20 Best Free PDF Editors of 2024

Best Free PDF Editors

These are the best free PDF editors to help you read, edit, split & merge your PDF documents without any hassle.

Technology

Updated on November 06, 2024

Best Free PDF Editors

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Let's face it, PDF editing is a hassle and comes with a lot of challenges. Making changes in PDF is hard, especially for people who aren't experts. However, now there are a bunch of different top free PDF editors that make the experience easier.

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Best Free PDF Editors for Android, iPhone and iPad

WPS Office

1. WPS Office

Product Rating

4.5

4.7

Tech Specifications

Metrics Android iOS
Latest Version : 18.7.3 11.33.82
Size : 147 MB 474.4 MB
Device Supported : Requires Android 5.0 and up Requires iOS 14.0 or later
Subscription : Free (In-app Purchases) Free (In-app Purchases)

Why we picked it!

WPS Office is a versatile office suite that simplifies document management. It offers PDF editing and file conversion while integrating with Word, Excel, and Slide and is enhanced by an AI assistant.

Top Features

  • Convert and export to file types of your choice, like Docs, PDFs, or Pictures
  • The app comes with visually appealing templates
  • Share your files easily by sharing their links on other apps like WhatsApp
  • Edit, sign, or fill the form on any PDF document using this amazing app

More about product

This free PDF editor for Android and iOS offers a range of tools for professionals and students. It quickly converts and annotates PDF pages. This app is a comprehensive office suite with both free and premium features.

With this free PDF editor for iPad, you also get additional tools such as Excel, Word, Slide, etc. This means you can create Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and more on a single platform and export them in your preferred formats.

Moreover, it also features an AI assistant that analyzes your documents to answer questions. WPS provides ready-to-use templates for presentations and supports e-signatures. This can make the entire work process for the user incredibly simple.

PDF Optim

2. PDF Optim

Product Rating

4.7

Tech Specifications

Metrics Android iOS
Latest Version : NA 5.0.1
Size : NA 15.8 MB
Device Supported : NA Requires iOS 12.0 or later
Subscription : NA Free (In-app Purchases)

Why we picked it!

PDF Optim delivers straightforward PDF compression and optimization capabilities. Premium plan of PDF Optim unlocks more frequent exports, streamlining document management.

Top Features

  • Auto compression mode to create the smallest size PDFs
  • Resize raster images with image resolution control
  • Capability to password-protect PDFs
  • Optimize vector images from heavy image-based PDFs

More about product

PDF Optim is another compelling option in our list. The app provides a simple and intuitive way to work with PDF files. It lets you compress, optimize, and reduce PDF documents simply by using a smartphone. 

The application offers an effective way to compress large images and turn them into PDFs. Aside from this, PDF Optim offers a wide range of features that let users do their work quickly and efficiently. 

The app features an auto compression option that automatically reduces the file size of the document to optimize storage space. However, there are some limitations to the app. For one, the free version of the app only allows you to export one compressed or edited PDF in a week. Although, you can remove this barrier by purchasing their premium plan.   

Nitro PDF Pro

3. Nitro PDF Pro

Product Rating

3.7

Tech Specifications

Metrics Android iOS
Latest Version : NA 7.3
Size : NA 32.5 MB
Device Supported : NA Requires iOS 15.0 or later
Subscription : NA Free (In-app Purchases)

Why we picked it!

Nitro PDF Pro offers extensive PDF management capabilities like creation, editing, merging, splitting, and digital signing. This helps streamline document workflows and enhances productivity.

Top Features

  • Access and store PDFs in the cloud
  • Design and fill out digital forms within your PDFs
  • Add passwords and encryption to keep your documents safe
  • Change PDFs back into Word, Excel, or PowerPoint formats

More about product

Nitro PDF Pro is a powerful app that works with PDFs. It lets you do almost anything with your PDF files. You can make new PDFs or change other files into PDFs. You can also adjust text, put in pictures, and move pages around.

But Nitro PDF Pro does more than just edit. It also lets you combine several PDFs into one. Plus, if you need to, you can split a big PDF into smaller parts. This is super handy for managing big documents.

Sharing and signing documents is simple with Nitro PDF Pro. You can send PDFs to others for review. They can add their comments right in the document. Furthermore, you can sign PDFs digitally. This makes paperwork faster and more secure.

PDF Editor - Edit Everything!

4. PDF Editor - Edit Everything!

Product Rating

4.3

Tech Specifications

Metrics Android iOS
Latest Version : 3.9.10 NA
Size : 57 MB NA
Device Supported : Requires Android 5.0 and up NA
Subscription : Free (In-app Purchases) NA

Why we picked it!

The app offers unparalleled versatility in handling various file formats and AI-powered background removal for cleaner documents. Its extensive template library and offline functionality make it a must-have for many.

Top Features

  • Capability to sign and fill the form with ease
  • Convert your PDF to multiple formats and vice versa
  • Get 100% fully editable templates
  • Edit PDF with multiple features such as add, delete, replace, rotate, flip, etc.
  • Offers an AI-based background remover

More about product

Another great find in the field of best PDF editors is the ‘PDF Editor - Edit Everything!’ There are many PDF editor apps free and paid, that are incapable of processing and editing different formats. With PDF Editor, you get to convert any PDF, PPT, AI, Doc, etc., to files that are easily editable. 

PDF Editor uses an AI-powered background remover that can erase all the unnecessary background pictures you might have in a document. Thus giving your document a more professional feel. 

While providing top-notch PDF editing services, PDF Editor offers a brief library of pre-designed templates for documents like invoices, presentations, letters, resumes, etc. The app also features many templates for marketing Materials like flyers, posters, magazines, business cards, and much more! 

Lastly, this is one of the free PDF editing apps that are out there and have the capability to work offline as well. 

Microsoft 365 (Office)

5. Microsoft 365 (Office)

Product Rating

4.5

4.8

Tech Specifications

Metrics Android iOS
Latest Version : 16.0.16026.20172 2.82
Size : 346.66 MB 438.8 MB
Device Supported : Requires Android 9.0 and up Requires iOS 16.0 or later
Subscription : Free (In-app Purchases) Free (In-app Purchases)

Why we picked it!

Microsoft 365 was shortlisted for its comprehensive digital document management, offering seamless integration of PDF editing with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Top Features

  • Use voice commands to write using Microsoft 365
  • Scan documents using the phone camera
  • Turn pictures into data and save it on your device or drive
  • Manage Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files on a single app

More about product

Microsoft 365 is one of the best PDF editors. It has everything you need for PDFs and digital documents, making it super convenient. The perfect office app is designed to help you with all your documental requirements. 

You can save notes, turn pictures into data, and manage Word, Excel, and PowerPoint docs in a single app. Another great feature is that you can use the best productivity apps like Microsoft 365 with your voice. This best PDF editor freely offers an amazing level of accuracy in understanding voice commands. So, you can write even without touching the keypad. Its capability to convert pictures into documents is impressive. Additionally, it can simplify tasks and save time. 

Additionally, Microsoft 365 allows you to edit and collaborate with other members in real-time. So that you’re always updated about the changes and edits in the document. The app is a big name in PDF editing, providing easy and quick document edits with its paid version.

pdfFiller

6. pdfFiller

Product Rating

2.7

1.4

Tech Specifications

Metrics Android iOS
Latest Version : 10.27.22070 1.8.0
Size : 40.3 MB 35.3 MB
Device Supported : Requires Android 6.0 and up Requires iOS 15.0 or later
Subscription : Free (In-app Purchases) Free (In-app Purchases)

Why we picked it!

pdfFiller is known for its robust editing capabilities, such as digital signatures and document conversion. Complemented by a vast legal document library, it stands as a versatile PDF solution.

Top Features

  • Scan and edit your PDFs on your smartphones
  • Fill out forms, share them easily, and export them to save on your device
  • Add digital signatures to your PDF documents by drawing them
  • Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, PPT, or JPG

More about product

Among the best PDF editor free to use, pdfFiller stands out for meeting your needs and letting you edit documents anywhere. The app is equipped with features such as digital signatures, a PDF converter, easy shareability, etc. 

The app offers powerful online tools for editing, managing, and collaborating on PDF documents. pdfFiller has a unique set of features for both personal and business use. For instance, the Premium plan of pdfFiller offers a comprehensive legal document library. 

Also, the app comes with responsive customer service and an all-in-one solution to make it a top-rated option for PDF editors. Besides all these other features, pdfFiller also allows you to edit and modify the layout of the document. This means you can change the page numbering and even add and delete specific pages of the document. 

OfficeSuite

7. OfficeSuite

Product Rating

4.1

4.7

Tech Specifications

Metrics Android iOS
Latest Version : 14.3.51259 11.6.2
Size : 130 MB 208.8 MB
Device Supported : Requires Android 7.0 and up Requires iOS 16.0 or later
Subscription : Free (In-app Purchases) Free (In-app Purchases)

Why we picked it!

We chose this app for its 5 GB MobiDrive storage, optimized smartphone UI, document processing with designs, slideshow creation, and compatibility with various file types and cloud storage options.

Top Features

  • Import PDF documents, fill forms, and add signatures easily
  • Get a 5GB digital drive space to keep your documents safe
  • Sign PDFs by drawing over them
  • The intuitive layout works well with small smartphone screens

More about product

This editor comes with an in-built 5 GB MobiDrive storage that you can use to save your precious documents. The UI of OfficeSuite is well-optimized for smartphones, and you can use it to process your paperwork and add designs. 

You can even create slides and showcase them properly all through the app. Also, it allows users to work with common file types/extensions such as .png, .jpg, .zip, .tiff, .mov, .mp4, among many others. OfficeSuite gives 5 GB of free cloud storage in MobiDrive, which is automatically activated the moment you sign-in to the app. 

Moreover, users can also link their Google Drive, OneDrive, Box, or Dropbox accounts to save all their files and for better convenience. Apart from editing PDF, the app is also compatible with several Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats. It gives the users a unified ecosystem to handle all their requirements.

Document 365 Suite

8. Document 365 Suite

Product Rating

4.4

Tech Specifications

Metrics Android iOS
Latest Version : NA NA
Size : NA 268.9 MB
Device Supported : NA Requires iOS 10.0 or later
Subscription : NA Free

Why we picked it!

Document 365 Suite allows quick edits, digital signatures, and the convenience of combining PDFs into a single document. This makes it ideal for efficient document management and organization.

Top Features

  • Enables adding comments, notes, highlights, and hand-drawn marks
  • Offers tools to fill out PDF forms easily and sign documents digitally
  • Share documents with others while controlling access and permissions
  • Access to a wide range of templates for quick document creation

More about product

Document 365 Suite is among the best app to edit PDF. It helps you modify PDFs fast and easy. First off, opening a PDF with Document 365 Suite is simple. Once you're logged in, you can start editing right away. You can change the text, insert pictures, and even draw directly on the document. This is great for filling out forms or adding notes to PDFs.

Another cool feature is the ability to sign documents digitally. This means you can sign important papers right from your device, saving you time. Additionally, Document 365 Suite lets you combine multiple PDFs into one document. This is handy for organizing files or putting together reports.

Kofax Power PDF Mobile

9. Kofax Power PDF Mobile

Product Rating

4.2

4.3

Tech Specifications

Metrics Android iOS
Latest Version : 1.0.280 1.0.0.26
Size : 13.95 MB 46.3 MB
Device Supported : Requires Android 8.1 and up Requires iOS 14.0 or later
Subscription : Free Free

Why we picked it!

Kofax is a top choice due to its user-friendly design and array of features for PDF management. It's perfect for accessing and modifying PDFs on the move.

Top Features

  • Advanced viewing experience
  • Form filling and e-signature capabilities
  • Online document sharing via different platforms
  • Easy PDF scans, edits, and converting capabilities

More about product

Kofax offers a user-friendly mobile app for PDF viewing and editing that is available for both iOS and Android devices. It gives you access to your PDF files anywhere you go. Thus making it easy to scan, edit, and share documents quickly. The app supports viewing PDF packages, comments, attachments, and encrypted documents. It features a day and night mode to protect your eyes and bookmarking and text reflow options.

To make edits and annotations, you can highlight, cross out, or underline text and add comments with customizable colors and opacity. You can also use drawing tools to mark up documents in your chosen color, thickness, and opacity. That, too, is true with the ability to move and undo actions. The best part is that the app is completely free, with no in-app purchases required.

Adobe Fill & Sign

10. Adobe Fill & Sign

Product Rating

4.1

4.8

Tech Specifications

Metrics Android iOS
Latest Version : 1.9.3 23.9.0
Size : 14.5 MB 30 MB
Device Supported : Requires Android 7.0 and up Requires iOS 14.0 or later
Subscription : Free Free

Why we picked it!

Adobe Fill & Sign made its name in this list as it solves a common problem straightforwardly. It helps users to scan, fill, and e-sign documents without extra and unnecessary features.

Top Features

  • Fill imported PDFs, add signs to them, and export easily
  • Save your information to fill forms in the future faster
  • Share any imported doc using a single link or just export them
  • Scan papers using the camera of your phone and convert them into a PDF

More about product

The other name we have to share in this list of top apps to edit PDFs is Adobe Fill & Sign. With this app, you don't need to print documents to sign them. It makes adding signatures to PDFs easy. This app is great for scanning, filling out, and e-signing documents without extra and unnecessary features. 

Starting the app is easy. First, you upload the PDF you need to fill or sign. Then, you can easily tap to enter text or check marks in form fields. Adobe Fill & Sign saves your signatures and initials, which makes it faster to use next time.

Additionally, you can also share your PDFs with a link through your preferred messenger or export them for sharing. This app keeps things simple and efficient, focusing on the essential tasks you need to get done.

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How to choose the best free PDF editor for you?

In order to choose the best free PDF editors for you, you need to consider certain factors. To provide them to you, we have listed the most important ones below:

1. Features of the App

The best app for PDF editing should have a variety of features to make the user's work easy. In fact, some of the common features that a PDF editor should have are editing, the capability to add annotations, highlighting content, filling out forms, merging and splitting PDFs, etc. 

Additionally to this, these best apps for PDF editing should be capable of editing multiple file formats. Some editing apps are also considered as best artificial intelligence apps because of their generative AI capabilities. Also, from a user perspective, it is essential to determine features as per your requirement and download the one that is suitable for you.

2. UI/UX

User interface and user experience are two of the most important components for the best PDF editors. It primarily means that these apps should have an intuitive user interface. UI should be clean and organized, which eases the user and helps him access tools with ease. A good UI/UX is one that is self-explanatory and completely devoid of any confusion.

3. Security and Privacy Features

A PDF editor app, free or paid, should take privacy and security concerns seriously into account. The reason behind that is simple. Several times, people have been using PDF editors with sensitive files such as social security number cards, driver’s licenses, passports, etc. Therefore, it is important that the application used should comply with the data protection standards.

4. Ad-free Experience

An application needs to have a revenue model otherwise, it won’t be able to survive. However, too many ads at every step are not ideal. Most best free PDF editors have a version that, upon payment, gives an ad-free experience. 

However, if you choose to go for ads for the free version, make sure that they are limited in number. Your app will attract more traction, making users want to stay longer and come back. That's because there won't be annoying ads getting in the way. Enjoy a seamless experience every time!

5. Compatibility with OSs

It doesn’t matter whether it is an app to edit PDF on Android or a free PDF editor for iPad. It is important that the application that is being used is compatible with multiple operating systems. Some of the most common operating systems with which it should be compatible are Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, etc. In fact, it should also have a web-based version.

6. File Size and Performance

A majority of free PDF editing apps take a lot of juice from the system. The juice is basically the memory of the system, RAM, and processor required in order to run the application. Aside from this, the PDF app itself shouldn’t be a huge application. 

7. Support and Updates

In order to become the best free app to edit PDFs, the app should provide regular updates and support for the system. This includes security patches, bug fixes, and compatibility with the latest version of the operating systems.

How we tested these free PDF Tools and Editors?

Selecting a PDF editor is not the last step. Users also need to test it out and see whether it meets their needs or not. This includes evaluating numerous features, ease of use, performance, and compatibility with different operating systems:

1. Identify the Requirements

Before establishing the list of apps to edit PDFs on Android, it is essential to identify the requirements. Every person has their own use case when using an application, and so is the case with free PDF editing apps. Therefore, it is essential to segregate the PDF apps based on the features required. This could be editing capabilities, file format handling, annotations, etc., and check the efficacy of the application for that feature.

2. Downloading and Installation

Once you are done creating the list of free PDF editing apps. It is finally time to download and install the application on your system or smartphone.

3. Evaluation of Interface

A good application is one with a good interface. To begin, use the app. Then, check if it's easy to go from the home page to other pages. This helps ensure smooth navigation for users. Top free PDF editors have features organized in the user interface. This makes it easy for people with different levels of tech knowledge to use them comfortably.

4. Text Editing

This can be done by simply opening a text sample on your system using the PDF editor application. Once the text file has been loaded onto the app, we start editing the text and try out different features provided by the app. The idea here is to check the ease of usage.

5. Image Handling

A PDF is a combination of text and images. Therefore not just text but a PDF should be able to handle images too. To see the effectiveness of an app in this department, we check out the crop feature, resize, rotate, etc.

6. Markup and Annotation Feature

Annotation and markup are essential for both paid and a free PDF editor for Android. A PDF is majorly just a document that comprises various data points. Therefore in order for an app to be known as the best app for editing PDFs, the app should be capable of adding data, highlighting, strikeout text, etc.

7. Form Filling

PDF editors are often used with forms. Therefore, simply try out an empty form and see if the free PDF editing app will allow you to fill it out.

8. Page Manipulation

There can be a PDF with a single page. However, usually, it is a combination of several pages joined together. Therefore, the PDF editing app should have the capability to manipulate the sequence of the page, i.e., rearranging them to the likeness.

9. Conversion of Documents

There are several file formats that are often used. Make sure the PDF editor is compatible with them and is capable of converting them to PDF. 

10. Performance of the App

A good PDF editing app requires fewer resources and runs with ease using your current system. There are several applications in the market for PDF editing that are very demanding in terms of resources.

11. Compatibility of the App

The app should be compatible with multiple operating systems. Some of the most common operating systems that it should be compatible with are Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, etc. 

12. Compare it with Other Editors

There are several PDF editor apps that are available in the market. It is important to check and compare one application with the other. This helps us understand the efficacy of one application over the other. For example, some applications have great features but have tons of ads, while some support more file formats. These are small differences that need to be considered and compared to figure out the best application for you.

Difference Between PDF Reader Apps V.S. PDF Annotation Apps V.S. PDF Editor Apps

 

Feature PDF Reader Apps PDF Annotation Apps PDF Editor Apps
Primary Use Viewing and reading PDF files Adding notes, comments, highlights, or other marks to PDF documents Making comprehensive changes to the content of PDF files, including text, images, and layout
Text Interaction Limited for searching and copying text Includes text highlighting, underlining, and adding text notes Full text editing capabilities, such as adding, deleting, and modifying text
Image Interaction Minimal, primarily viewing Annotating on or around images with notes or marks Ability to add, delete, replace, and resize images within the document
File Conversion Limited or not supported Rarely supported Supports converting PDFs to and from various formats, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and image formats
Price Range Have a free version Can range from free to premium, depending on the features Typically require a purchase or subscription, especially for full editing capabilities
Examples Adobe Acrobat Reader, Foxit Reader GoodReader, Xodo, Adobe Acrobat Reader Adobe Acrobat Pro, Foxit PhantomPDF, and Nitro Pro

Final Verdict

So this was our take on some of the best PDF editor apps that you can try out for free (mostly only the basic version). These free PDF editor tools can be downloaded easily and without much effort through the links provided. 

We hope that the article on online PDF editors provides you with some valuable information, and helps you ease out your work processes. If you also own a similar PDF editing app, you can showcase your product by getting in touch with MobileAppDaily. Our experts will carefully evaluate its features and add the app to the list.

By MobileAppDaily Team

MobileAppDaily Desk

MobileAppDaily host a team of experienced technical writers, industry wizards, and app experts who have an exact knack of content that caters to the needs of the mobile app targeted audience. We strive to bring you the best of tech!


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