What are good PDF editors, besides Adobe Acrobat Pro?

aminastun · Jul 24, 2024

I have PDF-XChange Editor Plus. If you want to have all programs (like a bunch), your choice should be PRO. If you want to have the best OCR - that's PLUS. The comparison chart is on their website. I like PDF-XChange because it does almost all the things that Adobe Acrobat does (or Foxit Editor), but - it's way cheaper, doesn't force you to a subscription payment, you can buy it for 1 year, and use how long you want (that's like say forever, also with the possibility to get help from their support), or you can pay a very small amount to get updates next year(s). I prefer to have updates. I am not sure if I am mistaken, but it's about 11 dollars/year.
Also, and it was the main thing for me, that PDF-XChange Editor is very reliable and offers great security for documents

classic35mm · Jul 26, 2024

Thank you very much to everyone! I really appreciate it.

I tried Nitro PDF Pro, which offers a 14-day free trial. Because I'm physically disabled, I often use my computer while lying down; this puts my view of the screen at a suboptimal angle and makes it difficult for me to see dark-themed user interfaces. I've discovered that Nitro PDF Pro uses a dark theme for its tab-based menu bar, and this currently cannot be changed, as I understand it. Also, it doesn't appear to have separate buttons for zoom-in and zoom-out, and I find this annoying. So I will probably try another PDF editor.
I'm thinking to try PDF-XChange Editor next. From looking at screenshots, it appears it has an easy to understand interface. Moreover, I have found that the license for it is actually perpetual -- it is only the maintenance (i.e., ability to download and install updates) that must be paid for every year.
Thanks for pointing out PDFgear. Since my needs are somewhat basic (combine PDFs, insert pages, extract pages, export to image file formats, add comments and annotations to PDFs), PDFgear may do everything I need.

Thanks again for your time!

dacrone · Jul 26, 2024

Free PDF solutions for all PDF problems

Free online PDF tools to merge, compress, create, edit and convert PDFs. Quick and Easy. Without installation. Without registration.

tools.pdf24.org

All web based tools. I can’t say I’d recommend uploading anything with PII, but for basic needs they work well.

Edwin · Jul 27, 2024

AcePDF Editor
It does everything!
Free right now at Shareware

MisterEd · Jul 28, 2024

Edwin said:
AcePDF Editor
It does everything!
Free right now at Shareware

Free to download the trial version but there is a catch. Trial users can evaluate the software and access all functions but there will be a watermark attached to your file.

I tried AcePDF and found that if I saved a PDF file I had the following watermark at the top right of every page. The only way to remove this watermark from the file is to buy AcePDF and use the key to activate it.

2024-07-28 00_41_25-User Manual_Acer_1.0_A_A(TEST).pdf - Adobe Acrobat Reader (64-bit).jpg

Edwin · Jul 28, 2024

MisterEd said:
Free to download the trial version but there is a catch. Trial users can evaluate the software and access all functions but there will be a watermark attached to your file.

I tried AcePDF and found that if I saved a PDF file I had the following watermark at the top right of every page. The only way to remove this watermark from the file is to buy AcePDF and use the key to activate it.

Not here!

Did you activate it with the free Shareware key?

Edwin · Jul 28, 2024

MisterEd said:
... there is a catch...

The only catch is, the offer only lasts for a year...

imanlien2020 · Jul 28, 2024

Edwin said:
Very basic editing: Sumatra PDF

Sometimes you can find discounted stuff:
GeekerPDF 100% Discount

Or you can find 100% Free software like here
100% Free Software
...or other similar sites.

Edwin · Jul 28, 2024

imanlien2020 said:
Or you can find 100% Free software like here

Yup! Same keys that I got from Shareware!

Must be a time limit or usage limit on those keys.

neves · Jul 28, 2024

The browser Firefox also got support for editing PDFs - and it's pretty decent for a basic editor: Highlight Text, add Text, Draw/Sign and add image. Free too.

MisterEd · Jul 28, 2024

Edwin said:
Not here!
Did you activate it with the free Shareware key?

Sorry. I clicked on the link for AcePDF main site instead of the shareware one.

MisterEd · Jul 28, 2024

Edwin said:
The only catch is, the offer only lasts for a year...

Terms and Conditions

This is a 2-computer 1-year license, for noncommercial use
You get free updates for one year
You get free tech support for one year
You must redeem the license key before this giveaway has ended
May not be resold

Note when you get the keys you can't wait very long to use them. In my case the website said they would expire when the giveaway ended in two days.

classic35mm · Aug 5, 2024

Thanks, everyone, for your help! It's so generous of you. I think my next task will be to try PDF-XChange Editor. I'll let you know how it goes soon.

spicedup7 · Aug 6, 2024

We use foxit, just buy the license once and then you can use it for any other computer by copy/paste the key.

MisterEd · Aug 6, 2024

spicedup7 said:
We use foxit, just buy the license once and then you can use it for any other computer by copy/paste the key.

Foxit no longer wants you to buy a perpetual license. They try really hard to push their PDF Editor subscriptions. You have to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page to find this link..."Looking for perpetual licenses? Click here".

Foxit PDF Editor
Susbscription: $109.99/yr
Perpetual: $209.99/1-time

If you would like to activate multiple computers this would require you purchase a license/subscription per computer. For example if you want Foxit PDF Editor, Foxit Editor for Mac or Foxit PDF Editor Pro activated on 3 computers simultaneously this would require you purchase 3 license/subscriptions.

BTW, I have a Foxit PhantomPDF Standard 7.0 perpetual license that I bought back in 2016. According to its EULA I can only install it on one computer. I have it installed on my desktop. When I tried to also install it on my laptop the activation as expected failed.

dacrone · Aug 14, 2024

A professional PDF editing tool! FREE offer on GOTD!

GeekerPDF has multiple functions such as PDF text editing, PDF format conversion, PDF document annotation and reading, making PDF editing as easy as Word. Full functioning....

www.giveawayoftheday.com

in case anyone still needs one

Skylly · Aug 15, 2024

Why is there not much discussion about SwifDoo PDF?

mccnavy · Aug 15, 2024

Does PDF-Xchange support digital signatures (i.e. from smart cards) like Adobe?

z3r010 · Sep 5, 2024

I've been looking for a decent PDF editor for a while and worked my way through this list over the past few days. Most I really didn't like or didn't like the pricing model. I've settled on EaseUS PDF Editor, which seems to do all I need and was an acceptable price for a perpetual license.

MisterEd · Sep 5, 2024

z3r010 said:
I've been looking for a decent PDF editor for a while and worked my way through this list over the past few days. Most I really didn't like or didn't like the pricing model. I've settled on EaseUS PDF Editor, which seems to do all I need and was an acceptable price for a perpetual license.

Back in 2016 I bought FOXIT PhantomPDF Standard 7 for $58 US. I need something for my new computer but am not going to pay $210 for the FOXIT PDF Editor perpetual version.

The EaseUS PDF Editor seems to be more reasonably priced. I may download a trial version to see if I like it.

It appears that a lot of these companies are aiming their products at business users who might be more willing to pay these high prices. I really detest subscriptions. I wish they also produced a more basic perpetual product at a more reasonable price that us occasional user would find affordable.

BTW, I also have Adobe Photoshop Elements. I am allowed to install it on up to two computers. For example, desktop + laptop. I will I could do that with the PDF editors. That might a difference on how much I would be willing to pay for a perpetual license.