14 rules in 5 groups, worth 100 points in all. They were set before any product was scored and apply the same way to all 9.
Version 1, published 8 Oct 2026
In short
Each rule is a yes-or-no fact, a list (such as the systems with an app) or a number with published thresholds, read from the vendor's own pages.
A fact the vendor does not publish earns nothing. A feature in beta or preview does not count.
The list follows the points. A tie goes to the lower price on "first-year price for text editing", then to the name.
PDF editors for individuals and small teams that work on Windows, as a desktop app or in the browser.
Editing 30 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Edit existing text
Change the text already in a PDF, not only add new text boxes.
6
OCR
Turn scanned pages into searchable, editable text.
6
True redaction
Permanently remove text and images, not only cover them.
6
Create fillable forms
Add form fields that other people can fill in.
6
Compare two PDFs
Show the differences between two versions of a document.
6
Systems 15 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Apps
An official app for each system, or a web app. Each one earns 3 points.
15
Signing and security 20 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Request e-signatures
Send a PDF to other people to sign and track who has signed.
8
Password protection
Encrypt a PDF with a password and limit printing or copying.
6
Certificate-based signatures
Sign with a digital ID (certificate), not only a drawn signature.
6
Price 20 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Free version without watermarks
A free version (not a trial) that saves files without adding a watermark.
8
First-year price for text editing
The cheapest plan that can edit existing text: the first year's cost in US dollars (12 times the monthly price billed yearly, or a one-time licence at full price). $60 or less earns 7 points, $100 or less 5, $150 or less 3, $200 or less 1.
7
One-time licence
A one-time (perpetual) licence is sold, or the product is entirely free.
5
Privacy 15 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Edits files on your computer
A desktop app edits files on your computer without uploading them.
8
SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001
The vendor names a SOC 2 Type II report or an ISO/IEC 27001 certification for this product or the company running it.