While PDF files are convenient for sending and sharing virtually, you need a tool to directly edit their content. PDF editors allow fans of the superior file type to alter its contents with the ease of the lesser .docx file. No more will your friends laugh at your unaltered text fields. In all seriousness, free PDF editors come in many shapes and sizes, each with benefits for different use cases. Understanding the limitations and capabilities of each will help you make the right choice for your needs.

The free PDF editors covered in this piece are:

• Best App for Free PDF Editing: PDFgear
• Best Free PDF Editor for Mac: Apple Preview
• Free PDF Editor for Students: Sejda PDF Editor
• Best Free Open-Source PDF Editor: PDFSam Basic
• Free PDF App for iPhone: Smallpdf
• Free PDF Editor for Chromebook: PDFescape (Online)
• Best Free PDF Editor for Windows: PDF Candy
• Free PDF Form Filler: Adobe Acrobat Reader

Top 8 Free PDF Editors

Best App for Free PDF Editing: PDFgear

Unlimited, free AI-assisted PDF editing available for all platforms.

Pros

• Full editing capabilities, including annotations and text editing.
• AI tools for conversational PDF searching.
• Free without watermarks or task limits.

Cons

• No form creation or text editing tools in the web app.
• Some conversion and PDF security features are not available.
• Creators plan to start paywalling some features at some point in the future.

Specifications Overview

• Platforms Supported: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web-based.
• Free Usage Limits: No restrictions on tasks or file size.
• Top Features: Editing, annotations, AI tools.
• Premium Options: Not applicable—fully free.

PDFgear is the best option for a fully free PDF editor available on all operating systems for most use cases. It offers all the tools most users need, as well as AI-driven enhancements.

PDFgear supports essential functions like annotations, compression, and file type conversion on the web. You’ll have to download the free desktop and mobile app to get features like text editing, eSignatures, and form filling.

PDFgear’s creators say they eventually plan to start charging for premium features, like AI-powered document search (“chat with a PDF”), but that they will notify their users in advance and have no timeline in mind at the moment. For now, PDFgear is free to use with no limits, making it an attractive option as long as you don’t need to convert to a less common file type or have other more specific editing needs.

Best Free PDF Editor for Mac: Apple Preview

A free, built-in tool with powerful editing and annotation capabilities.

Pros

• Free and pre-installed on all macOS devices.
• Excellent for annotations, signing, and combining PDFs.
• Easy-to-use interface integrates with macOS features.

Cons

• Limited text editing options.
• Lacks advanced features like OCR.
• Only available on macOS.

Specifications Overview

• Platforms Supported: macOS.
• Free Usage Limits: No limits—fully free.
• Top Features: Annotation, signing, combining PDFs.

Apple Preview is a useful tool for Mac users, offering a convenient way to handle PDFs without downloading additional software. Its standout features include annotation, signing, and merging files.

Preview is the default app that will open PDFs from Finder on macOS devices. It doesn’t offer OCR features that would allow you to edit existing text, but you can add new text, annotations, or shapes.

Preview allows for form fill and digital signatures, as well as file compression. You can also convert to some file types, extract images, or password protect your PDFs.

For Mac users who don’t need to edit text or convert to unsupported file types, Preview might have everything you need without having to choose any new software at all.

Free PDF Editor for Students: Sejda

Pros

• Free editing for up to 200 pages or 50MB files.
• Clean interface with 19 language options.
• Includes advanced tools like form creation.

Cons

• Capped at 3 free tasks per day.
• Slower processing speeds.
• Limited file conversion options.

Specifications Overview

• Free Usage Limits: Up to 200 pages or 50 MB per file.
• Platforms Supported: Windows, macOS, Linux, Web-based.
• Languages Supported: 19 languages.
• Premium Options: Week pass ($5), monthly subscription ($7.50/month), or annual subscription ($63/year).

Sejda offers higher page limits than some of the other options on its free plans, processing documents up to 200 pages. The best features of this tool are the easy, reliable text editing and splitting features. The ability to edit existing text, extract pages, and create fillable forms in a free tool is fantastic. These go beyond many of its competitors in scope and usability.

For the majority of users, Sejda offers the common tools that most need. Those looking for comprehensive file types or AI functions may find it lacking.

This tool also supports a huge number of languages for its text alteration and UI. Full support for 19 languages is offered on its home page. The UI is clean and friendly to less experienced users, though more advanced features will still require some tech skill. 

Sejda has a limit of three files per day on the free tier, which will be a major problem for anyone working in a professional setting with a large volume of documents. Personal and occasional users may not run into trouble with this limit. Processing may also take a little longer than other services. 

Sejda does let free users process longer and larger documents than many competitors with page limits — up to 200 pages or 50MB. This could be handy for students or others who work less often with larger page counts.

The paid tiers offer unlimited documents with no daily document or page limits. Those with very long documents will find this offering nearly unique. Paid tiers also support processing multiple files at once and file sizes up to 500MB.

Uniquely, Sejda offers a week pass for $5. If you have an abundance of files, or very long PDFs, to process in a short period of time this may be a fantastic option. Longer-term paid tiers are $7.50 per month or $63 per year. Only the annual subscription comes with access to the desktop app.

Best Free Open-Source PDF Editor: PDFSam Basic

Open-source PDF editor with powerful file manipulation tools.

Pros

• Free and open-source with no usage limits.
• Excellent for splitting, merging, and extracting PDFs.
• Lightweight software for offline use.

Cons

• Lacks text editing and form-filling capabilities.
• User interface is less polished than paid alternatives.
• Advanced features are locked behind paid tiers.

Specifications Overview

• Platforms Supported: Windows, macOS, Linux.
• Free Usage Limits: Unlimited access to splitting, merging, and extracting tools.
• Top Features: File splitting, merging, and extracting.
• Advanced Features: Available in paid versions (e.g. PDFSam Enhanced).

What list of free software would be complete without the open-source offering? PDFSam Basic is a desktop service designed to allow users free access to limitless PDF manipulation. Users can split, merge, extract, and alter to their heart’s content.

It is worth noting that more advanced features are limited to paid PDFSam tiers. This software will not allow for text editing and form filling. This is more of a file editor for those slicing and dicing their PDFs. Those looking for form-filling capabilities will find a better fit elsewhere. 

The open-source nature means the user interface will not be as polished as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) tool. PDFSam Basic is best for those processing a significant volume of PDF files, where that processing is limited to rotating, merging, splitting, inserting, etc. It is less well suited for filling forms or signatures, converting file types, or doing text or image editing. 

Best PDF App for iPhone: Smallpdf

Simplifies PDF editing and management with an intuitive mobile app.

Pros

• Easy-to-use app with a wide range of basic tools, including compression and merging.
• Free plan supports two tasks per day.
• Accessible on both iOS and Android devices.

Cons

• Free version limits the number of daily tasks to 2.
• Requires internet for most features.
• Lacks advanced editing options like text editing.

Specifications Overview

• Platforms Supported: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Web-based.
• Free Usage Limits: Two tasks per day.
• Premium Plans: Starting at $9/month for unlimited use.
• Top Features: Compression, merging, signing, and basic editing.

Smallpdf is a good option for simple, free PDF editing and conversion, offering an intuitive design that simplifies complex tasks like compressing and merging files. Its lightweight mobile app is great for professionals and students managing documents on the go.

The free version is sufficient for occasional users, with a limit of two tasks per day for most tasks and 20-30 prompts about a maximum of four documents for its AI features, including summarization and translation.

Smallpdf’s premium plan unlocks unlimited access to its suite of tools, although file sizes are still limited to 50MB and 100k words for AI tasks. Text editing, OCR, image extraction, and some conversion types are also only available on the premium plan.

Smallpdf offers mobile apps for iOS and Android, desktop apps for Mac and Windows, and a web platform, allowing for flexibility across devices. Its ease of use makes it great for those who need basic PDF editing capabilities on the go.

Free PDF Editor for Chromebook: PDFescape (Online)

A versatile browser-based PDF editor with robust editing, form-filling, and annotation tools.

Pros

• Free online tool with no installation required.
• Supports text editing, form filling, and digital signatures.
• Offers advanced features like PDF encryption and hyperlinking.

Cons

• File size capped at 10MB and 100 pages for free users.
• Free version includes ads and a dated user interface.
• Limited file storage (10 files for up to 7 days in the free plan).

Specifications Overview

• Platforms Supported: Web-based (all plans), Desktop (premium plans, view and print only on free plan).
• Free Usage Limits: Files up to 10MB or 100 pages; store up to 10 files for 7 days.
• Paid Plans:
  • Premium ($2.99/month): Files up to 40MB and 1000 pages, offline desktop use, no ads, and additional tools like page extraction and compression.
  • Ultimate ($5.99/month): Adds form publishing, response collection, eSignatures, encryption, and advanced editing features.
• Top Features: Text editing, form filling, annotation, encryption.

PDFescape is an online family of tools that offer a wide array of PDF-altering functionality. Users can take advantage of PDF editing, form filling, design, and annotation. While their website looks rather dated and the interface of the free version will have ads, the capabilities are strong. 

The free version offers all the basic features you could want in a PDF editor. Text and shapes can be added and manipulated. More advanced features like PDF encryption and links to other files are also supported.

Its brother and sister tools, aptly called PDF Form Filler and PDF Reader are similarly comprehensive. Once again, you can expect the complete experience with a slightly dated UI. You will need to use PDF Form Filler for any digital signature needs at the free level, as PDFescape only includes digital signatures at the Ultimate tier.

Most of the free tools do have certain limitations. File sizes are capped at 10MB for free users, and can not exceed 100 pages. You will also find you cannot store more than 10 files, and not for more than 7 days. 

For personal use, this is unlikely to be a problem for most. Those looking for a PDF editor for professional environments or higher quantities may want to look elsewhere or pay for Premium.

The paid tiers come in 2 plans, Premium and Ultimate. These cost $2.99 and $5.99/Month respectively: 

1. The Premium tier allows users up to 1000 page files that can be as large as 40MB in size. They can store up to 100 files for up to 30 days. Ads are removed, and the experience can be transferred offline to a desktop app. Users can also extract individual pages, and will have access to file compression and merging.
2. The Ultimate tier offers all these features, along with form publishing and response collection. Encryption and eSignature collection is also offered here. Redaction and more advanced editing features are also available. This plan is clearly tailored to those with greater security requirements, or those in small, professional settings. 

Who is PDFescape right for? Overall, this set of tools is perfect for those with a wide array of needs for personal use. The browser-based system is convenient and requires no setup. The paid plans are okay, though there may be options more suited to professional environments. The UI is decent, but some users may find it dated and difficult to navigate. 

Best Free PDF Editor for Windows: PDF Candy

Unmatched versatility for converting and filling PDFs in an intuitive browser-based or Windows desktop platform.

Pros

• Extensive range of tools, including file conversion, resizing, and watermarking.
• Allows text and image extraction for advanced editing needs.
• Simple, user-friendly interface perfect for quick tasks.

Cons

• Free version limits users to one task per hour.
• File size capped at 10MB for free users.
• Desktop access requires paying for the premium plan.

Specifications Overview

• Platforms Supported: Browser-based, Desktop.
• Free Usage Limits: One task per hour; files up to 10MB.
• Paid Plans:
  • $6/month or $4/month (annual billing): Removes limits, 500MB file cap, unlocks all tools and desktop version.
  • $99 one-time fee: Unlocks desktop version.
• Top Features: File conversion, text/image extraction, form filling, PDF creation.

PDF Candy is a free PDF tool that lets you convert PDF files to nearly any type of file that would be useful. The user interface is extraordinarily simple. PDFcandy offers a web app and Windows desktop app. In terms of raw number of features, this tool is unmatched. 

File conversion and resizing, image and text extraction, and watermarking, are all accessible and easy to use. Users can also generate PDFs from nearly any file type.

The free version has one catch: It limits you to 1 conversion per hour. This limits its functionality to personal and very limited professional use. Tradespeople may find themselves able to work around this limitation, with single PDF quotes over long periods of time. Others will find this prohibitive.

For those looking for the premium versions, there are a few available. A one-time fee of $99 is available, as is subscription billing is also available for $6/Month, or $4/Month when billed yearly.

Premium plans offer no hourly limits and increase the file size cap to 500MB, large enough for most needs. The subscription plans also offer access to image and video editing tools.

Who is PDF Candy right for? Those looking for file conversions in a professional setting may find the one-time fee more than worth it. The tool is incredibly simple to use, and can do nearly anything you could need. It may be less suited to professional use at the free tier for those who need to process large volumes of files.

Free PDF Form Filler: Adobe Acrobat Reader

Industry-standard PDF management with mobile flexibility.

Pros

• Free for viewing, annotating, and signing PDFs.
• Integrates with iCloud and other cloud services.
• Industry leader in PDF tools with a trusted brand name.

Cons

• Advanced features require a subscription.
• Slightly heavier app compared to competitors.
• Limited free editing options.

Specifications Overview

• Platforms Supported: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web-based.
• Free Usage Limits: Basic viewing, form fill, and annotation free.
• Premium Plans: Starting at $12.99/month for advanced features.
• Top Features: Annotation, signing, file organization.

Adobe Acrobat Reader is the definitive PDF tool, reliable for viewing, annotating, and organizing PDFs. Its integration with cloud services like iCloud makes it a convenient option for desktop and mobile workflows.

Adobe Acrobat Reader’s free version includes annotation and form fill, and is a good option if you want to use a trusted, well-known software to fill out or sign a form that someone sends you occasionally. If you need to do any editing or file organizing, you’ll need to pay for a premium version at $12.99+/month or choose one of the other options on the list.

Here to Help You Find the Right Free PDF Editor

Free and inexpensive PDF tools like the ones we selected offer a wide variety of features, from basic annotation and form filling to advanced file conversion and text recognition. Each tool on our list caters to specific needs, whether you’re a student handling assignments, a professional managing documents, or someone seeking an all-purpose PDF editor. Here’s a quick recap of our top picks:

1. PDFgear: Best App for Free PDF Editing
2. Apple Preview: Best Free PDF Editor for Mac
3. Sejda PDF Editor: Free PDF Editor for Students
4. PDFSam Basic: Best Free Open-Source PDF Editor
5. Smallpdf: Free PDF App for iPhone
6. PDFescape: Free PDF Editor for Chromebook
7. PDF Candy: Best Free PDF Editor for Windows
8. Adobe Acrobat Reader: Free PDF Form Filler

If you’re ready to explore premium options or need a deeper comparison of features, visit our PDF Editor page to find the perfect solution for your workflow. Whether you need free or paid tools, our detailed reviews and recommendations will help you make the best choice.