Best Free PDF Editor Software: What Actually Works

You need to edit a PDF. Maybe add a signature, merge a few documents, or fix a typo before sending a contract. You don't want to pay Adobe $20/month for the privilege.

Good news: there are genuinely useful free PDF editors out there. Bad news: most "free" options either watermark your files, limit what you can do, or try to upsell you constantly.

I've tested the popular options so you don't have to. Here's what actually works.

Quick Verdict: Which Free PDF Editor Should You Use?

PDFgear: The Best Truly Free Option

PDFgear is what happens when someone decides to make a full-featured PDF editor and just... give it away. No premium tier to unlock. No watermarks. No daily limits. It sounds too good to be true, but it works.

What You Can Actually Do

PDFgear gives you the standard edit, annotate, convert, merge, and split capabilities. But it goes further with advanced features like compress, password protect, and E-sign - tools you'd typically expect to pay for.

The standout feature is the AI co-pilot that helps streamline workflows by understanding and executing commands you type into a chat window. Whether that's actually useful depends on how much PDF work you do, but it's there. The AI assistant is powered by GPT-3.5 and can summarize documents, extract key information, and even help you navigate the software's features through natural language commands.

Text editing works like you'd expect from a paid tool - you can freely edit text, images, shapes, signatures, and links in PDFs. The editing experience is surprisingly smooth, letting you click directly on text to modify it rather than just overlaying new text boxes. OCR support covers 30+ languages for extracting text from scanned documents, making it invaluable for digitizing paper records.

One particularly useful feature is the Extract Text tool, which lets you highlight any section of a page and pull out the text into a copyable format. This is incredibly helpful when dealing with tables, lists, or other content where traditional text selection fails.

Platform Support

Available on Windows 10 and 11, Mac, iOS, and Android. There's also a web version if you prefer not to download anything. The desktop versions are the most feature-rich, but the mobile apps are solid for on-the-go work. Cross-platform availability means you can start editing on your computer and continue on your phone.

File Size and Performance

Unlike many free tools, PDFgear doesn't impose file size restrictions or page limits. You can process large documents without hitting arbitrary caps that force you to upgrade. The software is lightweight - around 200MB installed - and runs smoothly even on older hardware.

The Catch

There isn't really one. The app is legitimately free with no hidden charges. The company presumably makes money through enterprise licensing and partnerships, but individual users get the full product. They've publicly stated that they're currently funded by investors and building toward a freemium model in the future, but for now, all features remain accessible without payment.

The desktop software processes files locally, which means your documents never leave your computer unless you use the web version. This is a significant privacy advantage over cloud-based tools.

Who Should Use PDFgear

Anyone who needs regular PDF editing without paying Adobe prices. Freelancers, small businesses, anyone dealing with contracts and documents. If you're coming from ilovepdf or similar online tools and want more power, this is your upgrade. Students will appreciate the zero cost, and professionals will find it handles most tasks that used to require expensive software.

PDF24 Creator: Rock-Solid Windows Option

PDF24 Creator has been around since 2006, which in software years makes it ancient. But that longevity means it's been refined over time and works reliably. Developed by German company Miron Geek Software, it's built a reputation for being genuinely free with no strings attached.

What's Good

PDF24 Creator is completely free - no hidden charges, watermarks, or daily limits for personal or commercial use. That's rare. Companies, government agencies, and nonprofits can use it without licensing fees, making it attractive for organizations with tight budgets.

The feature list is comprehensive: merging, splitting, compressing, converting (to/from images, Word, Excel, PPT), page management, OCR, watermarks, and security features like passwords and e-signatures. It also functions as a virtual PDF printer, meaning you can "print" to PDF from any application on your Windows computer.

It's also lightweight and fast with minimal system resource usage. The entire installation is under 100MB, and it runs well on older Windows machines that would struggle with heavier software. This makes it ideal for organizations still using legacy hardware.

The OCR functionality deserves special mention - it's surprisingly accurate for a free tool and supports multiple languages. You can convert scanned documents into searchable, editable PDFs without paying for premium features.

What's Not Great

The annotation tools are limited. You get text, shapes, and free-drawing tools but no sticky notes, callouts, highlighters, or stamps. If you need robust commenting features for document review workflows, this won't cut it.

The interface uses a modular approach where each tool has its own separate window. This makes workflows clunkier than they should be - you're constantly switching between interfaces for related tasks. Want to merge documents and then add a password? That's two different tools in two different windows. Modern PDF editors handle this more elegantly.

The biggest limitation: Windows only for the desktop app. Mac and Linux users can use the online tools at pdf24.org, but that requires uploading files to their servers and maintaining an internet connection. The online version also displays ads, which can be distracting during work.

Updates and Support

PDF24 Creator receives regular updates - typically several times per year. The changelog shows active development with bug fixes and new features being added consistently. Support is primarily through email and online documentation, which is adequate but not instantaneous.

Who Should Use PDF24 Creator

Windows users who want a free, no-nonsense PDF toolkit for basic to moderate editing. It's best for small, occasional edits rather than heavy daily use. If you need to merge documents, add passwords, or do quick conversions, it handles that well. IT administrators will appreciate the MSI installer for enterprise deployment and the ability to customize settings through command-line parameters.

Canva: Best for Visual PDF Editing

Canva isn't really a PDF editor - it's a design tool that happens to import and export PDFs. But if you need to make a PDF look better, it's surprisingly capable.

What It Does Well

Canva breaks your PDF into editable elements so you can customize it like any design asset. You can correct typos, change text and images, draw lines and shapes, add signatures, and reorder pages with drag-and-drop tools. The interface is intuitive and visual, making it accessible even if you're not a design professional.

The real value is access to Canva's design library - templates, graphics, fonts, and elements you can add to make documents more visually appealing. Great for making proposals, presentations, or marketing materials look professional. If you're creating PDFs from scratch, Canva's templates can save hours of formatting work.

Collaboration features are strong. Multiple team members can work on the same PDF simultaneously, leaving comments and suggestions. This makes it useful for teams that need to review and revise documents together.

Limitations

There are some technical constraints: maximum PDF file size is 15 MB, and you can only import PDFs with up to 15 pages. These limitations make it unsuitable for large documents like reports, manuals, or lengthy contracts. There's no support for soft masks, shading, tiled patterns, or certain image formats - technical limitations that won't matter for most users but can cause issues with complex PDFs.

Font matching isn't perfect. Canva tries to match fonts during conversion, but exact matches aren't always possible. You might find text rendering slightly differently than the original. Images in your PDF need to be vectors to be editable - flat images can't be broken down into component parts.

Canva also doesn't handle form fields or interactive elements. If your PDF contains fillable forms, those elements won't carry over properly.

Pricing Consideration

While Canva offers a free tier, many of the premium templates, images, and features require a Canva Pro subscription. The free version is somewhat limited compared to dedicated PDF editors. However, if you already subscribe to Canva Pro for other design work, the PDF functionality is a nice bonus.

Who Should Use Canva

People who already use Canva for design work and need to edit PDFs occasionally. If you're creating visual documents from scratch or making existing PDFs look better, it's excellent. Marketing professionals, educators creating course materials, and anyone making presentations will find it valuable. For technical document editing, form filling, or handling sensitive files, look elsewhere.

If you're interested in Canva's broader capabilities, check out our Canva pricing breakdown or full Canva review.

Try Canva Free →

Adobe Acrobat Online: The Original PDF Tool (Limited Free Version)

Adobe invented the PDF format in the early 1990s, so their free online tools work reliably. But "free" here comes with significant restrictions. Understanding what's actually included without payment is important to avoid surprises.

What You Get for Free

The free online PDF editor lets you add text boxes, sticky notes, comments, highlights, drawings, and fill forms. You can also sign PDFs and share them for collaboration. Basic viewing, printing, and simple annotations are available without an account, though you'll need to sign in to save your work.

Files are handled securely and deleted from Adobe's servers unless you sign in to save them. The editing quality is high since Adobe maintains the format standard - you won't encounter compatibility issues or formatting problems.

Adobe Acrobat Reader, the free desktop application, provides even more capabilities including the ability to fill out forms, add comments, and digitally sign documents. However, it's primarily a viewer with annotation capabilities rather than a true editor.

What Requires Payment

Actual text editing (fixing typos, changing fonts, adding content), OCR, creating PDFs from scratch, creating forms, redaction, page organization, and file compression - all require Acrobat Pro. Converting PDFs to Word, Excel, or PowerPoint also requires a paid subscription.

There's a 7-day free trial of Acrobat Pro if you need full features temporarily. After that, you're looking at a subscription starting around $20-30 per month depending on the plan. Adobe offers different tiers: Acrobat Standard for basic editing and Acrobat Pro for advanced features like form creation and redaction.

The pricing can add up quickly for individuals and small businesses. While Adobe's tools are professional-grade, the subscription model makes it expensive compared to one-time purchase alternatives or genuinely free tools.

Understanding Adobe's Ecosystem

Adobe's strength lies in integration with other Adobe products. If you're already using Creative Cloud applications, Acrobat integrates seamlessly with Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. This workflow advantage matters for design professionals but is overkill for most users.

Who Should Use Adobe Acrobat Online

People who need to add comments or annotations to PDFs and already have Adobe accounts. It's good for review workflows but not actual editing. If your organization already has Adobe licenses, you're set. If you need more, you'll have to pay or use one of the other options here. Occasional users doing simple tasks like filling forms or adding signatures can get by with the free tools, but anyone needing regular editing will quickly bump into the paywall.

Smallpdf: Best Browser-Based Option

Smallpdf is an online PDF tool with a Chrome extension that lets you use features directly when you open a PDF in your browser. Convenient if you don't want to install anything, and the interface is polished and user-friendly.

Free Features

The free version covers compression, PDF conversion tools, passwords, basic editing, and e-signature features. You also get access within Google Workspace and Dropbox apps, making it easy to work with files stored in the cloud. The integration with cloud storage is smooth - you can open files directly from Google Drive or Dropbox, edit them, and save back without downloading.

AI-powered tools are also available in the free tier, including basic document summarization and text extraction. The interface is clean and modern, making it one of the most pleasant PDF tools to use visually.

Limitations

The Free Plan has a daily download limit of two tasks per day. If you hit that ceiling regularly, you'll need to upgrade. This makes it impractical for anyone working with PDFs regularly. The free tier also has file size restrictions and doesn't include access to advanced features like batch processing or OCR.

As a cloud-based tool, you're uploading your documents to Smallpdf's servers. While they claim to delete files after processing, this is a concern if you're handling confidential information. The company is ISO 27001 certified and GDPR compliant, but uploading sensitive documents to any third-party service involves inherent risk.

Paid Plans

Pro starts at $10/month with annual billing or $15 monthly. This plan removes all limits and unlocks advanced features like OCR, batch processing, and unlimited file conversions. The Team plan runs $8/month per seat with annual billing and adds centralized management, priority support, and additional storage.

Compared to Adobe Acrobat, Smallpdf is significantly cheaper while offering most features that small businesses need. For teams of 10 users, Smallpdf costs around $960 per year versus Adobe's approximately $2,600 - nearly a third of the price.

Performance and Reliability

Smallpdf's servers are fast, and processing is typically quick even for larger files. The Chrome extension is particularly useful - it automatically opens PDFs in the Smallpdf editor instead of your default PDF viewer, giving you immediate access to editing tools. However, this requires a constant internet connection and can be slow if you have poor connectivity.

Who Should Use Smallpdf

People who do occasional PDF tasks and prefer not to install software. The Chrome extension is genuinely useful for quick edits. Heavy users will hit the free limits quickly and should consider a desktop app instead. It's ideal for remote workers who switch between devices frequently and want their tools accessible anywhere with an internet connection.

Other Options Worth Mentioning

PDFescape

Browser-based and desktop PDF editor that's free for basic use. You can add text, shapes, photos, and signatures online without creating an account. The free version supports PDFs up to 10MB and 100 pages, which covers most everyday documents.

The Premium version (starting around $6/month) unlocks text/image editing, compression, merging, page numbers, and removes the file size restrictions. The interface is straightforward but dated compared to newer tools. It's functional but not particularly elegant.

PDFescape Desktop is a separate Windows-only application that processes files locally, addressing privacy concerns associated with cloud-based tools. However, the free desktop version has even more limitations than the online version.

Sejda

Both online and desktop versions available. Handles editing, form creation and filling, Bates stamping, file encryption, and more. The free tier allows 3 tasks per day on desktop or 3 per hour on the web version, with file size limits of 50MB or 200 pages.

Paid plans are reasonably priced: $5 for a week pass, $7.50/month for web-only access, or $63/year for unlimited web and desktop use. The flexible pricing makes it appealing for users with sporadic needs - you can pay for just a week when you have a big project.

Sejda's editing interface is clean and intuitive, with step-by-step instructions for each task. The tool excels at basic editing tasks but lacks some advanced features found in professional software. The whiteout feature is useful but not a true redaction tool - hidden text can still be selected and copied.

iLovePDF

Popular online tool for basic tasks like merging, splitting, and converting. Works well for simple needs, and the interface is colorful and approachable. Free users can perform basic operations but face limitations on file size (around 15MB for most tools) and daily usage.

OCR functionality is limited on the free tier and requires a premium subscription for batch processing or large documents. Premium plans start at around $7/month and unlock all tools without limits.

iLovePDF is great for occasional, straightforward tasks but frustrating if you need to do anything complex or work with multiple files. It's the kind of tool you bookmark for that one time per month when you need to quickly merge two PDFs.

Nitro PDF Reader

Free PDF reader with basic editing capabilities including markup, commenting, and form filling. It's more capable than Adobe Reader but still limited compared to full editors. The paid Nitro Pro software is a serious Adobe alternative with robust editing features, but it's not cheap.

The free reader is useful if you primarily need to view and annotate PDFs with occasional light editing. It's Windows-only, which limits its appeal.

LibreOffice Draw

Part of the free LibreOffice suite, Draw can open and edit PDFs. The editing experience is clunky - it treats PDFs more like image files than structured documents - but it works in a pinch. You can modify text, move images, and rearrange elements, though the results aren't always perfect.

LibreOffice Draw is best as a last resort when you need to edit a PDF and don't have access to better tools. It's completely free and open-source, works on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and doesn't require an internet connection.

What About Foxit?

Foxit is often mentioned as an Adobe Acrobat alternative, but their free offering is really just a PDF reader with basic annotation tools. For actual editing, you need Foxit PDF Editor, which is a paid product starting around $149 for a perpetual license or $9/month for a subscription.

That said, Foxit's paid editor is solid and often cheaper than Adobe, especially if you opt for the one-time purchase instead of a subscription. The interface is familiar to anyone who's used Adobe Acrobat, making the transition easy. Features include full editing capabilities, OCR, form creation, digital signatures, and collaboration tools.

Foxit is particularly popular in enterprise environments due to competitive pricing for volume licensing and strong security features. If you're considering paid options, check out our Foxit review and Foxit pricing breakdown.

Check Foxit Pricing →

How to Choose the Right Free PDF Editor

Choosing the right tool depends on your specific needs. Here's how to think through the decision:

Frequency of Use

If you edit PDFs occasionally - once or twice per month - browser-based tools like Smallpdf or iLovePDF work fine despite their limitations. For daily use, you need a desktop application like PDFgear or PDF24 Creator that won't frustrate you with daily limits or force you to upload sensitive files.

Privacy and Security Requirements

Handling confidential information? Avoid cloud-based tools entirely. Desktop applications that process files locally - PDFgear, PDF24 Creator, or paid options like Foxit - keep your data on your computer. This matters for lawyers, healthcare providers, accountants, and anyone dealing with sensitive personal or business information.

Operating System

Mac and Linux users have fewer options. PDFgear works across all platforms. PDF24 Creator is Windows-only, though Mac users can access the online version. Canva works in any browser. Consider your operating system before committing to a tool.

Types of Edits Needed

Simple annotations and form filling? Almost any free tool works. Text editing? You need PDFgear, Sejda, or paid software. Creating complex fillable forms or doing redaction? You're likely looking at paid options unless PDFgear's basic form tools suffice.

File Types and Complexity

Working with large files, scanned documents, or documents with complex formatting? Make sure your chosen tool can handle it. Many free tools impose file size limits or struggle with scanned PDFs. OCR is essential if you work with scans regularly, and not all free tools include it.

Free vs Paid: When to Upgrade

Free PDF editors work fine for:

Consider paying when you need:

For most small business and personal use, PDFgear or PDF24 Creator will handle everything you need. The free options have genuinely improved over the years to the point where they rival what paid software offered a decade ago.

The decision to upgrade usually comes when you're using PDF editing tools daily and the free tier limitations start costing you time. If you're spending 30 minutes working around limitations that a paid tool would eliminate, the $10-15/month subscription pays for itself quickly.

Security Considerations

If you're handling sensitive documents, be cautious with online PDF editors. Uploading files means trusting a third party with your data. Most services claim to delete files after processing, but you're still sending documents through their servers where they could theoretically be accessed, intercepted, or retained.

For confidential contracts, financial documents, legal files, medical records, or anything with personal information, use a desktop application like PDFgear or PDF24 Creator that processes files locally. Your data never leaves your computer, eliminating the risk of interception or unauthorized access.

Additional Security Best Practices

Beyond choosing the right tool, consider these security practices when working with PDFs:

Common PDF Editing Tasks and Best Tools for Each

Different tasks are better suited to different tools. Here's a quick reference:

Merging Multiple PDFs

Best tools: PDFgear, PDF24 Creator, Smallpdf

All three handle this basic task easily. PDFgear and PDF24 have no file limits, while Smallpdf caps free users at 2 tasks daily. For large merge jobs with dozens of files, desktop apps are faster.

Editing Text in Existing Documents

Best tools: PDFgear, Sejda

PDFgear offers the smoothest text editing experience among free tools, letting you click directly on text to modify it. Sejda works well too but limits free users to 3 documents per hour.

Converting Scanned Documents (OCR)

Best tools: PDFgear, PDF24 Creator

Both include capable OCR engines in their free versions. PDFgear supports 30+ languages and handles complex layouts well. PDF24's OCR is surprisingly accurate for German and English.

Creating Fillable Forms

Best tools: Sejda (limited free use), or paid tools like Foxit

Creating complex forms with calculations and logic requires paid software. Simple forms with text boxes and checkboxes can be created in Sejda's editor, though the free tier limits daily usage.

Compressing Large Files

Best tools: Smallpdf, PDFgear, PDF24 Creator

All three offer multiple compression levels. Smallpdf's web interface makes it easy to test different compression settings and preview results before downloading.

Adding Digital Signatures

Best tools: Adobe Acrobat Online, PDFgear, Smallpdf

Adobe's e-signature functionality is robust and widely accepted. PDFgear and Smallpdf offer simpler signature features suitable for informal documents but may not meet legal requirements for certain contracts.

Annotating for Review

Best tools: Adobe Acrobat Reader, PDFgear

Adobe's free Reader has excellent annotation tools including highlighting, sticky notes, and drawing tools. PDFgear matches most of this functionality while also allowing text editing.

Mobile PDF Editing

Most of the tools covered here offer mobile apps, but the experience varies significantly:

PDFgear Mobile

Available for iOS and Android, the mobile app includes core editing features and the AI assistant. It's genuinely free with no in-app purchases, matching the desktop experience. Useful for quick edits on the go, though complex formatting tasks are better left for a computer.

Adobe Acrobat Mobile

The mobile app is more capable than the online version, offering scanning, OCR, and editing features. However, most advanced features require a paid subscription. The free version is good for viewing and basic annotations.

Smallpdf Mobile

The mobile experience is smooth and polished, though you'll hit the daily task limits quickly. The interface is well-designed for touch screens, making it pleasant to use.

PDF24 Mobile

PDF24's online tools work in mobile browsers but aren't optimized for mobile use. The experience is clunky on small screens. Better to use a dedicated mobile PDF app.

For serious mobile PDF work, you'll eventually want to pay for a dedicated mobile solution. Free options are fine for occasional tasks but limit what you can accomplish on a phone or tablet.

The Future of Free PDF Editors

The PDF editing landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. What required expensive Adobe licenses a decade ago is now available for free. This trend will likely continue as:

AI integration becomes standard: PDFgear's AI assistant is just the beginning. Expect to see AI-powered features like automatic form field detection, intelligent text extraction, and content summarization become common in free tools.

Browser capabilities expand: As web technologies advance, browser-based PDF tools will match desktop applications in power while remaining accessible anywhere.

Privacy concerns drive local processing: Growing awareness of data privacy will favor tools that process files locally rather than in the cloud, benefiting desktop applications.

Freemium models evolve: More tools will follow PDFgear's model of offering genuinely useful free tiers while reserving enterprise features for paid plans.

Tips for Getting More from Free PDF Tools

Maximize what free tools offer with these strategies:

Combine Multiple Tools

No single free tool does everything perfectly. Use PDFgear for editing and OCR, Canva for visual design, and Smallpdf for quick conversions. Having multiple tools bookmarked takes two minutes but expands your capabilities significantly.

Learn Keyboard Shortcuts

Most PDF editors support keyboard shortcuts that dramatically speed up common tasks. Take 10 minutes to learn the shortcuts for your primary tool - it'll save hours over time.

Use Templates

Creating similar documents regularly? Save a template PDF with your standard formatting, logos, and layouts. Edit the template rather than starting from scratch each time.

Batch Similar Tasks

If using a tool with daily limits, batch similar tasks together. Need to compress five files? Do them all at once rather than spreading across multiple days and wasting your task allowance.

Export to Editable Formats When Needed

Some edits are easier in Word or another format. Convert the PDF, make your changes, then convert back. This workaround handles situations where direct PDF editing is frustrating.

The Bottom Line

PDFgear is the best free PDF editor for most people. It works on all platforms, has no hidden limitations, and does everything you'd expect from paid software. The AI features are a bonus, and the offline processing addresses privacy concerns that plague cloud-based tools.

PDF24 Creator is the runner-up for Windows users - completely free with no catches, though the interface takes some getting used to. It's been reliable for nearly two decades and shows no signs of going away or becoming paid software.

Canva is great if you're already in that ecosystem and want to make PDFs look better visually. The design tools and templates are unmatched among free options, though technical limitations restrict what types of PDFs you can work with.

Browser-based tools like Smallpdf and Adobe's online editor work for quick, occasional tasks but aren't ideal for regular use or sensitive documents. They're convenient when you're on a computer without your usual software installed, but daily limits and privacy concerns make them poor choices for primary PDF tools.

The days of needing to pay Adobe $20/month for basic PDF editing are over. These free tools actually work. You may eventually need paid software for specialized features, but start with free options - they'll likely handle 90% of your needs without costing a penny.

For related comparisons, check out our guide to the best PDF editor software if you're also considering paid options.