10+ best free & paid PDF editors for Windows 10/11 & Mac

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC (recommended)

There is no doubt that Adobe Acrobat PDF has established the market pace for PDF editing on Windows 10. However, it is an extremely efficient product.

Modifying PDFs is essential for large companies, for individuals and small businesses. The price, therefore, is an element of fundamental importance.

That being said, Adobe Acrobat is a high-quality software thanks to advanced features that allow users to convert, edit, annotate PDFs, and more.

Pros

• Cutting-edge features, one of the best PDF editors on the market.
• Simple to use, with a relatively intuitive user interface.
• OCR technology to edit scanned PDFs.

Cons

• More expensive than most other quality PDF editors.
• The high price makes it unsuitable for individuals and small businesses.

Compatible Systems: This PDF editor is compatible with all versions of Windows.

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

Adobe created the PDF format so it’s easy to understand why they have the best product for editing these files.

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Soda PDF

This PDF editor is among the best in its field, especially if we consider the quality-price ratio. Just like the other programs mentioned so far, Soda PDF also allows you to easily edit PDFs.

As for the editing sector is concerned, we could say that Soda PDF is absolutely among the best tools on the market.

The software exists in three different versions: Standard, Professional and Pro + OCR.

All these versions only allow you to edit and convert PDF files. The only difference is in the presence or absence of some advanced functions.

The Pro + OCR version, for example, is the only one that allows you to transform scanned PDF files into editable and searchable documents.

Pros

• The reduced cost of Soda PDF is undoubtedly among its best qualities.
• The OCR function is really effective.
• It allows you to protect and sign PDFs.

Cons

• The version with more advanced features is also the most expensive.
• Protection and signature functions are also included in the Pro version only.

Compatible Systems: Soda PDF is compatible with all versions of Windows.

Icecream PDF Editor

Editing managing pages, in general, can be a laborious process, especially if you are not using the right tool.

There are plenty of tools to use when editing and you should make sure to choose the one that is best for your needs.

We analyzed all the options out there and we believe that Icecream PDF Editor is definitely worth trying.

It has great options when it comes to editing, annotating, managing pages, or filling in forms

Not to mention that the interface is very easy to use and intuitive so you will not be wasting time searching for what you need.

You can create pdf documents from scratch and even protect them with a password. The search function and adding stamps are also not missing.

Let’s also have a look at some of the features that Icecream PDF Editor brings:

• Extracting PDF pages
• Search function.
• Editing PDF.
• Combining PDF pages.
• Splitting and merging.

Icecream PDF Editor

Icecream PDF Editor is an all-in-one software that allows you to efficiently edit all your PDF’s.

Download Visit website

Nitro Pro PDF editor

The Nitro Pro PDF editor offers a range of functionalities similar to those found in other Windows 10 editors.

Key features include editing, creating, combining, reviewing, and collaborating. In addition, the Nitro editor allows you to compile, sign, and protect PDF documents.

The software is compatible with all Windows systems.

Is available in two versions: personal and commercial. The commercial version is not free but it comes with a set of advanced features.

Pros

• Fast and easy to use.
• Presents the OCR technology, essential for editing scanned PDFs.

Cons

• Compared to other PDF editors in the ranking it is quite expensive.
• The functions of the trial version are very limited.

Compatible Systems: Works correctly on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

⇒ Get Nitro Pro PDF editor

Nuance Power PDF

Nuance Power PDF for Windows allows you to convert, annotate, modify, and protect PDF files with passwords.

As one of the best PDF editors, this tool boasts exceptional features that include even the recognition of voice notes.

With Nuance Power PDF, you can add notes simply by saying them, without having to type them.

Pros

• It allows you to edit, convert, and perform many other operations.
• It has excellent technology for speech recognition.

Cons

• More expensive than other equally valid PDF editors.
• The user interface is less intuitive than that of other PDF editors.

Compatible Systems: Nuance Power PDF is compatible with all Windows versions.

⇒ Get Nuance Power PDF

Readiris 17

Readiris Pro is ideal for both private consumers and professionals. The tool offers many advanced features that allow you to edit, annotate, protect, and sign your PDF files.

Moreover, you can edit your PDF files so as to turn them into a variety of digital formats within seconds.

When it comes to PDF editing, if you need a collaboration-focused tool, then Readiris Pro is the right choice for you.

You can attach annotations, comments, and hypertext in order to add all the necessary information.

The Readiris Pro OCR software also simplifies the archiving process of documents. How? By classifying them according to keywords. In this way, you’ll find and share them immediately.

If associated with one of the IRIS mobile scanners, this program can then manage the digitization of all types of documents (photos, invoices, contracts, recipes). Moreover, there are more than 138 languages available.

Pros

• It is enough to open the software and upload the files to merge, divide, change the order of the pages, add notes and comments, attach documents, protect them with a password.
• You can also export, modify and convert any document format (PDF, Word, PPT) to the desired one.
• Readiris Pro can also extract text from documents thus preserving the layout of the original file. It is the ideal solution to merge, protect, apply the digital signature, compress and correct a text. You can also annotate, underline, delete, reorganize the text or the order of pages and even add voice comments.

Cons

• The version with more advanced features is also the most expensive.

⇒ Get Readiris Pro

AbleWord

This PDF reader and compiler is not as popular as the tools mentioned so far, but it remains one of the best free PDF editors on the market.

AbleWord also acts as a text processor. Therefore, it allows us to edit documents with the same ease offered by Microsoft Word.

This software allows you to format images, add and edit headers and footers, manage tables, and much more. It also includes a tool for spell-checking.

Pros

• Free and easy to use.
• It supports some Microsoft Word features.
• Simple download and install.

Cons

• The functions are rather limited.
• The output quality is not up to that offered by the other PDF editors mentioned.

Compatible Systems: AbleWord can be used to edit PDFs on Windows 10 and Windows XP.

⇒ Get AbleWord

PDF Buddy

PDF Buddy is another tool that deserves a place in the list of the best PDF editors. The service is free and requires no download or installation to be used.

In fact, PDF Buddy allows you to easily edit PDF documents directly online.

Since all the functions are executable on the web, you do not need to install any software.

Pros

• Loading and editing documents is very simple.
• The instructions are clear and allow you to complete the operations quickly.
• The signing of documents takes only a few seconds.
• This is a free PDF editor for Windows.

Cons

• The functions are very limited and there are several operations that you could not perform at all. For example, PDF Buddy does not allow you to merge documents or create new PDFs.
• Since editing operations are performed completely online, it is safe to worry about file security.

Compatible Systems: PDF Buddy is a completely free service compatible with all Windows systems, from XP to 10.

⇒ Get PDF Buddy

Foxit Phantom PDF

Foxit Phantom PDF is an effective PDF editor for Windows 10. This software has tools for editing, merging, and dividing PDFs, annotating and sharing documents, creating forms, and converting PDFs in other formats.

In addition, Phantom PDF also allows you to encrypt PDFs, edit them, and sign them.

Pros

• It provides a free 14-day trial period.
• The OCR function allows you to work with scanned PDF documents.

Cons

• The trial version has very limited functions.
• The user interface of this PDF editor is very unintuitive.

Compatible Systems: It supports all Windows versions.

⇒ Get Foxit Phantom PDF

Sejda PDF Editor

Sejda is a free PDF editor that has earned a place on our list due to its excellent features. This tool allows you to edit PDFs with great ease.

In addition, it has functions to insert signatures, comments, and links, create PDF forms and modify any elements contained in PDFs.

Pros

• The tool allows you to change an unlimited number of documents.
• It has no page or time limits.

Cons

• Not as secure as other PDF publishers.
• Being an online PDF editor, it lacks the OCR function.
• The user interface is not very intuitive.

Compatible Systems: Sejda PDF is compatible with all versions of Windows.

⇒ Get Sejda PDF Editor