Best Pdf Editor Free Online

  1. Edit Pdfs Online For Free
  2. Pdf Editor Free Download For Windows 10
  3. Best Free Pdf Desktop Editor
  4. Best Pdf Editor Free Online Software

PDFs are the lifeblood of many companies. For businesses that send and receive a large amount of legal documents or other forms, PDFs are much more secure and professional looking than other document types.

What are the top 10 best free PDF editors in 2018

  1. PDFelement
  2. FormSwift
  3. Smallpdf
  4. Inkscape
  5. JotForm PDF Editor
  6. PDF Pro
  7. PDFescape
  8. Sejda
  9. PDF-XChange Editor
  10. ApowerPDF
  1. Edit content. Insert text anywhere in your PDF and select your desired font style from a long list of choices. You can also choose the font attribute (i.e., bold, italic, underline, etc.), as well as the font size. Add or create images for visual appeal, then use the Ruler and Grid tools to align and adjust objects in your PDF file.
  2. Jul 24, 2019  Why spend a chunk of change on a desktop editor when free online PDF editors abound? The simple answer is because you get what you pay for. Mobile support: While deep PDF editing is best.

Step 1: Upload your files. They stay safe and private. Once edited, they are deleted. Rather not upload your files and work with them on your computer? Try Sejda Desktop. Same features as the online service, and the files are processed locally. Click Upload PDF files and select files from your local computer. Dragging and dropping files to the page also works. Edit PDF files for free with our online PDF editor! You can add text, images, and signatures, white-out and highlight content, and more. Jul 23, 2018  PDFescape is a free online PDF editor, reader, form filler, form designer and annotator. All of these tools work in a browser, so no software needs to be downloaded. All of these tools work in a browser, so no software needs to be downloaded. Apowersoft Online PDF Editor is a powerful PDF editor that's free to use, and runs in any modern web browser. Before you can use the online PDF editor, you’ll need to click ‘Launch online’.

Unlike otherdocument editor tools, PDFs can only be edited by the creator or those with a password, and information such as how recently the document was edited (and by whom) is hidden. However, sometimes you only need to create a PDF every once in a while, not every day, so you don’t want to invest in dedicated PDF software. That’s when free PDF editors come in handy.

FormSwift's Free PDF Editor is a very simple online PDF editor that you can start using without even making a user account. It's as simple as uploading your PDF file to the website and using the menus at the top of the page to quickly perform some basic PDF editing functions before downloading it.

PDFs are images of documents rather than editable text files, so to edit a PDF, one must use specific software. Most electronic signature software employ PDFs to create forms with specific editable fields for signatures, initials and other crucial information. With many of these PDF editors, you can create your own forms and include special fields for information, signatures or checkboxes.

Sometimes you just need to convert a file to or from PDF format or merge multiple PDFs into a single PDF. PDF editors can easily perform these functions without all the extraneous features of more robust design software. While PDFs are generally high-quality images and preferred by graphic designers, all that supplemental functionality is not always necessary. Free PDF editors are generally lightweight and can be operated within your browser — no downloads required.

Using a PDF editor, you can create legal documents, contracts, tax forms, brochures, presentations and more. While many advanced features are only included in licensed PDF software, free PDF editors contain a variety of useful tools for a casual or occasional user.

Though you (likely) won’t be able to create the next Vogue or New York Times using a free PDF editor, you might be able to design and develop an excellent zine or newsletter.

PDF EditorReviewsStar Rating
PDFelement2464.6
FormSwift54.6
Smallpdf74.5
Inkscape1564.3
JotForm PDF Editor24.0

PDF Pro

163.9
PDFescape73.5
SejdaN/AN/A
PDF-XChange EditorN/AN/A
ApowerPDFN/AN/A

The list we’ve outlined here includes any document creation solution with an available free offering. It should be noted that this does not include products that are only free on a temporary basis, such as limited trial versions for new users. They may only support one user or one project, but they’re truly free offerings. Scaling, however, will often require full investments.

These products alone have well over 400 validated user reviews on G2 Crowd as of June 16, 2018, and only represent a small portion of the 70-plus document creation software offerings listed on our platform. Whenever possible, the products are ranked by user satisfaction score.

Using reviews from real users, our list of free PDF editors is ordered by highest user satisfaction as of June 16, 2018 from an in-depth analyze of those reviews.

1. PDFelement


Image courtesy of Wondershare

PDFelement provides users with a wide variety of tools to create, edit, convert and sign PDFs. Users can create bookmarks to quickly locate points of interest, create fillable forms and export data into Excel, split or merge PDFs, convert PDFs to other file types, apply digital signatures and more.

Free option:

  • Free trial available for Mac and Windows
  • Free editor app for iOS; free reader and annotator app for Android

Paid option:

  • PDFelement Standard for Mac or Windows: $59.95
  • PDFelement Professional for Mac or Windows: $99.95

Features:

  • Create, edit and convert PDF files
  • Annotations and comments
  • Digital signatures
  • Watermarks, backgrounds, headers and footers
  • Templates

What users like:
“The user interface is really great, the tools it provides make it easy to work with any PDFs and it has really amazing OCR capabilities! I really love the drawing tools, it really helps me when reviewing documents and taking notes in class. Really simple to add quick pop-up style notes, simply double click!”
PDFelement review by William C.

What users dislike:
“The conversion to Word tool, whilst improved, still struggles to provide a Word document that mirrors the PDF. The text seems to be slightly misaligned on each row, which can render the whole conversion unusable.”
PDFelement review by Nick L.

Recommendations to others considering the product:
“It is a great option for a company that doesn't have a primary need for a full suite of PDF software but wants it to work when you need it. It has all of the features even a more advanced user would need in a format that is not intimidating to the average user.”
PDFelement review by Kevin T.

2. FormSwift


Image courtesy of FormSwift

Formswift is a free, cloud-based PDF editor that allows users to upload and edit a PDF within their browser. Users can add text, images, checkmarks and signatures within the editor before saving their PDF. Formswift also provides templates to easily create various business or legal documents.

Free option:

  • 7-day free trial
  • Free online PDF editor

Paid option:

  • Monthly membership: $39.95/month
  • Annual membership: $89/year
  • Single document: $59

Features:

  • Electronic signatures
  • Document creation
  • Edit text, images, checkboxes and signatures
  • Document templates
  • Document sharing via email

What users like:
“It is a quick upload process and very easy to make changes to documents.”
FormSwift review by a user in accounting

What users dislike:
“The PDF editor feature is not ideal, and I have yet to find a PDF editor outside of Adobe Illustrator that easily and smoothly edits PDF documents. For example, erasing text does not delete text in the editor; it simply leaves a white space where previous text was. It does have limited value, for example, with adding components to a document such as an electronic signature (which it does quite nicely).”
FormSwift review by a user in public policy

Recommendations for others using the product:
“FormSwift allows you to create test documents and browse the templates library for free, as well as provides additional resources that may be useful to businesses and professional, such as developing strategic plans. (FormSwift is a fee-based service — see the FAQ.) As with any software evaluation, if you can kick the tires, you should.”
FormSwift review by a user in public policy

3. Smallpdf

Image courtesy of Smallpdf

Smallpdf is a tool that allows users to convert files to and from PDF format, compress, split and merge PDFs, as well as edit PDFs. Users can utilize these features directly in a browser or download the browser extension or desktop version.

Free option:

  • Free to use basic features

Paid option:

  • Smallpdf Pro: $6/month or $48/year

Features:

  • Compress and convert PDFs
  • Split and merge PDFs
  • Edit, rotate and read PDFs
  • Convert PDFs to or from Word, Excel, Powerpoint or JPG
  • Electronic signatures

What users like:
“Smallpdf offers a big set of options to work with your PDF file, more than any other online app; with Smallpdf you can convert, compress, split and merge, edit your PDF files, convert from many formats like presentations, sheets and documents, and sign and unlock your files. All these options are very useful when you work in administration and manage a big amount of data, because you can save and edit your sheets in PDF format, and also sign and compress your files, making them more secure and light, making easier the exchange and the storge of the information.”
Smallpdf review by Bexy R.

What users dislike:
“They do not have an application for iOS or Android, which limits the use of the application to a desktop computer. The editing options are quite limited, you can not modify texts, figures or graphics, you can only apply simple changes to the documents.”
Smallpdf review by Xiomara Elena B.

Recommendations for others using the product:
“This is a great app to apply changes to your PDF files and to transform other files into PDF format. It works wonderfully in many aspects, but unfortunately is not available for Android or iOS and, nowadays, that is a big limitation.”
Smallpdf review by Rosa Yuraima R.

4. Inkscape


Image courtesy of Inkscape

Inkscape is a free and open-source design tool that includes drawing tools, vector graphics capabilities and text editing. Users can create a document and export it as a PDF, or import a PDF and edit it within the tool. Primarily used for image design, Inkscape is ideal for users who seek to add visual interest to their PDFs.

Free Option:

  • Free and open source
Totally free pdf editor downloads

Paid Option:

  • None

Features:

  • Object creation (shape tools, text tools, drawing tools)
  • Object manipulation (layers, transformations, z-order operations)
  • Text support (multi-line text, fonts, kerning and linespacing, text on path, text in shape)
  • Multiple file formats supported (PNG, PDF, DXF, EPS and more)
  • Tutorial library (both official and community-created)

What users like:
“It allows for import and export in a wide range of formats. In some cases it works well as PDF editor.”
Inkscape review by Francesco S.

What users dislike:
“Right now, there is no easy way to create multi-page documents, but I believe they are going to implement this feature in next releases. If you want to create a PDF with more than one page, you have to do it by yourself.”
Inkscape review by Roberto D.

Recommendations to others considering the product:
“Working with multi-page documents is hard (PDF) as artboards are not supported. External software for merging pages is needed. User Interface is quite cluttered and non customizable. Some bugs in the line height settings when inserting type.”
Inkscape reviewby Elio Q.

5. JotForm PDF Editor

Image courtesy of JotForm

JotForm PDF Editor is a free PDF editing tool that allows individuals to turn collected online form response data into polished, professional-looking PDF documents.

JotForm PDF Editor offers full customization as well as hundreds of templates to choose from. They also create content around PDF documents, such as this handy guide on how to edit a PDF.

Free option:

  • JotForm PDF Editor is completely free

Paid option:

  • None

Features:

  • Drag and drop
  • Automated process
  • 100+ templates
  • Full customization
  • Email, download, and print
  • Sync with integrations
  • Password protection
  • Fillable PDF forms

What users like:
“It really saves us time in presenting all the submissions in a finalised form. It was already possible to get the form submissions in PDF but the layout was quite limited. Now it's easy to shine!”
JotForm PDF editor review by Anji D.

6. PDF Pro Editor

Image courtesy of PDF Pro

PDF Pro is an online PDF editor that works within a user’s browser. Users can create, print or view a PDF file as well as edit, compress, extract, merge, sign or write on a PDF file. PDF Pro also offers several file conversion options for PDFs.

Free option:

  • Basic features are free for up to three files a month

Edit Pdfs Online For Free

Paid option:

  • $7.99/month or $47.88/year

Features:

  • Create, print, print to PDF and view PDFs
  • Edit, compress, merge, split and extract PDFs
  • Password protect PDFs
  • Electronic signatures
  • Convert PDFs to a variety of file types

What users like:
“This online application allows me to compress the size of my work documents to save them or send them by mail more easily. It is a tool with which I can create, edit and review any PDF file, I can add text, export, insert and modify tables and graphics and create forms necessary for the research work of my students.

“You also have the option to edit online for free, so I do not need to download them and occupy the space on my PC.”
PDF Pro review by Ana S.

What users dislike:
“Some of the functions are hidden and hard to find.”
PDF Pro review by Ariel C.

Recommendations for others using the product:
“With PDF Pro I was able to edit PDFs online, which is exactly the feature I was looking for. It's actually easier for me to use than Adobe PDF, believe it or not. I would recommend this product to users trying to find the same specific simplicity. I didn't even need to sign up for it to do what I needed it to do. I use PDFs for invoicing and charts, and this has worked very well. I don't have very many invoices, but when I do, and when I don't have any other software, this come in as a life saver.”
PDF Pro reviewby a user in information technology and services

7. PDFescape

Image courtesy of PDFescape

PDFescape is a free online PDF editor, reader, form filler, form designer and annotator. All of these tools work in a browser, so no software needs to be downloaded. Users also can purchase a desktop version with similar functionalities.

Free option:

  • Free online version
  • Free desktop PDF viewer and converter

Paid option:

  • PDF Premium: $2.99/month billed annually, $5.99/month billed monthly
  • PDF Ultimate: $5.99/month billed annually, $8.99/month billed monthly

Features:

  • Annotate and mark up PDF files
  • Fill and save PDF files
  • Create basic PDF forms
  • Print to PDF
  • Edit PDFs online and download them

What users like:
“I like the ability to create and edit PDF files online. You can insert words, shapes and images. It also has an option that allows freehand drawings, as well as highlight some aspects within the text, cross out, underline and rotate the document. The insertion of comments is also possible with this software.”
PDFescape review by Cruzulys C.

What users dislike:
“This is a very easy-to-use application and the only disadvantage is that it requires an internet connection for updates and editing documents. Documents protected with a password can not be edited with this editor.”
PDFescape review by Jose Manuel A.

Recommendations to others considering the product:
“If you need to edit and download a PDF QUICK then PDFescape is your go to. If you are looking to add measures of creativity and edit a document more, then there are other options that will help more.”
PDFescape reviewby a user

8. Sejda

Image courtesy of Sejda

Sejda is a PDF editor available as a G Suite add-on for Google Drive. Users can edit PDF documents by adding text or images, editing existing text, including annotation and drawing shapes. There is also an electronic signature feature.

Free option:

  • Free add-on to the G Suite

Paid option:

  • None

Features:

  • Split PDFs
  • Add text and images
  • Edit existing text
  • Whiteout, strikethrough and underlining tools
  • Annotations
  • Draw shapes

9. PDF-XChange Editor

Image courtesy of Tracker Software Products

PDF-XChange Editor is a free PDF editor with viewing, editing, annotating, OCR, and electronic signature features. Users can create PDF files from scanned documents, images, text files, markdown files and more.

Free option:

  • Free to download and use PDF-XChange Editor

Paid option:

  • PDF-XChange Editor: $43.50
  • PDF-XChange Editor Plus: $54.50

Features:

  • Edit, comment and annotate PDFs
  • Create and remove weblinks
  • Spell check documents
  • Add text and images
  • Drawing tools
  • Email documents
  • Print, split and merge PDFs

Be the first to write a PDF-XChange review!

10. ApowerPDF


Image courtesy of ApowerPDF

ApowerPDF has an online version and a desktop version with slightly different functionalities. The online version contains basic editing features as well as the ability to add text and images. Users also can also create PDF documents from scratch. The desktop version has many more features but requires purchase to use.

Free option:

  • Free online editor
  • Free trial for the desktop version

Paid option:

  • Personal license: $12.95/month, $39.95/year, $79.95 lifetime license
  • Business license: $49.95/year, $159.90 lifetime license

Features:

  • Edit PDFs, add text and images
  • Convert PDFs
  • Create PDFs
  • Merge and split PDFs
  • Annotate PDFs

Next steps for selecting the best free PDF editor

PDFs can go a long ways toward making you or your business look more professional. Next time you’re updating your resume or writing a memo, consider converting it to a PDF for that extra level of polish.

With a free PDF editor, anyone can create professional-looking documents. Or maybe you just want to create the next big meme to rival “Is this a pigeon?” or “I don’t feel so good,” and have it look amazing (no judgment). Regardless of your intentions, free PDF editors provide a variety of tools to create and edit documents to elevate you and your business.

* Please note: Reviews may have been edited for spelling and grammar.

Sep 24,2019 • Filed to: PDF Editor

Best pdf editor free online, free

Here I would like to introduce you to top 5 free online PDF editor. With these free online PDF software, you are able to add and edit PDF online without installing any additional software. You can choose any one of the below free online PDF editor to edit PDF files on Mac or Windows.

Pdf Editor Free Download For Windows 10

Part 1. PDFelement Pro VS Top Free Online PDF Editor

If you want more PDF editing functions, you can apply PDFelement Pro to help. It will have no limitation on PDF file size, and provides you with diversified PDF editing tools, annotation tools and more. Below you can see the difference between this powerful PDF editor and online PDF editor:

Product
Edit texts, images and links in PDF files
Support any PDF file size
Convert PDF files to any file formats
Merge and split PDF files
PDFelement Pro
Free Online PDF Editor
--- --- ---

Part 2. Top 5 online, free PDF Edtiors that You Can Consider

1. PDFescape

PDFescape is a PDF editor online service that allows users to view and edit PDF files online. They can use it to fill out forms or make changes to any PDF file. Users can even create new PDF files right on the website. Simply click on the large orange button that reads 'Edit Your PDF Now'. From there you’ll be given the option of either creating a new PDF or uploading an existing one.

  • Pros: PDFescape is a great option for those who don't have Word, or any other type of document creation and editing software.
  • Cons: There are limitations when it comes to editing existing PDF files. And your PDF file should not be larger than 10 MB.
  • Platforms: Works on all browsers

2. PDFzen

PDFzen allows users to edit PDF online and upload not only PDF files, but also Word docs, Excel files, and more. They are then able to make comments on the files or fill out forms. To start, click on the button that says ‘Open File’. Users will then be given the option of entering a URL or uploading the file from their computer. From there, they can make changes to the file.

  • Pros: PDFzen lives up to its name by offering users a clean, modern, user-friendly interface for editing PDF files.
  • Cons: Users are unable to erase text. They can only add more.
  • Platforms: Works on all browsers

3. CutePDF Editor

CutePDF Editor offers users multiple features, allowing them to change various aspects of their PDF files. To use, just click on the blue button that says, ‘Start to Edit Your PDF File Now’. The editor will initialize. From there, you can upload the file from your computer. It takes a few seconds for the file to appear. There are several editing options that appear in the menu to the right of the opened file, such as delete pages, or resize.

  • Pros: CutePDF Editor gives users functionalities that are uncommon to most free online PDF editors.
  • Cons: Users are unable to add or delete text.
  • Platforms: Works on all browsers

4. PDFfiller

Best Free Pdf Desktop Editor

PDFfiller makes it possible for users to fill out PDF forms online. The company proudly displays the number of PDF files filled, signed, and sent using their platform in real time. To use, simply click on the red upload button. The file will open and an instructional box will appear detailing how to use the editor. Simply click on the field you want to fill and enter the required information. To sign the PDF file, click on the Signature button on the menu at the top of the screen.

  • Pros: PDFfiller is easy to use and allows users to put their real signature on PDF file using the mouse pad or a picture.
  • Cons: PDFfiller's features are limited to form filling, not offering some of the features found at other PDF editors.
  • Platforms: Works on all browsers.

5. FillAnyPDF

FillAnyPDF allows users to fill out, sign, and send PDF and Microsoft Word files online. Users can even invite others to sign forms online so that they don’t have to bother with downloading and printing. All the user has to do is upload the PDF file from their computer and make the desired changes. Then they can either download the file, or send it.

Best Pdf Editor Free Online Software

  • Pros: FillAnyPDF gives users many extra features that make this free service a convenience to use.
  • Cons: Many of the most attractive features require a paid membership to use.
  • Platforms: Any browser with the latest version of Microsoft Silverlight.