In today’s digital era, PDFs have become an essential format for sharing and presenting documents. These are versatile, universal, and widely used in all industries, making them an ideal way for sharing information. However, when it comes to editing a PDF, the task can become challenging without the right tools.
PDF editors can provide you with an easy and effective way to edit, annotate, and manipulate PDF documents. But as we enter 2023, the market is now flooded with a plethora of PDF editors, each with its unique features and capabilities. Choosing the right PDF editor can be a daunting task, especially with innumerable options available.
Here we provide you an overview of some top PDF editors of 2023 to help you select the one that best suits your needs. Whether you’re a professional or an occasional user, we’ve got you covered with our comprehensive list of the best PDF editing software of 2023.
1. Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
Adobe Acrobat is among the best PDF editor in the document industry. Because of its rich content combination, reviewing, editing, and security features, Adobe is the best in the industry. Along with this, you will also find many alternative features in it.
It’s simple, easy-to-use user interface allows users to easily navigate through different menus in the application. In addition to the cloud subscription and more advanced options, Adobe has now started gaming more reach among business individuals and users.
Pros:
- Filled with various features
- Polished and responsive user interface
- Advanced operations like encryption
Cons:
- Overwhelming interface for the beginners
- Subscription-based
Specifications:
- Support: Windows and MacOS
- Plans: $178.88 Yearly
2. Nitro PDF Pro
Nitro PDF is a top-notch PDF editor that competes with Adobe Acrobat. It offers an extensive list of features catering to user’s requirements such as essential editing tools, review, and markup options.
It also has form-filling and singing support with robust security that protects sensitive files with permissions. Nitro PDF has the capability to handle more than 300 file formats and hyperlinks, images, and files in documents.
Its simple user-friendly interface gives it an added strength over Adobe. It has a Microsoft Office-style ribbon option that can organize your tasks in a familiar and intuitive layout, allowing a smoothless integration with your workflow.
Pros:
- Microsoft Office-style UI
- Developed for Commercial Use
- Lower System Requirements
Cons:
- A few File formats are missing for conversions
- Annual Subscription
Specifications:
- Support: Windows and MacOS
- Plans: $179.99 One time
3. PDFFiller
An end-to-end PDF editing software suite from airSlate provides a great way to users in transforming static PDFs into interactive documents. Along with its PDF editing features, this tool also provides an option to create a fillable form that connects payment gateway to businesses.
This also provides an online collaboration feature, which can be used to send files via text, fax, and mail. It allows users to notarize the files online right from their accounts. You can also import and convert these files online on the website.
Pros:
- Web-based PDF editor
- Shareable and online collaboration
- Password protected documents
Cons:
- Limited free features
- A steep learning curve for advanced option
Specifications:
- Support: Web, Windows, MacOS, Android
- Plan: $180 Yearly
4. Foxit PDF Editor
Foxit is the best PDF editor when it comes to secure data. This can transform the documents into editable files with text boxes through which you can reposition and resize the texts without altering it.
Features like merging and splitting files, or rearrangement of pages are fully functional in this software. It also comes with OCR capabilities and annotations tools. Its data-conscious and security features along with the protection of sensitive data make Foxit stand out in the market.
Pros:
- User-friendly Interface
- Multi-platform supportable
- Powerful OCR and reduction tools
Cons:
- Glitch from HTML to PDF occasionally
- Pro Version is for PC only
Specifications:
- Support: Windows, MacOS, Android
- Plan: $149 Yearly
5. PDF Candy
One of the rare PDF editing software that offers a lot of features for free. PDF Candy provides scanning, reviewing, multiple file conversion as well as OCR options free to use for their users. This application has a bit of a wonky user feature, but once you get the hang with the tools, you can easily edit your documents.
The biggest limitation of PDF Candy is that you can only access its expensive tools to one PDF per hour. You need to pay a certain cost to use it more than once each hour.
Pros:
- Various Advanced Features
- OCR Capability
- Easy-to-use UI
Cons:
- No multi-platform support
- Free trial with basic features
Specifications:
- Support: Windows
- Plan: $48 Yearly
6. EaseUS PDF Editor
EaseUS is a power-packed editing tool with all basic features including OCR and online collaboration features. Known for its impressive editing capabilities, EaseUS can split up your page into different boxes which can be moved and resized in the file.
This can also have the option to change font size, color, and text body with EaseUS tools. However, the disadvantage of this software is its limited functionality for free users. You need to pay a cost to access all of its features in one go.
Pros:
- Clean and Simple user-friendly Interface
- Advanced editing and formatting tool
- Lifetime license available
Cons:
- Tricky to alter PDF files
- Available for Windows only
Specifications:
- Support: Windows
- Plan: $49.95 per year
7. WinZip PDF Pro
This PDF editor is specifically designed for PDF editing and manipulation in Windows. It provides almost everything you need to edit your documents on the desktop. WinZip serves a clean, simple user interface from reading to manipulating documents.
It is one of the best editors for Windows that offers a free seven-day trial to its users. After completing the trial, you need to buy a subscription for further use.
Pros:
- Large toolkit for PDF documentation
- Simple to use
Cons:
- Only support Windows PC
- Glitch and minor interface issue
- Subscription model-based
Specifications:
- Support: Windows
- Plan: $48 Yearly
8. Swifdoo PDF Editor
Despite not having much brand recognition Swifdoo is a strong contender in the competitive PDF editor market. It offers all the essential tools required for managing PDF files without the complexity or confusion of more advanced features.
With Swifdoo, users can easily jump into their editing tools and get straight to work with only the necessary tools. Although its features are comparable to other best PDF editors, what sets it apart is its affordable price point, making it an excellent value for regular PDF editors who want to avoid high costs.
Pros:
- An intuitive tabbed interface
- Comprehensive PDF editing software
- Affordable
Cons:
- No mobile application
Specifications:
- Support: Windows
- Plan: $69 Yearly
How to Choose the Best PDF Editor?
There are various types of PDF editor available in 2023 offering a variety of features from basic editing to power-used tools. But choosing the best one from that is an intimidating task. The best PDF editor should be the one that suits your needs and interests.
| PDF Editor | Features & Benefits | Platform | Pricing |
| Adobe Acrobat Pro DC | Rich content combination, editing, security features | Windows, MacOS | $178.88 (Yearly) |
| Nitro PDF Pro | Essential editing tools, form-filling, robust security | Windows, MacOS | $179.99 (One-time) |
| PDFFiller | End-to-end editing suite, online collaboration | Web, Windows, MacOS, Android | $180 (Yearly) |
| Foxit PDF Editor | Secure data handling, OCR capabilities | Windows, MacOS, Android | $149 (Yearly) |
| PDF Candy | Free features, scanning, reviewing, OCR options | Windows | $48 (Yearly) |
| EaseUS PDF Editor | OCR and online collaboration features | Windows | $49.95 (Yearly) |
| WinZip PDF Pro | Windows-specific with essential tools | Windows | $48 (Yearly) |
| Swifdoo PDF Editor | Intuitive interface, comprehensive editing tools | Windows | $69 (Yearly) |
Here are some points to keep in mind while purchasing a PDF editor.
- Features: Consider the features you need in a PDF editor, such as editing, annotation, conversion, OCR, security, and collaboration tools.
- Platform Compatibility: Make sure the PDF editor is compatible with the operating system you are using.
- Pricing: Compare the pricing of different PDF editors to find the best value for your budget. Some editors offer free versions, while others require a subscription or one-time payment.
- Customer Support: Check if the PDF editor provides reliable and prompt customer support in case you encounter any issues.
- Security: Ensure the PDF editor has robust security features to protect your documents from unauthorized access, such as password protection, redaction, and encryption.
Last Words
Overall, choosing the right PDF editor will depend on your needs and budget. Whether you’re looking for a full-featured editor like Adobe Acrobat Pro DC or a more affordable option like PDF Candy, there’s always a PDF editor out there right for you. Consider your editing needs, the features you require, and your budget to find the best PDF editor as per your needs in 2023.