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Summary: The content highlights the significance of PDFs, listing the top 6 free PDF editors with features and pros/cons. Featured editors include Smallpdf, Sejda, Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, PDFelement, AbleWord, and Nitro Pro. The article emphasizes the importance of a PDF repair tool, recommending Kernel for PDF Repair.

PDFs have gained a reputation as a secure document format compatible with Windows, iOS, Linux, and various other operating systems. This widespread compatibility has made PDFs a popular choice, with virtually every user encountering PDF files in various contexts. Whether it’s contracts, invoices, eBooks, credit card statements, bank statements, tax forms, or insurance documents, the versatility of PDF usage knows no bounds. However, there are situations where you might find the need to make your PDFs editable.

Easily tweak PDFs in seconds by employing PDF Editors—the swiftest and most straightforward method. These editors empower you to effortlessly complete interactive PDF forms, digitally sign and share documents online, annotate, correct files with markups, and seamlessly add or remove text and images for proofreading. While an array of PDF editors exists, the features differ between free and paid versions. Presently, we present the top 6 free PDF editors that streamline your PDF editing experience.

Free PDF Editors: Best 6 in the Market

Here are six standout PDF editors in the market, offering a variety of features comparable to professional tools. The lineup is as follows.

Smallpdf

Smallpdf
Smallpdf stands out as a widely-used online PDF solution, providing a range of tools to handle PDF documents effectively. Among its offerings are a complimentary PDF editor, file converter, and file compressor. While some key features are restricted in the free version, the tool excels at swift PDF content editing, boasting user-friendly algorithms that let you make edits in a matter of seconds. It can also be used as a simple way to repair PDF files.
Features

  • With Smallpdf, you can effortlessly add page numbers to your PDF documents.
  • This tool effortlessly transforms Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files into PDFs.
  • You have the option to secure your PDF files using password encryption.

Merits

Demerits

A comprehensive PDF toolkit for conversion, signing, editing, etc. A great tool for compressing files.
Doesn’t handle large PDF files well. When saving a processed file, users cannot change the name.
Sejda PDF Editor

Sejda PDF Editor

Sejda stands out as one of the top-notch free PDF editors with its remarkable features. It simplifies the process of editing PDF files, offering capabilities such as adding signatures and comments, creating fillable forms, and modifying PDF content.
Features

  • With this tool, you can annotate PDF files.
  • It also allows you to insert shapes.

Merits

Demerits

There are no page limits or hourly limits. It has less security than other PDF editors.
Editing unlimited documents are possible. It does not have an easy-to-use interface.
OCR is not available in this free online PDF editor.
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
Still, Adobe Acrobat Pro DC Editor remains a great PDF editor with a host of top-class features that can be used to convert, edit, and annotate PDF files along with fixing common PDF file errors.
Features

  • Adobe Acrobat Pro DC enables you to convert, share, and electronically sign PDF files.
  • It allows you to generate and modify PDFs.
  • You possess the ability to effortlessly annotate, sign, and distribute PDF documents through the mobile application.

Merits

Demerits

You can edit scanned PDFs using OCR technology. Due to the high cost, it might not be a good buy for individuals & small businesses.
This tool has an easy-to-use user interface with a good user experience. Compared to other alternatives, it is an expensive PDF editor.
PDFelement

PDFelement
PDFelement is a standout PDF editor designed for Windows users. It offers a free trial for basic PDF editing, and its paid version delivers excellent value at an affordable price when compared to other PDF editing software options. With PDFelement, you can effortlessly annotate, edit, convert, add signatures, fill forms, and transform PDF documents.
Features

  • PDFelement provides you with the ability to create PDFs, edit text and images in existing PDFs, secure and digitally sign your PDFs, convert PDFs, and fill out PDF forms.
  • Using this editor, converting scanned documents into editable PDF files is incredibly easy.
  • There is support for Optical Character Recognition (OCR).
  • It can compress and optimize documents.
  • It allows you to add a digital signature.

Merits

Demerits

Using PDFelement is easy for beginners as well as professionals. In the trial version, there are only a few features.
Before purchasing, users can test it with a trial version.
You can edit/extract PDF files using OCR technology.
Your documents are secured with this tool.
A variety of functions are available, including editing, converting, annotating, signing, protecting, and compressing PDF files.
Additionally, it provides Document Cloud services, which make it possible to access your cloud documents from any device.
AbleWord PDF Editor

AbleWord PDF Editor
While it may not enjoy the same level of popularity as some other options, we regard it as one of the top-notch free PDF editors. AbleWord stands out because it functions as a word processor, allowing for effortless PDF editing similar to working with a standard word document. Beyond basic capabilities like image reformatting, header and footer manipulation, and table creation, AbleWord boasts a variety of useful features. Furthermore, it includes a handy spell checker for your convenience.
Features

  • With AbleWord, you can add tables. headers and footers.
  • Formatting the image is also possible.
  • It also includes features like print preview, and spell-check.

Merits

Demerits

It comes with a variety of MS Word features. The quality of its output falls short of some top PDF editors.
It is free and equipped with an easy-to-use interface. A limited number of features are available.
Nitro Pro PDF File Editor

Nitro Pro PDF File Editor
Nitro Pro offers a multitude of PDF file editing capabilities, encompassing functions like editing, merging, reviewing, and facilitating collaboration. Additionally, Nitro’s editor enables you to effortlessly fill, sign, and enhance the security of your PDF documents. This software is compatible with all Windows operating systems and is available in two versions: Personal and Business.
Features

  • With Nitro, you can share and eSign documents.
  • It has the capability to generate PDF files from various printable formats and transform them into Doc, PPT, and XLS formats.
  • You have the capability to construct and populate forms, examine and add notes to pages, as well as arrange them systematically.
  • With this tool, you will have advanced security.
  • It allows users to share and store PDF documents.

Merits

Demerits

It uses OCR technology to edit scanned PDFs. Limited features are available in the trial version.
It is simple to use and quick as well. In comparison with other top PDF editing software, it is expensive.

Revamping PDFs has now become a breeze thanks to these leading, no-cost PDF editors. Simply drag and drop your files, and within seconds, your document is ready for editing. However, there may be instances where your PDF files become corrupted or inaccessible, delaying the editing process until we can regain access to our files. To tackle such a serious problem, you must always keep a PDF repair tool like Kernel for PDF Repair.

Kernel for PDF Repair is a powerful tool that helps you repair corrupted PDF files and fix the PDF Error the file is damaged and could not be repaired. The software boasts a robust data recovery algorithm and a user-friendly interactive graphical user interface, ensuring effortless usage. With this tool, you can effortlessly repair multiple corrupted PDF files simultaneously, preserving all data, formatting, and properties intact. Additionally, this advanced utility can successfully restore hyperlinks, contacts, notes, page structures, cross-references, and tables. Equipped with robust recovery mechanisms and an intuitive user interface, it empowers you to restore any version of Adobe Acrobat PDFs with ease.

Final Say

In this concise article, we’ve gathered a selection of the top six free PDF editors, each offering its own set of distinctive features. The choice of the perfect editor for your specific needs is entirely up to you. Additionally, it’s advisable to have a PDF repair tool like Kernel for PDF Repair on hand as a precaution against potential PDF corruption issues. This advanced repair tool can be easily downloaded at no cost and is straightforward to use.

Kernel for PDF Repair