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The Best Pdf Editor For 2025 Pcmag

Leo Migdal
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the best pdf editor for 2025 pcmag

The Portable Document Format (or PDF) is what most people use to share information because it can show text, images, and even sound and video on any platform. Most PDFs are for reading only, but that doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't modify them. For example, you might want to correct a typo without recreating a whole file, or add or remove text and images. Whatever the job, you need a PDF editor. PCMag has been reviewing document editing software for several decades, so you can trust that all the apps here are up to the task. Our Editors' Choice winners are ABBYY FineReader for its OCR tools and Adobe Acrobat Pro for its business features, but we also include far more affordable options that handle the basics competently.

Below the list, we outline everything you need to know before choosing the best PDF editor for your needs. ABBYY FineReader's deep feature set, convenient editing tools, and smooth, modern interface make it the premier productivity app for professional OCR and PDF work. Adobe Acrobat Pro, from the company that created the PDF format, is a document editing and management powerhouse. A subscription isn't cheap, but if Acrobat Pro does what you need, it's an obvious choice. ABBYY FineReader ($99 per year for the Standard version, $165 per year for the Corporate version) combines a well-designed set of standard PDF management features with class-leading OCR technology for converting scanned images into... A spacious, lucid interface lets you create or edit PDFs, as well as convert them into other formats, all in a few mouse clicks.

The advanced OCR editor has a fast, keyboard-friendly interface for fixing the unavoidable OCR errors that you get with scanned documents, and its image editor tool makes short work of adjustments to single or... FineReader doesn’t have Adobe’s cloud-based support for gathering responses or payments, but it offers a built-in “hot folder” feature that automatically converts documents you add there into PDFs. (Adobe’s comparable feature is separate from Acrobat and more difficult to set up.) ABBYY FineReader also includes a convenient screen-scraping application that grabs any text on your screen. The Corporate version has a unique tool for comparing two documents in different formats, unlike Acrobat, which compares only PDF documents. PDF editing apps work best for making relatively minor changes to the text or images in a file. For example, all PDF editing apps let you add arrows, comments, and lines as overlays on an existing document.

They can all crop the images in a scanned document so that pages are the same size, merge or split documents, and reorder and rotate pages. You can also use them to add bookmarks, hyperlinks to other pages in the same file or external websites, headers, footers, and page numbers. Many can reduce the size of PDF documents by compressing images, too. PDF documents are fundamentally different from those you create with a document, spreadsheet, or another similar app. The format isn't meant to accommodate edits or changes, so any revisions might disrupt its format. The apps here, especially the commercial ones, can handle adding or changing text well, though they still aren't perfect at it.

Aside from their editing capabilities, PDF apps can also convert Word and Excel files into PDFs and export PDFs to those standard formats. The best apps do a good job of preserving formatting when converting to and from the PDF file type, but you might need to experiment with settings a bit to get the best results. All the PDF apps on this list also use optical character recognition (OCR) to convert scanned documents to searchable text, but results vary drastically in quality. It's possible to use a PDF editor to build a document from scratch, too. You can simply create a text box and type text into it, insert an image from a file, or use an app’s drawing tools to create shapes and lines. However, it's still much easier to start on a word processing app and later export to the PDF format.

High-end PDF apps can create PDF forms, either from scratch or via form fields you add in a word processor. Some apps even provide cloud- or e-mail-based methods of circulating forms and gathering data. Finally, top-end apps can sanitize PDFs by removing personal data or redacting sensitive text or images so that nothing can recover them. PDF files have become ubiquitous in our multi-platform world. This convenient file format makes it possible to view and share documents across various devices using various operating systems and software programs. While simply viewing or commenting on a PDF is possible with free software, there are times when you need more robust tools for working with a PDF document.

Say you want to make edits, reorganize a file, or collaborate with others to make changes. In such cases, you’re likely to be better served by a full-featured PDF editor. The best PDF editors allow you to edit, create, alter, and convert PDF files just like you would with any other text document. The most well-known option to most people is the formidable Adobe Acrobat Pro. Its reputation is certainly deserved given its excellent feature set and overall utility. But it’s also quite expensive.

Fortunately, there’s a whole range of capable and even great third-party PDF editors that provide less expensive alternatives to Adobe’s premier product. EaseUS Black Friday Offer: EaseUS PDF Editor – Edit, Convert, Compress & Protect PDFs TL;DR: Get a SwifDoo PDF Pro on your PC for $24.97 (MSRP $129) with promo code PRO, available until December 14, and unlock PDF editing with no subscriptions. SwifDoo PDF Pro is a full-featured Windows PDF editor available now with a lifetime license — no recurring fees — for just $24.97 for Cyber Week (MSRP $129) through December 14. It’s a solid, budget-friendly pick for anyone who needs serious PDF editing power without the ongoing subscription drain. With SwifDoo PDF Pro, you can create, edit, convert, and annotate PDFs with ease.

It handles text, images, and form fields with reliable precision, and its built-in OCR (optical character recognition) turns scanned documents into searchable, editable files — perfect if you regularly deal with contracts, receipts, or... The software also supports merging and splitting files, batch processing multiple documents at once, and converting PDFs to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and image formats. You’ll get access to password protection and redaction tools, making it easier to keep sensitive information secure. This lifetime license installs directly on your Windows computer and works entirely offline once it’s set up. And unlike subscription-based tools, once you own it, you own it — use it for life on a single PC without monthly fees or surprise renewals. 'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing. When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews.

Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers. ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and... Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.

Portable Document Format files, also known as PDFs, are universally used during electronic document exchanges. This file format is often preferred when users need to share, store, or print documents that typically aren't tampered with or edited, and when the formatting of a document is vital. But in some situations, it is important to be able to edit or save a PDF document, as is the case for many contracts that require a digital signature. There are over 100 PDF editors in the world. The question is: How do you know which PDF editors are worth checking out? I tested more than 30 PDF tools and spent +200 hours to find the best PDF editors in 2025.

And I will not lie; it was overwhelming sometimes to go through all the features, pricing, and information available on the internet one by one. But my list of the best PDF editors is finally completed. In this article, I guide you through the best PDF editors you can find currently on the market. By sharing this list of the best PDF editors, I hope I can help you save time and money as well. When putting together my best PDF editors list, I considered features, versatility, my experience, and user interface. While I can not summarize all my findings in this table, this will help you get an overview of the key information for each PDF editor.

Here are the top 9 PDF editors that stood out the most to me in 2025: Our top choices for creating, editing, and collaborating on PDF documents, tested for business use When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. We put the best PDF editor software and apps to the test to see how well they perform not just when creating, designing, and editing documents, but when using it for eSignature collection, optical... After testing and reviewing each app in this round-up, Adobe Acrobat stands out as the top pick for most teams, big or small.

We found the originators of the PDF filetype have nailed the entire document creation process, and a steady stream of updates keeps it feeling fresh and meet user demands. Some of the best Adobe Acrobat alternatives we really like with a host of professional tools include Nitro PDF Pro, EaseUS, and DocHub. We've also included one of the best free PDF editors in the guide, too. Home » Buying Guides » 6 Best PDF Editors (December 2025) Compared & Tested Working with PDF documents has become essential in our digital workflow. Whether you’re editing contracts, annotating research papers, or filling out forms, having the right PDF editor can save hours of frustration.

After testing 15+ PDF editors extensively, Adobe Acrobat Pro remains the best PDF editor in 2025 for its comprehensive feature set, reliable performance, and industry-standard compatibility. However, several excellent alternatives offer better value for specific needs. Our team spent 120 hours testing these editors with real documents – from complex legal contracts to scanned invoices. We evaluated text editing precision, OCR accuracy, collaboration features, and overall usability to help you find the perfect match. In this guide, you’ll discover the best PDF editors for every budget and use case, learn which features truly matter, and avoid common pitfalls that plague cheaper alternatives. If you’re looking for more essential computer software, we’ve covered that too.

The best PDF editors let you handle portable documents like a pro When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. The best PDF editors let you do even more with PDF files, from marking them up to making changes to the text and images they include. Even though PDF files may appear to be finalized, they can be edited and changed in the same way you can alter a text document. You just need the right software to do so.

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The Portable Document Format (or PDF) Is What Most People

The Portable Document Format (or PDF) is what most people use to share information because it can show text, images, and even sound and video on any platform. Most PDFs are for reading only, but that doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't modify them. For example, you might want to correct a typo without recreating a whole file, or add or remove text and images. Whatever the job, you need a PDF edito...

Below The List, We Outline Everything You Need To Know

Below the list, we outline everything you need to know before choosing the best PDF editor for your needs. ABBYY FineReader's deep feature set, convenient editing tools, and smooth, modern interface make it the premier productivity app for professional OCR and PDF work. Adobe Acrobat Pro, from the company that created the PDF format, is a document editing and management powerhouse. A subscription ...

The Advanced OCR Editor Has A Fast, Keyboard-friendly Interface For

The advanced OCR editor has a fast, keyboard-friendly interface for fixing the unavoidable OCR errors that you get with scanned documents, and its image editor tool makes short work of adjustments to single or... FineReader doesn’t have Adobe’s cloud-based support for gathering responses or payments, but it offers a built-in “hot folder” feature that automatically converts documents you add there ...

They Can All Crop The Images In A Scanned Document

They can all crop the images in a scanned document so that pages are the same size, merge or split documents, and reorder and rotate pages. You can also use them to add bookmarks, hyperlinks to other pages in the same file or external websites, headers, footers, and page numbers. Many can reduce the size of PDF documents by compressing images, too. PDF documents are fundamentally different from th...

Aside From Their Editing Capabilities, PDF Apps Can Also Convert

Aside from their editing capabilities, PDF apps can also convert Word and Excel files into PDFs and export PDFs to those standard formats. The best apps do a good job of preserving formatting when converting to and from the PDF file type, but you might need to experiment with settings a bit to get the best results. All the PDF apps on this list also use optical character recognition (OCR) to conve...