saasrankedSoftware, ranked on the facts

Documents & Writing

Best PDF editors

Edit, sign, convert and protect PDF files. 9 PDF editors, ranked by points out of 100.

Facts checked 8 Oct 2026 · How we score PDF editors

In short

  1. 1
    Wondershare PDFelementWindows users who want to buy a PDF editor once
    90/100
    $79.99/yrfirst-year price for text editing
  2. 2
    Foxit PDF EditorPeople who want a full desktop editor with a one-time licence option
    88/100
    $129.99/yrfirst-year price for text editing
  3. 3
    iLovePDFBudget buyers who mostly work in the browser
    85/100
    $67.12/yrfirst-year price for text editing
  4. 4
    PDFgearPeople who want to edit PDF text for free
    81/100
    $0first-year price for text editing
  5. 5
    Adobe AcrobatPeople who want PDF editing and signature requests on every device
    81/100
    $179.88/yrfirst-year price for text editing
  6. 6
    Nitro PDFWindows and Mac users who want a full desktop editor with OCR and redaction
    75/100
    $180/yrfirst-year price for text editing
  7. 7
    PDF-XChange EditorWindows users who want to pay once, or use a capable free version
    71/100
    $62/yrfirst-year price for text editing
  8. 8
    SmallpdfOccasional users who work in the browser
    64/100
    $108/yrfirst-year price for text editing
  9. 9
    Sejda PDFOccasional users who need to change text in a PDF now and then
    56/100
    $0first-year price for text editing

How the points add up

Points earned out of the points available in each part of the method.

ProductEditing
of 30		Systems
of 15		Signing and security
of 20		Price
of 20		Privacy
of 15		Total
Wondershare PDFelement301520101590
Foxit PDF Editor30152081588
iLovePDF30152051585
PDFgear24151420881
Adobe Acrobat30152011581
Nitro PDF3092011575
PDF-XChange Editor3031218871
Smallpdf18128111564
Sejda PDF189615856

Each PDF editor in brief

1. Wondershare PDFelement

PDFelement suits people who want a full desktop editor on Windows or Mac at a lower price than the big names. It covers text editing, OCR, redaction, forms, file comparison and tracked signature requests, and it is still sold as a perpetual licence. The catch: there is no free version, and the store shows sale prices without saying what the yearly plan renews at.

Best for: Windows users who want to buy a PDF editor once. Prices, facts and sources

2. Foxit PDF Editor

Foxit PDF Editor suits people who want OCR, redaction and file comparison in a desktop editor at a lower yearly price, or who prefer to pay once. The base plan covers Windows, macOS and the web; mobile apps and signature requests need PDF Editor+. The $209.99 perpetual licence runs on Windows and macOS without AI, Smart Redact or cloud features.

Best for: People who want a full desktop editor with a one-time licence option. Prices, facts and sources

3. iLovePDF

iLovePDF suits people who want a wide set of browser tools, with redaction, comparison, OCR and forms even on the free plan. Premium is cheap at €60 a year and adds existing-text editing, desktop and mobile apps, and certified digital signatures. Free use is capped by file size and files per task.

Best for: Budget buyers who mostly work in the browser. Prices, facts and sources

4. PDFgear

PDFgear suits anyone who wants to edit PDF text, run OCR and redact without paying, on a computer or a phone. Files are edited on your device and saved without watermarks. Its password tool only adds an open password, it documents no way to compare two PDFs, and it says some advanced options may cost money later.

Best for: People who want to edit PDF text for free. Prices, facts and sources

5. Adobe Acrobat

Acrobat suits people who want one PDF editor on Windows, Mac, phones and the web, with signature requests built in. Standard edits text and sends documents for signing, but redaction, OCR and file comparison need Pro. There is no perpetual licence, and cancelling an annual plan billed monthly after 14 days costs up to half the remaining commitment.

Best for: People who want PDF editing and signature requests on every device. Prices, facts and sources

6. Nitro PDF

Nitro PDF suits Windows and Mac users who want text editing, OCR, redaction and file comparison in one desktop app. Standard costs $180 a year, and Classic trades the subscription for a $270 three-year Windows licence. There is no Android app, no free version, and signature requests cost extra through Nitro Sign.

Best for: Windows and Mac users who want a full desktop editor with OCR and redaction. Prices, facts and sources

7. PDF-XChange Editor

PDF-XChange Editor suits Windows users who want to pay once: $62 buys a perpetual licence that edits text, redacts and builds forms. The free version covers OCR, password protection and digital signatures without watermarks, but licensed tools stamp their output. There are no Mac, mobile or web apps.

Best for: Windows users who want to pay once, or use a capable free version. Prices, facts and sources

8. Smallpdf

Smallpdf suits occasional users who want quick browser tools and a free plan that does not watermark files. Pro adds direct text editing, OCR and unlimited signature requests through Sign.com. Form building, file comparison and certificate-based signing are not published, and the desktop app is for Windows only.

Best for: Occasional users who work in the browser. Prices, facts and sources

9. Sejda PDF

Sejda suits occasional users: the free version edits existing text and adds no watermark, within hourly limits. Paid plans are cheap, from a €5.50 week pass to €71 a year with desktop apps that work offline. It no longer sends documents for signature, and redaction, comparison and certificate signing are not published.

Best for: Occasional users who need to change text in a PDF now and then. Prices, facts and sources

Every fact, side by side

Each row is one rule of the method and the points it is worth. "–" means the vendor does not publish it, which earns nothing.

Rule (points)Wondershare PDFelementFoxit PDF EditoriLovePDFPDFgearAdobe AcrobatNitro PDFPDF-XChange EditorSmallpdfSejda PDF
Edit existing text (6)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
OCR (6)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
True redaction (6)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes–
Create fillable forms (6)YesYesYesYesYesYesYes–Yes
Compare two PDFs (6)YesYesYes–YesYesYes––
Apps (15)5 of 55 of 55 of 55 of 55 of 53 of 51 of 54 of 53 of 5
Request e-signatures (8)YesYesYesYesYesYes–YesNo
Password protection (6)YesYesYes–YesYesYes–Yes
Certificate-based signatures (6)YesYesYesYesYesYesYes––
Free version without watermarks (8)No––Yes–NoYesYesYes
First-year price for text editing (7)$79.99/yr$129.99/yr$67.12/yr$0$179.88/yr$180/yr$62/yr$108/yr$0
One-time licence (5)YesYes–YesNoNoYes––
Edits files on your computer (8)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001 (7)YesYesYes–YesYes–Yes–

Head to head

We read each vendor's own pages, record every fact with its source and date, and score it by the rules on how we score PDF editors. A tie goes to the lower price. PDF editors for individuals and small teams that work on Windows, as a desktop app or in the browser. Vendor claims about speed or quality are shown on product pages but never scored. Prices are in US dollars before tax.