the necessary editing. You can add or remove images, text, page numbers, headers, and footers.
Step 4: Save the changes, and here you go - your document has been successfully edited.
FAQs
Q1: Is There a PDF Editor in Microsoft Office?
Microsoft Office does not have PDF software included in the suite. However, you can save your files in PDF format using Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. To edit these PDF files free, open the file with the software that you used to create it and then make the necessary changes ad again save the document in the PDF format.
Q2: Does Google Have a Free PDF Editor?
Google Workspace does not have a dedicated PDF editor. However, you can use Google Docs to edit your PDF file. Upload your file to Google Docs and make necessary editing and save the file as PDF again.
Summary
This article elaborated in detail on different free and best PDF editors for Windows and Mac. However, WPS Office is the best of all. It is a robust and industry-leading office suit having a word processor, a presentation maker, and Spreadsheet software included with a PDF editor.
You can easily edit, convert, create, compress, annotate, and split your PDFs using WPS Office PDF. It is free to use. It is compatible with all file formats of Microsoft Office and Adobe. You can use WPS Office on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS devices.
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