Best PDF Editors — Online & Desktop (Free & Paid)
Curated PDF editor tools to edit text, annotate, fill & sign, merge/split, and run OCR. Updated .
Top Online PDF Editors
No install · Works in browserAdobe Acrobat Online PDF Editor
Free tierTrusted web editor from the PDF inventor. Add text and comments, fill & sign. Deeper editing in Acrobat desktop.
- • Annotate & comments
- • Fill & eSign
- • Convert tools
- • Cloud workspace
Sejda PDF Editor (Online)
Free limitsOne of the few online tools that can edit existing PDF text, plus images, links, and form filling.
- • Edit existing text
- • Add images/links
- • Fill forms
- • Annotations
Smallpdf Edit PDF
Free limitsQuick add text, shapes, images, highlights, and notes; Pro plan unlocks editing of existing text.
- • Add text & shapes
- • Highlights & notes
- • Cloud storage
- • Pro: edit text
iLovePDF Edit PDF
FreeSimple online editor to add text, shapes, comments, and highlights; integrates with the iLovePDF toolkit.
- • Add text & shapes
- • Comments
- • Highlights
- • Toolkit integrations
PDF Candy Editor
Free limitsEdit PDFs in-browser: add text and images (including by URL), draw, and more within a secure session.
- • Add text/images
- • Draw tools
- • Secure session
- • Toolkit (90+)
PDFescape (Online)
FreeBrowser editor to view, fill forms, annotate; desktop version adds conversions and advanced editing.
- • View & annotate
- • Fill forms
- • Desktop: edit text/images
- • Convert/merge
DocHub Online PDF Editor
Free limitsEdit, sign, and share PDFs with collaboration and Drive integration.
- • Edit & annotate
- • eSign & share
- • Drive integration
- • Templates
Soda PDF Online Editor
Free toolsPixel-level controls for inserting text and images with quick export; desktop and online options.
- • Insert text/images
- • Organize pages
- • Convert
- • Desktop app
Foxit Online PDF Editor
Free toolsFast web editor to add text, annotate, fill & sign; pairs with Foxit’s powerful desktop suite.
- • Add text
- • Annotate
- • Fill & eSign
- • Cloud space
PDF2Go Editor
FreeEdit, draw, highlight, and add watermarks in a simple browser interface.
- • Draw & highlight
- • Add watermark
- • Rotate/organize
- • Free basic tools
PDF24 Tools Editor
100% FreeFree suite with in-browser editor, redact, metadata, bookmarks, and many utilities.
- • Edit pages & text
- • Redact
- • Metadata/bookmarks
- • No install
Popular Desktop PDF Editors
Full features · OfflineIndustry standard for editing, forms, OCR, compare, and eSign; deep integrations across Adobe/Office.
Foxit PDF Editor
PaidLightweight, fast editor with batch tools; enterprise-friendly features and new AI redaction options.
Affordable all-round editor with OCR and growing AI helpers for summarize, translate, and chat with PDF.
Nitro PDF Pro
PaidFull editing, OCR, conversion, and Nitro Sign; strong Microsoft 365 and SharePoint integrations.
PDF-XChange Editor
Huge free tierFast editor with many free features (watermark on some advanced tools); powerful OCR and form tools.
Free Alternatives & Workarounds
LibreOffice Draw Free
Open PDFs in Draw and edit objects/text. Great for basic edits; complex PDFs may need dedicated editors.
Google Docs via Drive conversion Free
Upload PDF to Drive → Open with Google Docs → edit text → download as PDF. Best for text-heavy PDFs.
Quick Comparison (Online Editors)
| Tool | Edit Existing Text | Annotate | Fill & Sign | OCR | Free Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sejda | Yes (limits) | Yes | Yes | — | Limited |
| Smallpdf | Pro | Yes | Yes | — | Limited |
| Adobe Acrobat Online | Desktop for full | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| iLovePDF | Add text | Yes | Basic | — | Yes |
| PDF Candy | Add text | Yes | — | — | Limited |
| PDF24 Tools | Add/edit elements | Yes | — | Redact/More tools | Free |
| Foxit Online | Add text | Yes | Yes | — | Free tools |
| DocHub | Add text | Yes | Yes | — | Limited |
Notes: “—” indicates not the primary focus of the online editor or requires a desktop plan.
How to Choose a PDF Editor
Key features to check
- • Edit text in existing PDFs (often a paid feature online).
- • Annotations: highlights, comments, shapes, freehand.
- • Forms: fill, create fields, and eSign.
- • OCR for scanned PDFs (desktop apps excel here).
- • Security: redact, password, permissions.
- • Batch tools (merge, split, convert, compress).
Free vs. paid
Free online editors are great for annotations, signatures, and quick changes. For heavy editing (editing existing text, OCR, complex layouts), a desktop editor usually saves time and preserves formatting.
How to Edit a PDF Online (Fast)
- Select a tool above (e.g., Sejda, Smallpdf, Adobe Online).
- Upload your PDF (avoid sensitive files if using third-party servers).
- Choose the editing mode: Add text, Highlight, Images, Forms.
- Apply changes, then Download the edited PDF.
Tip: For scanned PDFs, prefer a desktop app with OCR (Acrobat, PDFelement, Nitro, PDF-XChange) for accurate text editing.
FAQ: PDF Editors
Is there a truly free PDF editor?
Yes. For annotations, filling, and simple changes, try PDF24 Tools, iLovePDF, PDF2Go, or PDFescape Online. Editing existing text is often limited in free web tools; desktop apps with generous free tiers include PDF-XChange Editor (watermark on some features).
How do I edit a PDF without breaking the layout?
Use a full desktop editor (Acrobat, PDFelement, Nitro, Foxit) with OCR and precise text tools. For complex layouts, convert to Word, edit, then export back to PDF.
Can Google Docs edit PDFs?
Indirectly. Upload the PDF to Drive and open with Google Docs to edit text; then download as PDF. Best for text-focused files, not heavy design.
Are online PDF editors safe for sensitive files?
Many services auto-delete uploads after processing, but avoid uploading confidential documents. For sensitive files, use a trusted desktop app and process locally.