saasrankedSoftware, ranked on the facts

PDF editor · Adobe Inc.

Adobe Acrobat

Adobe's PDF editor for Windows, Mac, mobile and the web, sold only by subscription, with e-signature requests on every paid plan.

81/100

#5 of 9 PDF editors
Facts checked 8 Oct 2026

In short

Acrobat suits people who want one PDF editor on Windows, Mac, phones and the web, with signature requests built in1,4. Standard edits text and sends documents for signing, but redaction, OCR and file comparison need Pro1. There is no perpetual licence, and cancelling an annual plan billed monthly after 14 days costs up to half the remaining commitment1.

Best for: People who want PDF editing and signature requests on every device.

Where the points come from

Editing30 of 30
Systems15 of 15
Signing and security20 of 20
Price1 of 20
Privacy15 of 15

Editing 30 of 30 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Edit existing textYesAcrobat Standard and above edit text and images in PDFs1.6 / 6
OCRYesAcrobat Pro turns scanned documents into editable, searchable PDFs2.6 / 6
True redactionYesAcrobat Pro redacts sensitive information from PDFs1,2.6 / 6
Create fillable formsYesEvery paid plan can create, fill, sign and send forms1,3.6 / 6
Compare two PDFsYesAcrobat Pro compares two PDFs to show the differences2.6 / 6

Systems 15 of 15 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
AppsWindows, macOS, iOS, Android, WebDesktop apps for Windows and Mac, mobile apps for iOS and Android, and a web app4,5,6,7.15 / 15

Signing and security 20 of 20 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Request e-signaturesYesEvery paid plan requests signatures and tracks responses1.8 / 8
Password protectionYesPassword-protects PDFs and can restrict editing, printing and copying3.6 / 6
Certificate-based signaturesYesSigns PDFs with a certificate-based digital ID, from a provider or self-signed8.6 / 6

Price 1 of 20 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Free version without watermarksNot publishedAcrobat Reader is free but cannot edit text4. Whether saved files carry a watermark is not published.0 / 8
First-year price for text editing$179.88/yrAcrobat Standard, $179.88 a year prepaid or $14.99 a month on an annual plan1.1 / 7
One-time licenceNoAdobe stopped selling perpetual Acrobat after Acrobat 2020; Acrobat Pro 2024 gives three years of access1.0 / 5

Privacy 15 of 15 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Edits files on your computerYesDesktop apps for Windows and Mac edit files on your computer5.8 / 8
SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001YesAdobe's compliance list names an ISO 27001:2022 certification9.7 / 7

The rule behind each line: how we score PDF editors.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

PlanPrice as listedPer monthNotes
Acrobat Reader1 personFree4$0View, comment, fill and sign; no text editing
Acrobat Standard1 person$179.88/year1$14.99Also $14.99/mo on an annual plan billed monthly, or $24.99 month to month
Acrobat Pro1 person$239.88/year1$19.99Adds redaction, file comparison and scans to editable text. Also $29.99 month to month
Acrobat Studio1 person$299.88/year1$24.99Adds AI Assistant. Also $34.99 month to month

Prepaid annual plans have no refund after 14 days; annual plans billed monthly charge up to half the remaining commitment if cancelled after 14 days1. Month-to-month plans cancel without a fee1.

Strengths

  • Apps for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, plus a web app4,5.
  • Signature requests with response tracking come with every paid plan1.
  • Signs PDFs with certificate-based digital IDs, including self-signed IDs8.
  • Adobe lists an ISO 27001:2022 certification9.

Limits

  • No perpetual licence: Adobe stopped selling them after Acrobat 20201.
  • Redaction, file comparison and OCR of scans need Pro, at $239.88 a year1.
  • Cancelling an annual plan billed monthly after 14 days costs up to half the remaining commitment1.
  • The free Acrobat Reader cannot edit text or images4.

Concerns on record

  • In June 2024 the US Justice Department, on referral from the FTC, sued Adobe over hidden early termination fees on annual plans billed monthly; the FTC lists the case as pending10.

What Adobe Inc. says

Vendor claims. We show them, but they earn no points.

  • Adobe says Acrobat Pro includes more than 70 features3.

Other PDF editors

  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

All 9 PDF editors

Sources

  1. Acrobat plans and pricing, Adobe. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  2. Compare Acrobat versions, Adobe. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  3. Acrobat features, Adobe. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  4. Acrobat Reader, Adobe. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  5. Acrobat free trial download, Adobe. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  6. Acrobat Reader: PDF Editor App - App Store, Apple. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  7. Adobe Acrobat Reader: Edit PDF - Apps on Google Play, Google Play. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  8. How to add digital signature to PDF | Acrobat for business, Adobe. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  9. Compliance list, Adobe Trust Center. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  10. Adobe, Inc., U.S. v., Federal Trade Commission. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.

Website: www.adobe.com/acrobat.html · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with Adobe Inc..