Whether you're constantly working with PDF files or need to tweak one now and then, having a PDF editor at your disposal is incredibly useful. While premium options like Adobe Acrobat Pro might boast impressive features, there are also some great free PDF editors out there that can do the job without additional cost. Each of these PDF editors brings something to the table, from basic editing to more advanced tools, so you just need to try them out and find the one(s) that works best for you. Here are our favorites.
PDFgear
Let's start our list with PDFgear, undoubtedly one of the best free PDF editors available. It features many useful PDF tools, making it a great free alternative to Adobe Acrobat Pro. Apart from the basic functions like viewing, editing, and converting PDFs, it also allows you to annotate documents by adding text, sticky notes, highlights, and comments. You can insert images and your watermarks or set passwords to encrypt your files. You don't need to sign up to access its free online tools on your browser. You can also download the program for Windows 10 and Windows 11, as well as macOS 10.14 to macOS 13. Unlike other free PDF editors, PDFgear doesn't limit file size or number.
Check out PDFgear.
PDFCandy
PDFCandy is another excellent free PDF editor that is simple to use and is perfect for various edits in your web browser. Featuring an extensive suite of 47 online tools, it can help you with many tasks, from editing, merging, converting, and compressing PDFs to rearranging, resizing, and deleting pages within a document. All these tools are neatly arranged on its website, making them easily accessible. And you don't need to create an account to use them. All you need to do is select the task you need, upload your file, and let the tool do the rest. While very useful, it's worth mentioning that the free plan has an hourly limit on the number of tasks you can do.
Check out PDFCandy.
Sejda
Our next pick is Sejda, which also provides an impressive range of PDF editing options, from text and image manipulation to form creation and digital signatures. Among other things, it lets you fill out PDF forms, edit existing PDF text, create links, and edit hyperlinks in PDF. If you need help with a task, you can find helpful How-To guides on the website. You can use it in your web browser or download the desktop version. It is compatible with Windows, MacOS, and Linux. Sejda has robust security features, so all uploaded files are automatically deleted after two hours. With the free plan, you can complete up to three tasks each day, working with documents of up to 50MB and 200 pages.
Check out Sejda.
Smallpdf
Smallpdf is a great free PDF editor if you need to make some simple changes quickly, like adding text, images, shapes, highlights, and annotations to your PDFs. It offers 21 online tools to edit, convert, and compress PDFs, but the text editing feature is reserved for Pro users. Also, you can upload PDFs from various sources. Its user-friendly interface guides you through the process, whether editing PDFs, compressing, or converting files to different formats. After making changes to your PDF, you can save your file on your device or to a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox. You don't need to sign up to use Smallpdf, but like most free PDF editors, it limits the number of files you can edit per day.
Check out Smallpdf.
TinyWow
Next on our list is TinyWow, which offers many PDF tools that are entirely free, well-organized, and easy to use without signing up. This is an ad-supported platform, but the ads do not hinder the user experience significantly. You can make various edits to your PDFs, including adding or editing text, inserting images, highlighting text, and adding signatures. Also, you can merge and compress PDFs or convert files to and from PDF format. TinyWow lets you add new pages or delete and rotate pages in your PDF file. When you're done editing, it automatically deletes your files after an hour, so you don't need to worry about your security or privacy.
Check out TinyWow.
Canva
Last but not least, we have Canva. While primarily known for its excellent graphic design capabilities, Canva also offers powerful tools for editing and customizing PDFs. Its online PDF editor is free, and you don't need to sign up to use it in your browser. You can also use it through the Canva desktop app, which works on Windows and Macs. You can easily change, add, or delete text and images, draw lines and shapes, add drawings, illustrations, and comments, or organize pages within your PDFs. You can save your file in various formats and easily share it with others. The free plan lets you import PDF files with up to 300 pages and up to 100 MB.
Check out Canva.
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