PDF files are a necessary component of our multi-platform world. With this convenient file format, users are able to view and share documents across various devices, using various operating systems and software programs.
While tasks such as simple viewing and/or commenting on a PDF can be accomplished with free software, there are times when you need a broader range of tools for working with a PDF document. You might want to make edits, reorganize the elements of a file, or collaborate with others to make changes. In cases such as these, you’re better served by a full-featured PDF editor.
The best PDF editors allow you to edit, create, alter, and convert PDF files just like you would with any other text document. Adobe’s Acrobat Pro is full-featured PDF editor, and probably the most well known. Adobe has earned its renown honestly with an excellent feature set and overall utility. But it’s also expensive.
Fortunately, there’s a whole range of capable and even great third-party PDF editors that provide less pricey alternatives to Adobe’s premier product.
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Our picks below cover the gamut of PDF editing needs and budgets.
Why you should trust PCWorld for PDF editor reviews and buying advice: At PCWorld, we’ve been testing PC hardware and software for over 40 years. Our evaluation process is always hands-on and thorough, taking into account real-world usage needs. We don’t ever recommend something we wouldn’t be comfortable using ourselves.
Adobe Acrobat Pro remains the industry standard for good reason. Its rich combination of creation, editing, reviewing, and security features are mimicked by the best alternative options, but we feel Acrobat still does it best. Its recent interface redesign makes it much easier to navigate through its robust toolset than the nested menus of yore, and its cloud subscription option puts its advanced features within reach of more individuals and small businesses. (See how it compares to the Adobe Acrobat Standard.)
Though many of its features are available in other, cheaper PDF editors, Acrobat is still the editor against which all others are judged. Not surprisingly, Acrobat Pro includes an Al assistant, albeit not at an additional $4.99 per month. Depending on your PDF editing needs, the AI’s ability to summarize, answer questions, or extract key details from documents could earn its keep in valuable time saved. See our article on “5 ways Adobe Acrobat’s AI Assistant gives you a productivity edge.”
Read our full
Adobe Acrobat Pro review
A fully featured PDF editor that can go toe-to-toe with Acrobat Pro’s feature set, Nitro PDF is a less costly alternative by about $60 per year. The Standard plan’s subscription fee is $15 a month, or $180 per year. Its full suite of PDF editing features cover the range of needs and scenarios: content editing; review and markup; form fill and signing; and multiple security options for sensitive documents including permissions, password protection, and data redaction. It even facilitates adding, removing, and editing bates numbering in legal documents.
A Microsoft Office-style ribbon interface makes workflows feel familiar and intuitive. The addition of AI is judicious, and can provide practical assistance such as by summarizing PDFs and allowing you to ask questions about content.
But don’t just take our word for Nitro PDF’s impressive capabilities. You can learn that first hand by taking advantage of Nitro PDF’s 14-day free trial. No credit card is required and none of the features are locked — there’s nothing like a test drive to persuade you.
Read our full
Nitro PDF review