Working with PDF files is a part of our daily professional and personal lives, yet finding the perfect PDF editor can be a real challenge. You might need a range of features, from simple text edits to more complex tasks like adding form fields or digital signatures.
That's why we've compiled a list of the 9 best free PDF editors available for Mac, Windows, iPhone, and Android users in 2024. Whether you’re a student, professional, or anyone in between, these tools offer something for everyone.
- Quick Reference Table
- 1. PDF Reader Pro
- 2. Kdan PDF Reader
- 3. Adobe PDF Editor
- 4. Sejda PDF Editor
- 5. PDF-XChange Editor
- 6. DocFly
- 7. PDF2Go
- 8. PDFSimpli
- 9. Soda PDF
- 10. Foxit PhantomPDF Standard
- 11. PDFsam Basic
Quick Reference Table
Short on time and need a free PDF reader, fast? Check out our quick reference table and choose the right tool for your needs.
| PDF Editor Tool | Editor Features | Overall Rating | Free Version |
| 5.0 | 5.0 | Yes | |
| 5.0 | 5.0 | Yes | |
| 4.9 | 4.9 | Yes | |
Sejda PDF Editor |
4.9 | 4.9 | Yes |
PDF-XChange Editor |
4.7 | 4.8 | Yes |
| 4.7 | 4.7 | Yes | |
| 4.6 | 4.6 | Yes | |
| Soda PDF | 4.5 | 4.6 | Yes |
| Foxit PhantomPDF Standard | 4.5 | 4.5 | Yes |
PDFsam Basic |
4.3 | 4.4 | Yes |
1. PDF Reader Pro
Image source: PDF Reader Pro
PDF Reader Pro is a versatile PDF reader tool that provides a comprehensive set of features to enhance your PDF document handling experience. In this overview, we'll explore its capabilities, focusing on its PDF reading features and its performance during real-world testing.
PDF Reading Features
- Text Viewing: Effortlessly view text within PDF documents.
- Form Fields Interaction: Seamlessly access and interact with form fields within your PDFs.
- Document Security: Ensure the security of your PDFs through encryption and password protection.
How PDF Reader Pro Fared When I Tested It
In my hands-on experience with PDF Reader Pro, I was thoroughly impressed by its performance and capabilities. This section will delve into my testing process and provide insights into how this PDF reader tool met various expectations and requirements.
2. Kdan PDF Reader
Image source: Kdan PDF Reader
Kdan PDF Reader is not just another PDF tool; it's an ecosystem for managing your digital documents. With an eye-friendly reading experience that includes smooth page scrolling and multiple background options like day, night, and sepia, your eyes will thank you. The software allows you to declutter your workspace by storing all your documents in one place digitally. Additionally, its paperless form-filling and signing capabilities streamline document workflows like never before.
PDF Reading Features
- Eye-friendly Reading Experience: Enjoy smooth page scrolling and choose from multiple background options like day, night, and sepia, reducing eye strain during prolonged reading sessions.
- Workspace Organization: Declutter your workspace by digitally storing all your documents in one place, offering convenient access and organization.
- Efficient Form-filling and Signing: Streamline document workflows with paperless form-filling and signing capabilities.
How Kdan PDF Reader Fared When I Tested It
For me, the standout feature of Kdan PDF Reader is its eye-friendly reading experience. The various background settings, including day and night modes, have made reading lengthy documents significantly easier on my eyes. Additionally, the eSign feature has proven invaluable for my contract work.
Get the Kdan PDF Reader app free here!
3. Adobe PDF Editor
Image source: Adobe PDF Editor
Adobe PDF Editor, part of the Acrobat Reader family, specializes in PDF file editing. This online tool is particularly valuable for users dealing with substantial PDF files, offering efficient ways to reduce their size.
PDF Reader Features
- File Compression: Significantly reduce the size of your PDFs.
- Simple Editing: Perform basic text edits and image adjustments.
- Batch Processing: Easily compress multiple files at once.
How Adobe PDF Editor Fared When I Tested It
Adobe PDF Editor impressed me with its robust features, making it my preferred tool for complex PDF editing tasks. The layer editing and interactive form field creation features are simply top-notch. Adobe's reliability is something I've always appreciated.
Get Adobe Acrobat's free version here!
4. Sejda PDF Editor
Image source: Sejda PDF Editor
Sejda PDF Editor is an online service that offers a variety of advanced features for editing PDF documents. With its online version and desktop versions available for both Windows and Mac, Sejda proves to be as versatile as it is powerful.
PDF Reader Features
- Page Management: Easily reorder, delete, or append pages to your PDF documents.
- Text Annotations: Enhance communication by adding text and sticky notes.
- Password Protection: Secure your PDFs using passwords and encryption.
How Sejda PDF Editor Fared When I Tested It
Sejda boasts a sleek and user-friendly interface, making it an excellent choice for basic edits. The online version is particularly useful when I'm away from my primary computer. However, it's worth noting that the hourly limits can sometimes be restrictive, especially for larger projects.
Get the free Sejda PDF Editor version here!
5. PDF-XChange Editor
Image source: PDF-XChange Editor
PDF-XChange Editor stands as a robust PDF editor, prioritizing performance and feature richness. With versions available for both Windows and Mac, this editor app guarantees a high-quality experience for professional users.
PDF Reader Features
- Optical Character Recognition (OCR): Seamlessly convert paper documents into editable PDFs.
- Form Creation: Easily build PDF forms to streamline document interactions.
- Annotations: Enhance your PDFs with a variety of annotations, including shapes and text.
How PDF-XChange Editor Fared When I Tested It
PDF-XChange Editor has proven to be a versatile tool in my experience. Its capacity to create fillable forms and the option to embed fonts are invaluable features for my work. The intuitive interface significantly eased the learning curve, contributing to a positive overall experience.
Get the PDF-XChange Editor free version here!
6. DocFly
Image source: DocFly
DocFly is more than just a PDF reader; it's a powerful tool for graphic design as well. With a wide range of features, DocFly can manipulate both image files and PDF documents, making it a versatile choice.
PDF Reader Features
- Vector Graphics: Easily work with vector graphics within PDFs.
- Text Manipulation: Access advanced text editing and formatting options for precise document adjustments.
- Layer Management: Efficiently handle multiple layers for complex editing tasks.
How DocFly Fared When I Tested It
DocFly excels at converting PDFs to various formats like Word and Excel. The conversion quality remains consistently high, and the tool offers decent annotation options. It's a well-rounded tool that handles both conversions and basic PDF editing admirably.
Get a free version of DocFly here!
7. PDF2Go
Image source: PDF2Go
PDF2Go stands as an online PDF editor, offering a wide array of features for various PDF editing tasks. With its intuitive interface, it's the perfect choice for users seeking quick and efficient editing solutions.
PDF Reader Features
- File Conversion: Seamlessly convert PDFs to various file types, including Word or JPEG.
- Text Editing: Easily add or modify text within your PDF documents.
- Document Merging: Combine multiple PDF files into a single document for streamlined management.
How PDF2Go Fared When I Tested It
PDF2Go has consistently delivered excellent results, especially when it comes to compressing large PDF files. Its user-friendly online platform and straightforward navigation make it a top choice. The drag-and-drop feature simplifies the uploading process, ensuring a quick and efficient experience.
Get a free version of PDF2Go here!
8. PDFSimpli
Image source: PDFSimpli
PDFSimpli is an online PDF reader that excels in simplicity and ease of use. It offers basic yet effective features for reading and editing PDF forms and documents.
PDF Reader Features
- Text Editing: Perform simple text addition and removal within your PDF files.
- Form Fields: Easily add form fields to your PDF documents for enhanced interactivity.
- Document Conversion: Convert PDFs to other popular file formats for broader accessibility.
How PDFSimpli Fared When I Tested It
PDFSimpli is my preferred choice for quick online edits. It loads swiftly, and the text editing tools are straightforward and user-friendly. Furthermore, the inclusion of some advanced features adds versatility, making it suitable for more complex tasks.
Get a free version of PDFSimpli here!
9. Soda PDF
Image source: Soda PDF
Soda PDF is a fantastic tool for users seeking a cost-effective yet efficient PDF editing software solution. Available across multiple platforms, Soda PDF places a strong emphasis on security with its 256-bit AES encryption, ensuring the protection of your PDF documents during the editing process.
PDF Reader Features
- E-Signatures: Easily add electronic signatures to your PDF documents, simplifying the finalization of contracts and agreements without the need for printing or scanning.
- File Security: Soda PDF provides robust 128/256-Bit encryption, guaranteeing the security of your edited content against unauthorized access, making it ideal for editing confidential documents.
- Cross-Platform Support: With availability on multiple platforms, Soda PDF offers versatility and accessibility wherever you need to edit PDFs, catering to the needs of users on the go.
How Soda PDF Fared When I Tested It
I've utilized Soda PDF primarily for its excellent file security options. The 256-bit AES encryption provides me with peace of mind when working with sensitive documents. Furthermore, the e-signature feature is remarkably user-friendly, enhancing the overall editing experience.
Get a free version of Soda PDF here!
10. Foxit PhantomPDF Standard
Image source: Foxit PhantomPDF Standard
Foxit PhantomPDF Standard is more than just a PDF converter; it's an excellent tool for editing PDF files. Designed for efficient batch processing and featuring a user-friendly interface, this software provides comprehensive solutions for users who require more than basic PDF editing.
PDF Reader Features
- Wide Range of Editing Options: Foxit PhantomPDF Standard supports multiple file formats and provides numerous editing options, including annotation, text modification, and more.
- Annotation and Editing: Easily annotate, edit, share, and comment on PDF files, offering a range of features to make your PDFs informative and interactive.
- File Merging: The software includes a powerful feature that allows you to merge multiple PDFs into one document, simplifying file management.
How Foxit PhantomPDF Standard Fared When I Tested It
Foxit PhantomPDF Standard excels in offering a user-friendly interface while incorporating a plethora of powerful tools. Its batch processing capabilities have consistently saved me a significant amount of time, especially when dealing with multiple files for conversion or editing.
Get a free version of Foxit PhantomPDF here!
11. PDFsam Basic
Image source: PDFsam Basic
PDFsam Basic is an open-source PDF editing software that prioritizes simplicity without sacrificing essential features. It serves as a versatile option for users seeking straightforward, easy-to-use tools for PDF editing.
PDF Reader Features
- Merge PDFs: Particularly useful for consolidating reports, studies, or any other sets of documents into a unified file.
- Split PDF Files: Easily split PDF files based on various criteria such as page numbers, size, or content.
- Rotate Pages: PDFsam Basic provides the ability to rotate PDF pages, which proves valuable when dealing with documents containing pages in varying orientations.
How PDFsam Basic Fared When I Tested It
My experience with PDFsam Basic has been highly positive. The open-source nature of the software contributes to a community-driven feel, and its focus on fundamental features like splitting and merging PDFs is executed flawlessly. It's a reliable, no-fuss tool for basic PDF editing tasks.
