All The Best Options for Editing PDFs
PDFs files are ideal for sharing sensitive information that could be distorted if the style is altered. Whether using these files for business, school, or personal use, you are assured the information will remain accurate no matter the recipient’s device or software to open the file. The good news is you can effortlessly edit PDF using the best PDF editor.
PDF files came into being in the ’90s with the sole purpose of sending and receiving high-quality designs of printed newspapers and magazines. They are therefore editable as the right editor recognizes and allows alteration of text and images, markups and merges or splits files.
There are countless PDF editors in the market, making it a challenge to choose one to fit your needs. We have carried out research and narrowed it down to all the best options for editing PDF files.
Convert to PDF
One of the primary uses of PDF editors is to convert PDF to editable word documents and vice versa. Word docs are easily manipulated and can change form depending on the device in use hence the importance of conversion. You can use any of the following:
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
Developer: Adobe.
Compatibility: macOS and Windows.
Price: $180 per annum.
Adobe is the standard of quality for others since it’s the oldest editor, and as expected, it’s designed with all the editing tools. The most outstanding tool is the OCR engine for altering scanned docs by converting the file into text, and then you can search and modify where necessary.
It also offers a conversion option that is accessible on the PRO DC’s edit tools section. It works by reading and changing pages as you edit. It’s super easy to create and export docs as well as attach and remove images.
Pros
- Easy to navigate.
- Powerful OCR.
- Extensive editing tools.
Cons
- The extensive tools can be overwhelming for beginners.
PDFpenPro11
Developer: SmileOnMyMac.
Compatibility: MacOS.
Cost: $129.
PDFpenPro11 has been available for many years, but it stands out due to its solid features. Users can create files from scratch, alter details, create and fill forms. It has an excellent OCR engine meaning users can edit scanned and photocopied docs.
Add, remove or manipulate images and signatures from a document and build interactive files with checkboxes, submit and radio buttons using this editor. The best part is it allows users to export the file to MS Word, PowerPoint, or Excel. PDFpenPro 11 is also available in less expensive versions, but they come with fewer editing functionalities.
Pros
- Outstanding OCR
- Wide array of editing and annotation tools.
- Has a free trial period.
Cons
- Editing OCR is not always clean
Protect PDF
PDF editors also come handy to protect files from unauthorized access by 3rd parties. Take a look at the top editors for that purpose.
PDF Candy
Developer: Icecream apps.
Compatibility: Google Chrome, Opera and Microsoft Edge.
Cost: Free.
PDF Candy is a free online PDF editor with an outstanding array of functions. There are over 44 tools to choose from, including protecting the file using the passcode and adding watermarks. Users can edit PDF files online, create and convert files and attach or remove images. You can also use the OCR feature to extract text from photocopies and scanned files.
Bonus features include splitting, adding and rearranging pages in documents and editing metadata in files. Once you finish editing, you can download the revised copy on your device.
Pros
- Free to use.
- Extensive list of features.
- OCR capability.
Cons
- Limited text editing features
Sejda PDF Desktop Pro
Developer: Sejda.
Compatibility: macOS, Windows.
Cost: $63 p.a.
Sejda is an all-around online editor that enables users to work online and offline on any browser and edit PDF online for free. It does more than your average google PDF editor. You can merge, organize, alternate, and mix files, split by pages, bookmarks, text or size, extract pages and compress documents. It also comes with a powerful OCR function for scanned texts.
You can create forms that allow other users to fill and sign the files. There are also tools to convert PDF to or from word to excel, JPG, and PPT. The documents uploaded or created are protected by passwords and watermarks. Other tools include deleting pages, cropping, numbering, extracting images, gray scaling, and renaming.
Pros
- Offers a wide range of alterations.
- Password protection for secure documents online.
Cons
Extensive tools can be hard to navigate for beginners.
Unlock PDFs
Need to unlock a PDF secured by a password for editing? Here are some editors that can do that.
PDFelement Pro
Developer: Wondershare.
Compatibility: macOS and windows.
Cost: $129 p.a.
PDFelement pro comes with a standard set of tools and a powerful OCR engine. You can use the editor for anything including creating fillable PDF files, encrypting and annotating files. All The Best Options for Editing PDFs
You can also edit scanned documents, photocopies, and large files. The editor offers a super-simple interface and an extensive set of tools located on the left side of the screen for easy navigation.
Pros
- Easy to use and navigate.
- OCR functionality.
- Extensive set of tools.
Cons
- Poor customer support services.
PDFescape
Developer: Red software.
Compatibility: Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera and Firefox.
Cost: free/$36 per annum for a premium account.
PDFescape is a web-based PDF file editor and annotation program you can access free of charge. You can opt to edit on the search engine or using a desktop app, which is more powerful as it supports alteration for both existing and pre-existing documents. It’s, however, limited for use on files smaller than 10MB or less than 100 pages. All The Best Options for Editing PDFs
The editor comes with plenty of editing options, including adding text to PDF, running spell checks, rotating and splitting files, adding, removing, and extracting files, adjusting the background, and encrypting files. You can work on several files simultaneously then save them to your device when you are done.
Pros
- Available in online and offline options.
- Interface mimics Microsoft Office, so it’s easy to use.
Cons
- Limited to 10MB or 100 pages only.
Merge Files
Here are the top PDF editors for merging files and documents.
PDF Exchange Editor
Developer: Readdle.
Compatibility: macOS.
Cost: $80.
PDF Expert is a popular PDF editing tool that allows users to alter the text in files, create fillable PDFs from scratch and add or remove images from pages in a file. It can also reduce file size, extract pages and merge different files into one file. It lacks OCR capabilities, but the extensive list of tools makes up for this.
Friends, It comes with a super clean and easy-to-use interface and excellent editing tools. There are two distinct tabs at the top of the screen to choose to either edit or annotate a document.
Pros
- Clean, easy-to-navigate interface.
- Wide range of tools and features.
Cons
- Unsuitable for large files.
- Compatible with mac only.
Key Takeaways
Whether choosing a pdf editor for personal or official uses, it’s crucial to check its compatibility with the device you’re using. The price and tools will also play a significant role depending on whether you need to convert, merge or protect the document. The editors we have reviews cover the most common functions of editors you may require.
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