Want to send a document to your colleague that uses a different operating system? Well, many document formats are available, but the one format everyone relies on is PDF. PDF is the most ubiquitous document format available till date. May it be Linux or a mobile OS like Android, the flexibility of PDF makes it the first choice for any enterprise. Considering the accessibility, the document editing needs also arise with it. Many PDF editing tools are available online and offline, both paid and free. To help you choose the perfect one, we have shortlisted some of the best PDF editors available on various platforms.
1. PDF Buddy
PDF Buddy is an online PDF editor that will save you the hassle of installing a new software on your computer. You can upload the document on the website and start editing the document right away. Sign up is required, however.
You can fill out forms, add a signature, highlight important text and even white out text when needed. PDF editing is limited on a Free account. You can only edit 3 PDFs for free in a month. For unlimited use, you need to switch to their premium plans. This online PDF editor is easy to use and can be accessed anywhere considering you have an internet connection.
2. AbleWord
For those who are looking for a word processor and a PDF editor in one single software, AbleWord is the best software to try. Document editing is not just limited to PDF, as most of the editing we do is in a DOC file. AbleWord’s user interface is much similar to Microsoft Office, so you won’t have to waste time on looking into guides on completing a task. You can save the document as DOC file, PDF, RTF or HTML. The software is totally free to use.
3. Icecream PDF Split & Merge
Apart from editing and formatting text in PDF, there are many other editing needs that arise during work. Sometimes, you might need to completely remove a page from a PDF file or even merge a new page into it. Not all software provide such functionality inbuilt. In such case, you can use Icecream App’s PDF Slipt&Merge software. The software has two modes – Split and Merge. ‘Split’ will allow you to remove a page from a PDF and Merge will let you join a new page. Taking care of security, you can add a password to protect the file and even define ‘Author name’ for the file. The Split and Merge modes are limited to a certain number of copies in the Free version. You need to Upgrade after that.
4. PDF Eraser
To complement the above-mentioned software here is another standalone app that is developed for a specific task and that is erasing. Sometimes while editing PDFs, you require to remove images, logos, and graphic content. PDF Eraser will help you erase such content with the tools that it provides. You can cut images, split pages and create a white area for editing and adding more text. The Free version of the software leaves a watermark on the PDF file that it was edited using PDF eraser. To remove this watermark, you need to upgrade to the PRO version of the software.
5. PDF Candy
Looking for a one-stop online place for PDF editing? PDF Candy is the answer to that. The online application has all the tools that are helpful for your PDF editing needs. From converting to different formats to simple split and merge functions, PDF candy is undoubtedly the best spot on the internet for PDF editing. Looking to secure your PDF or compress is to a smaller size? PDF candy has got it all. Apart from that, it is totally free.
6. Inkscape
If you are into open source, then Inkscape shouldn’t be new to you. Yes, it is a vector graphics editing software, but it can be helpful in PDF editing too. Using Inkscape, you can edit many visual aspects of your PDF. You can easily import the PDF and start editing images, logos or any other graphic content. It can work as a great companion software when editing PDFs.
7. PDFedit
PDFEdit is an open source and Free PDF editing software that is easy to use with all the required tools. Import the PDF and software will quickly present you a Microsoft Word-like editing environment. You can edit text, add images and even annotate text where needed. It also works as a PDF viewer to quickly view edited files.
8. Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
Coming onto some premium products, Adobe, the makers of the PDF format have their own PDF editing software. A professional that is looking for a long-term relationship with a company that can provide up to date tools for document editing should blindly buy and use this software. This adobe suite provides an all-in-one solution for your PDF editing needs. It is one of the few software that is available on both Windows and Mac OSX.
Want to merge a web page, HTML file or a spreadsheet into PDF? The software can do it all. It can be best used when working in a team where your team members can add their feedback to the document using comments. It is one of the best professional PDF editing software you should use. Visit their website for further details
9. iSkysoft PDF Editor
iSkysoft PDF Editor is another professional PDF editing software that gives a user interface as if you are using a Word Processor. The software is available for both Windows and Mac. The Mac version provides simple conversions from Word to PDF and from PDF to Word. It has all the basic editing tools on that you would expect. You can edit the layout of the document by adding, removing or flipping pages. For a standard user, there are options for filling out PDF forms without any hassle of printing or scanning.
The OCR technology used in the software works really well, giving the PDF a far better accuracy from other software. It supports more than 20 languages which makes it a must buy.
10. Nitro Pro 10
Nitro Pro 10 is a complete package to create, edit and convert PDF files. It has the ability to collaborate with the coworkers and do some smart editing. Talking about editing, you can edit both page and content sections of the PDF file. You can further add other graphic content such as images and graphs. Also, you get Nitro Cloud which makes the collaboration work. You can sign and password-protect files from the cloud. With Nitro Pro 10 you get a complete enterprise environment with an MS Office-like UI.
11. PDF Architect
PDF Architect is a software from a Germany-based company that gives you an affordable professional PDF editing software. Most of the professional software come with a complete suite of tools that are priced as a whole. But, there are some tools that you might never use during editing. Tools that you pay for but don’t use. Well, PDF Architect has a solution for that. It provides each tool in form of a module. You just have pay for the module that you would like to use. It is smart and affordable for sure. It provides all the tools that you will need to edit a PDF file.
12. Nuance Power PDF 2.0
Nuance’s PDF Editor is yet another professional software that you will love to use. It has an outstanding compatibility of documents and services. From Google drive to Onedrive, name the cloud storage service, it is compatible with it. It has some unique features that have to be mentioned, they include ‘Interactive PDFs’, voice-controlled note taking ability, advanced search functionality for specific content such phone numbers and side-by-side document comparison.
It provides real-time collaboration with coworkers and conversion of PDFs in various formats. For security, you can password-protect files and the privacy features provided are highly appreciable.
Honorable Mention: PDF Studio 12 by Qoppa Software
Start PDF Editing with these Best PDF Editors
Here, we have mentioned some of the best PDF editing software available on their respective platforms. We have highlighted both free and paid software and those that you can use online and as a desktop application. Let us know your thoughts on your favorite PDF Editor.