A better fit starts here.
Explore exact editions, see the tradeoffs, then select the features you can’t leave behind.
Adobe Acrobat
Reader · desktopA free reader for reviewing, filling and signing existing PDF documents.
- Fill existing forms
- Annotate & sign
Reader cannot edit existing text or images. A paid Acrobat plan unlocks different tools; this record does not cover the web subscription.
LibreOffice Draw
DesktopAn open-source drawing workflow with PDF form export and a documented redacted-export process.
- Create fillable forms
Use the dedicated Redacted Export command for final output. Existing PDF layout fidelity and permanent removal have not been tested.
Microsoft Edge
Built-in PDF reader · desktopThe browser’s built-in PDF reader can open local documents, add annotations and fill supported forms.
- Annotate & sign
XFA forms are unsupported. Ink and added text do not establish editing of an existing PDF paragraph or creation of interactive fields.
7 editions ruled out · see why
Apple Preview Included with macOS: Windows is not supported by this edition.
PDF24 Online Tools: Windows is not supported by this edition.
PDFgear macOS: Windows is not supported by this edition.
iLovePDF Premium annual · web workflow: Windows is not supported by this edition.
PDF Expert Mac Premium Annual: Windows is not supported by this edition.
Smallpdf Pro · web workflow: Windows is not supported by this edition.
Stirling PDF Self-hosted instance: Windows is not supported by this edition.
Browse every edition in this category
Open the exact edition to check its capabilities, sources and limits. These entries are candidates, not a ranked list.
| Software edition | Platforms | Purchase basis | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABBYY FineReader PDF Standard annual · Windows | Windows | $99.00 / yearUSD · verify current terms | Corporate adds document comparison and Hot Folder automation. The Mac subscription is a different product and is not covered by this Windows record. |
| Adobe Acrobat Pro · individual annual, billed monthly | Windows, macOS | $19.99 / monthUSD · verify current terms | Annual commitment billed monthly; not a cancel-anytime monthly plan. Teams, Studio and optional AI add-ons are separate. Advertised redaction is not an independently verified sanitization result. |
| Adobe Acrobat Reader · desktop | Windows, macOS | FreeUSD · verify current terms | Reader cannot edit existing text or images. A paid Acrobat plan unlocks different tools; this record does not cover the web subscription. |
| Adobe Acrobat Standard · individual annual, billed monthly | Windows, macOS | $14.99 / monthUSD · verify current terms | Annual commitment billed monthly; not a cancel-anytime monthly plan. Teams, Studio and optional AI add-ons are separate. The comparison reserves scanned-PDF recognition and redaction for Pro. |
| Apple Preview Included with macOS | macOS | FreeUSD · verify current terms | Do not equate markup with existing-paragraph editing. Redaction is documented but its saved output has not passed our extraction fixture. |
| Foxit PDF Editor PDF Editor 14 Perpetual | Windows, macOS | $209.99 onceUSD · verify current terms | The perpetual edition excludes bundled AI Assistant, Workspace and Smart Redact. Reviews of Editor+ subscriptions are not proof of this edition’s features. |
| iLovePDF Premium annual · web workflow | Browser | $60.00 / yearUSD · verify current terms | This record scopes the cloud web workflow; bundled desktop and mobile apps can process files differently. Adding text does not establish editing an existing paragraph. |
| LibreOffice Draw Desktop | Windows, macOS, Linux | FreeUSD · verify current terms | Use the dedicated Redacted Export command for final output. Existing PDF layout fidelity and permanent removal have not been tested. |
| Microsoft Edge Built-in PDF reader · desktop | Windows, macOS | FreeUSD · verify current terms | XFA forms are unsupported. Ink and added text do not establish editing of an existing PDF paragraph or creation of interactive fields. |
| Nitro PDF Standard · Windows subscription | Windows | Price needs checkingUSD · verify current terms | This replaces the blueprint’s ambiguous “Nitro PDF Pro” label. Classic is a separate three-year license; Plus adds enterprise controls. A stable numeric checkout price was not available in the reviewed page. |
| Okular Desktop | Linux, Windows | FreeUSD · verify current terms | Annotations and form filling do not establish existing paragraph editing or fillable-form creation. Check platform-specific signing requirements. |
| PDF24 Creator | Windows | FreeUSD · verify current terms | Adding text is not the same as reliably editing existing paragraph text. |
| PDF24 Online Tools | Browser | FreeUSD · verify current terms | Online processing uploads files to PDF24 servers. |
| PDF Expert Mac Premium Annual | macOS | $79.99 / yearUSD · verify current terms | This record covers the Mac annual subscription. The separate lifetime Mac license has different update terms. Form filling does not establish form creation. |
| PDFgear macOS | macOS | FreeUSD · verify current terms | The redaction tool is advertised, but permanent removal has not been tested. AI assistance can use online services. |
| PDFgear Windows | Windows | FreeUSD · verify current terms | OCR conversion does not establish scanned-page editing fidelity. Form creation and permanent redaction were not established for this Windows edition. |
| PDF-XChange Editor | Windows | $62.00 onceUSD · verify current terms | Form creation and Enhanced OCR require Editor Plus. Manual offline activation needs a connected second device for the license exchange. |
| PDF-XChange Editor Plus | Windows | $79.00 onceUSD · verify current terms | Windows Editor Plus includes form creation and Enhanced OCR. Manual offline activation still needs a second connected device for the license exchange. |
| Sejda PDF Desktop Free | Windows, macOS, Linux | FreeUSD · verify current terms | Three tasks per day; OCR up to 10 pages; other document limits apply. |
| Sejda PDF Desktop + Web Annual | Windows, macOS, Linux | $63.00 / yearUSD · verify current terms | Desktop and web processing differ; verify your exact task before moving files. |
| Smallpdf Pro · web workflow | Browser | Price needs checkingUSD · verify current terms | The web workflow uploads documents. Desktop and mobile processing may differ. The pricing page did not expose a stable numeric rate; no trial or historical figure is substituted. |
| Stirling PDF Self-hosted instance | Browser | Price needs checkingUSD · verify current terms | An upload goes to the configured server. Self-hosting is not automatically a free or disconnected workflow: include infrastructure, deployment, OCR dependencies and the selected licensing terms. |
The file matters as much as the feature.
Leaving Acrobat? Start with your files.
A replacement only works if it handles the documents you actually use. Run a small, reversible migration before changing your subscription.
Open checklistA practical test for your next PDF editor.
Use a small set of non-sensitive documents and a consistent checklist. One successful PDF does not demonstrate compatibility with every file or workflow.
Open checklistWhat will this software really cost?
A monthly equivalent, a one-time purchase and a free edition are not interchangeable. Compare the same number of people over the same period.
Open checklistHow to choose a PDF editor
Start with the PDF task, not the app label
Editing existing text, recognizing a scan, creating form fields and adding annotations are different jobs. Write down the tasks you use each week. An edition that opens a PDF or places a text box over it may still be unsuitable for changing the underlying paragraph.
Check the exact edition and your operating system
The same product family can offer a free viewer, a paid editor and a higher edition with form creation or enhanced OCR. Compare those editions separately. Platform support on this page is vendor-documented support, not a promise that every feature has been independently tested on every OS version.
Compare limits before comparing price
A free edition may limit daily tasks, document size or OCR pages. A perpetual license may exclude future upgrades. Use the license and budget filters to narrow the list, then read the edition’s sources and test a non-sensitive copy of your own file. Unknown costs remain unknown.
Common questions
Does OCR mean I can edit the scanned PDF?
No. OCR recognizes text in an image. Producing searchable text and editing that text while preserving the page layout are separate capabilities. Select both OCR and existing-text editing if you need both.
Can a PDF viewer create fillable forms?
Do not assume it can. Filling existing fields, typing on a page and creating reusable interactive fields are different features. Check form creation in the exact edition.