What Is a PDF Editor (Guide + Free Tools)

what is a pdf editor

Modifying PDF documents has been made simpler with the help of a PDF editor. If you’re looking for a more efficient way to manage your paperwork, this tool can be a great addition to your arsenal. With it, you no longer have to recreate an entire document just to edit its content or tweak some elements.

Let’s take a deep dive into what a PDF editor can do, its features and functionalities, and why you need it.

What Is a PDF Editor?

A PDF editor is a tool — an application or software — that allows you to change the contents of a PDF. Typically considered a standalone tool, it does not limit its functionality to editing PDFs alone. It’s also a handy tool for organizing files.

That’s not all. PDF editors often pack various tools that make editing PDFs a breeze. For instance, you can highlight sentences and annotate certain document parts. Deleting PDF pages is also possible using a PDF editor, which can be handy for reports and other confidential documents. You can choose which parts of the document you can share.

You may also rearrange PDF pages to change their order. A reliable PDF editor can also merge PDFs into one file.

Best PDF Editors in the Market

Fill

Aside from being a powerful contract management tool, Fill offers free PDF, document, and image tools to help you manage your document needs effortlessly. It boasts a smooth user experience and lets you access various PDF editing tools online.

Some of the things you can do include combining multiple PDFs in a single document, removing unnecessary pages in a PDF document, and modifying the order of pages in your PDF file. You can also convert PDF to Word and extract all the PDF elements using Fill’s powerful OCR (optical character recognition) feature.

You can try the tools for free or purchase one of the monthly plans, which includes eSignatures, document storage, team accounts, and workflow automation.

Pricing: Basic ($8.33/month), Plus ($16.66/month), Pro ($24.99/month)

Adobe Acrobat DC

Adobe Acrobat sets the industry standard for PDF editing and lets you create and edit PDFs on desktop and mobile. It’s connected to the Adobe Document cloud services so that you can work on PDFs from anywhere with an internet connection. 

While it does have a free version, you need a paid subscription to enjoy advanced features like collecting eSignatures and editing texts and images. It can also become resource-intensive when used with older devices.

Pricing: Acrobat Reader (Free), Acrobat Standard ($12.99/month), Acrobat Pro ($19.99/month)

Foxit PDF Editor

Foxit offers a less expensive alternative to Adobe Acrobat with plans as low as $10.99/month. This already comes with the basic features of creating, merging, rotating, reordering, deleting, and splitting PDFs. 

For a little bit more, you can access advanced document management with legally binding eSignatures. You also get an AI assistant with AI smart redact, so sensitive information is automatically identified and redacted.

Pricing: Foxit PDF Editor ($129.99/year), Foxit PDF Editor+ $159.99/year

Nitro PDF Pro

Nitro PDF Pro is an advanced PDF editor that supports OCR and lets you annotate PDFs when signing them. It can also convert PDFs to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and back while preserving their formatting. 

Unfortunately, this PDF editor isn’t cheap. It offers a one-time license fee of $179.99, which applies to 20 users. For more casual users, this can be more than they need.

Pricing: Nitro Pro ($14.99/user/month), Nitro PDF Pro ($179.99/license)

Small PDF

If you’re a casual user who only occasionally needs to edit PDFs, SmallPDF offers a free plan that gives you access to 21 PDF tools, such as merge, JPG to PDF, compress, eSign, PDF to Word, and more. 

You can quickly upgrade to a paid plan to access pro features like strong compression, digital seal protection for signatures, unlimited document downloads, and file storage. However, if you need to edit PDF files regularly, consider another option in this list.

Pricing: Personal ($9/month), Team ($7/month), Business (custom pricing)

What To Look For In A PDF Editor

With so many options to choose from, it can get confusing to find the perfect PDF editor. Here are key factors you should consider:

  • Editing capabilities: Ensure the editor allows you to modify text, images, and layout easily. Also, look for tools to add comments and highlights.
  • Conversion features: Choose a PDF editor that can convert PDFs to other formats like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and vice versa. If you’re working with many documents, you want a tool with batch processing.
  • OCR: If you deal with scanned documents, a strong OCR feature will convert scanned images into editable and searchable text.
  • User interface: Look for an editor with an intuitive, easy-to-navigate interface, especially if you’re not a tech expert.
  • Security features: Ensure that sensitive documents are secured and your files are protected from unauthorized access. Look for redaction tools that allow you to black out sensitive information.

PDF Editor

The Advantages of Using a PDF Editor

While using PDF formats offers better security and compatibility, its static nature also means it can be quite difficult to edit documents should you need to. Here’s where a PDF editor comes in handy.

Time savings and improved efficiency

Once upon a time, the only way to edit a PDF document was to practically recreate the file in Microsoft Word. As you can imagine, it takes a lot of time and effort. But with PDF editors, it’s as easy as clicking a button.

Unmatched convenience

Don’t be intimidated by PDF editors, as they’re generally easy to use. Tools like Fill don’t require any setup. You don’t need to download and install any software or program. They’re mostly web-based, meaning you can use any device with an internet connection.

The platform itself is very intuitive and straightforward. With its drag-and-drop functionality, you don’t need extensive technical knowledge to use it.

Free to use

A tight budget shouldn’t prevent you from turning a cumbersome task into a much simpler one. Experience all the benefits mentioned above at zero cost.

Most PDF editors like Fill are completely free to use–no strings attached and no watermarks. Best of all, there are no limits. You can use the platform as many times as you need.

Edit PDF Files with Fill’s Free Editing Tool

PDF editor

If you’re looking to lighten your workload by speeding up how you handle and process paperwork, look no further. Fill makes editing any existing PDF documents a lot quicker and easier. You don’t need to spend hours before the computer just to make minor changes.

Our PDF editing tool is your best option if you’re trying to cut down on business costs. As a matter of fact, you don’t need to spend anything to use our platform. It’s completely free. There are no hidden charges, and you don’t need to add credit card information.

Whether you need to edit PDFs regularly or for occasional use, Fill is the best option on the market today. Check us out today and discover how we can improve your document workflow.

Kent Cañas

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