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Nitro Pro is a cloud-based PDF solution that helps businesses create, edit, share and sign essential documents from any device. It provides various PDF editing capabilities, allowing users to convert common file types like Excel, PowerPoint and Word docume...Read more about Nitro Pro
PDF+ is a document management solution specifically designed for legal industry professionals. It includes built-in tools that are most commonly used when preparing legal documents for depositing, trial, and mediation. PDF+ is compatible with Windows 10 an...Read more about PDF+
Xodo PDF Studio is a powerful enterprise-level desktop PDF editor with advanced PDF editing, annotation, and organization tools designed for both individual professionals and teams. Equipped with over 60 advanced tools, Xodo PDF Studio optimizes documen...Read more about Xodo PDF Studio
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iLovePDF is a cloud-based solution that helps businesses, educators and developers manage PDF files on a unified interface. It offers a variety of features including the ability to merge, split, compress, convert and edit PDF files. Users can convert PDFs ...Read more about iLovePDF
DocHub is an online solution that allows users to edit, share, and sign PDF documents. With a set of document workflows, it is designed to streamline signature collection, document distribution, and form completion. PDF editing capabilities include annotat...Read more about DocHub
Edit Pdfs is an online solution for managing your PDFs. With the most advanced text recognition technology on the market. Test our software for 7 Days for $1, to enjoy unlimited access to all our tools: Text - Signature - Drawing - Eraser - Picture - Split...Read more about Edit Pdfs
FormatPDF is an online, cloud-based service for you to swiftly and straightforwardly modify your PDFs. The website provides over 30 ways to alter Portable Document Format files to cover all your needs, whether you're making significant changes to a documen...Read more about FormatPDF
Adobe Acrobat is a comprehensive PDF software. It allows users to create, edit, and review PDFs from anywhere. This software caters to a range of industries such as business, education, and government. It provides a seamless digital document experience. T...Read more about Adobe Acrobat
Automate the creation, manipulation and management of PDFs in large-scale applications to get to market faster. Using the same Adobe source code as Acrobat for the highest-quality results, Adobe PDF Library gives developers flexible programming language a...Read more about Adobe PDF Library
Fabreasy PDF Creator is a windows-based stationery / letterhead solution for a single user or a company. It allows you to add letterhead to a PDF-file while creating it. The office ribbon for Word and Excel allows you to create e.g. a PDF-file, add your st...Read more about Fabreasy PDF Creator
ABBYY FineReader PDF allows users to convert, edit, and share PDF documents. It is suitable for individuals and businesses. This solution can help teams streamline collaboration on PDF workflows in the workplace. ABBYY FineReader PDF includes OCR that digi...Read more about ABBYY FineReader PDF
Sejda is a comprehensive PDF editing tool that can be used on the cloud or as a desktop application. It includes features for editing, compressing, merging, splitting, converting, and protecting PDF files. Sejda Web is accessible via any web browser and Se...Read more about Sejda
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is a PDF viewer, which helps organizations view, sign, share and annotate PDFs. It lets users create, secure, convert, and modify PDF files. Adobe Acrobat Reader DC allows individuals to send PDFs to collect signatures and aggrega...Read more about Adobe Acrobat Reader
DocMadeEasy offers tools for users to edit, sign, and share PDF files securely. Free and easy to use! With millions of documents sent all around the world, DocMadeEasy is the secure, legally binding and affordable e-signature solution. You can create, sig...Read more about DocMadeEasy
PDF-XChange is a software solution that enables users to view, convert, and edit PDF documents. The software offers a free PDF editor that allows users to make changes to PDF files. It also includes free optical character recognition (OCR) capabilities, en...Read more about PDF-XChange
Professional PDF Editor PDF Extra is your all-in-one PDF toolkit - reader, editor and converter. Take full control of the content in your PDF files by editing any part of your documents- text, images, designs, commenting, organizing pages and many more. ...Read more about PDF Extra
PDF Agile is a cloud-based solution that allows businesses to create, edit, convert, compress, and secure PDF documents. PDF Agile lets users convert PDFs into Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other file formats. Users can compress PDFs to reduce f...Read more about PDF Agile
Wondershare HiPDF is an AI-powered online PDF solution that offers a wide range of features such as chatting with PDF, AI reading, editing, converting, OCR, signing and managing PDF documents. It also provides many image tools. With its user-friendly inte...Read more about HiPDF
PDF Editify is an online platform that allows users to fill, sign, and edit PDF documents. It caters to individuals and professionals who need to work with PDF files efficiently. The user-friendly interface is designed with simplicity and ease of use in m...Read more about PDF Editify
PDFgear is an all-inclusive PDF solution for businesses, offering editing, protecting, converting, signing, annotating, organizing, copilot, and discovering new potential across multiple platforms. Its clean and intuitive interface delivers not only the ex...Read more about PDFgear
Creating, editing and commenting in PDF files with FlexiPDF Professional 2022 as intuitive as exporting them for further editing in TextMaker or Microsoft Word. Built-in automatic optical character recognition (OCR) converts pages from the scanner into s...Read more about FlexiPDF
AI PDF Scanner: Camera Scan App is a cloud-based application that helps transform mobile devices into professional PDF scanners via OCR technology. It uses advanced AI technology to enable users to scan documents, convert them to text, compress files, add ...Read more about AI PDF Scanner: Camera Scan App
A lot of people struggle with PDFs. They're hard to edit, and it's even harder to find a good PDF editor. Not only that, but most of the time you have to pay for these services. We've all been there, trying to systematize our workflow and getting bogged do...Read more about AndroPDF
CIB pdf standalone is a secure and powerful standalone application that you can use to edit your PDF files on the Web, directly in the browser. This innovative app allows you to convert your PDFs into images, extract images from your PDFs, rotate and merge...Read more about CIB pdf standalone
Macro is a solution that helps professionals who deal with contracts draft, review, and execute legal documents to streamline deal flow. The platform offers editing and collaboration features for documents in .pdf and .docx formats. With its drag-and-dro...Read more about Macro
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Buyers Guide
This detailed guide will help you find and buy the right pdf editor software for you and your business.
Last Updated on January 27, 2025PDFs are crucial for businesses. Whether you're sending out invoices or contracts, or maintaining customer records and scanned documents, PDFs ensure documents are viewed as intended.
But what if you want to make changes to a PDF, such as editing text, adding or removing objects, or commenting while reviewing? Instead of converting the PDF to an editable doc again, making changes, and converting back to a PDF, you can simply use a PDF editor and make changes in just a few clicks.
PDF editing software can save time and help you process PDFs faster without changing the file format. With the wide range of PDF editors available, choosing the one that best meets your needs can feel overwhelming. That's why we created this PDF editing software buyers guide with all the essential information you need to choose the right tool.
Here’s what we'll cover:
What is PDF editor software?
PDF editors allow users to upload, create, and edit content within PDFs. These tools help users edit text and images within PDFs, rearrange pages, password-protect files, electronically sign documents, and more. Users can also convert other file formats such as Word documents, Excel sheets, HTML, JPG, Gifs, and images to PDFs (and vice versa).
PDF editors typically integrate with optical character recognition software, document scanning software, and document generation software.
Text editing feature in ABBYY FineReader PDF Software (Source)
Common features of PDF editors
Most PDF editing tools have the following features in common:
Convert to PDF | Convert other file formats to PDFs. |
Image editing | Edit existing images or add and remove images and shapes within PDFs. |
Text editing | Add, remove, or edit text within PDFs. |
Annotations | Add comments or notes to specific sections of PDFs. |
Access controls/permissions | Add permissions to determine how users can interact with files to protect both sensitive information and file ownership. |
Electronic signature | Sign a PDF electronically, and give others permission to digitally view and sign documents. |
Optical character recognition | Convert images of typed, handwritten, or printed text into machine-encoded text. |
Forms management | Create PDF forms, distribute forms, and receive responses. You can manage, track, and view all forms and responses within the software. |
Merge/Append files | Combine documents, spreadsheets, emails, and more into a single, organized PDF. You can also reorder pages and assign page numbers. |
Side-by-side comparison | Compare documents by opening two PDFs in the same window. |
Full text search | Search PDF text to find specific words or phrases. |
What type of buyer are you?
Before purchasing PDF editing software, you should determine which buyer category you're in so you can choose the right tool. The majority of buyers fall into the following categories:
Small and midsize businesses (SMBs; up to 500 employees): SMBs generally have smaller teams and fewer clients, so they handle a limited amount of documents. Buyers in this segment can use PDF editors to alter contract templates and edit necessary fields for individual customers.
Some free PDF editors or reasonably priced basic versions with features including optical character recognition, electronic signatures, page rearrangement, and text and image editing can work for these buyers.
Large enterprises (over 500 employees): Enterprises with large teams and client bases deal with a large number of documents. PDF editors can help such buyers create and manage sensitive documents, customize branding, and protect files with passwords.
A fully featured PDF editor that offers password protection, user restriction settings, and customizable branding along with the ability to handle large files are often a better fit for buyers in this segment. Since these businesses often share documents with a large number of people, they should opt for a tool with security features to maintain the security of distributed PDFs.
Benefits of PDF editing software
Enhanced security: PDF editors have built-in security features that ensure the safety of information within the documents. Features such as password protection, user restrictions, and encryption can restrict recipients and viewers from printing the PDF, and changing or copying the content.
Easy editing: PDF editors allows users to directly edit PDFs without converting or retyping the document. Optical character recognition features make scanned or image-based documents searchable and editable.
Better control and visibility: PDF editors can convert PDFs into a read-only format that can't be altered without leaving digital footprints. This lets you effectively track changes to maintain version control and visibility when collaborating on the same file.
Key Considerations:
Mobile: The rise in bring your own device (BYOD) policies means employees work with many types of devices, such as tablets and smartphones, in the workplace. You want a PDF editor that supports use on smartphones, tablets, or laptops so you can view, edit, convert, and share files from anywhere. Look for dedicated mobile apps when evaluating PDF editors.
Collaboration: A PDF editor should allow multiple participants to collaborate on a single document. This will help both co-located and distributed teams to review and edit PDFs simultaneously. Look for PDF editors with shared review features to facilitate collaboration.
Features and cost: The cost of a PDF editing tool varies based on included features. Before buying software, determine the needs of your organization and which software features can help meet them. If you handle a small number of documents, consider a free or basic version of PDF editing software. But if you need advanced features such as a built-in spell-checker, language support, multi-file merging, and validating PDFs for ISO standards, you should look for an enterprise solution.
Market trend to understand:
Here’s a market trend to keep in mind when selecting a PDF editor for your business:
Artificial intelligence (AI) technology in PDF editors: AI-enabled PDF editors are capable of analyzing document structure or image processing to find relevant objects within document images and compare documents faster. Such software can apply neural networks to extract necessary elements such as text lines, tables, barcodes, and labels without having to improve the quality of images and documents beforehand. This tech can use previously gained experience while processing pages character-by-character or line-by-line to provide better, faster results. PDF editing tools with AI technology also allow users to recognize complex scripts in multiple languages. Many software providers have already implemented AI in their PDF editing software offerings, and more are expected to follow.
Note: The application selected in this article is an example to show a feature in context and is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation. It has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable at the time of publication.