7 Best Open-Source PDF Editors (2023)
Most visitors (like you) searching for open-source PDF editors are not looking to edit the tool’s source code but want FREE options to edit their PDF files. Paid PDF Editors tools could be pricey, while open-source PDF tools could have limited features. We have tried to strike a balance and included paid tools that offer a generous no-restrictions free trial as well as open-source tools.
Best Open-Source PDF Editor Tools
Tool Name | Best for | Free Trial | Link |
---|---|---|---|
Adobe Acrobat | Side-by-side PDF comparison | Yes, 7-day | Learn More |
PDFfiller | Signing forms online | Yes, 30-days. | Learn More |
IceCream Apps PDF Editor | Rearranging pages of documents | Free to use. | Learn More |
Ashampoo PDF Pro 3 | Adding texts/images/shapes to PDFs | Lifetime Free Basic Version | Learn More |
PDFSam Basic | Mixing PDF files | Open Source | Learn More |
PDFedit | Ability to convert documents with a single click | Open Source | Learn More |
LibreOffice Draw | For Presentations | Open Source | Learn More |
1) Adobe Acrobat
Best for side-by-side PDF comparison
Adobe invented the PDF, and their Acrobat product is the market’s most popular PDF editor tool. Businesses primarily use it as a cloud-based tool to view, annotate, and sign PDF documents. It allows you to edit and view documents from your browsers, desktops, and mobile devices. You can also store all the documents in Adobe Document Cloud for future reference.
You can also use it to create, secure, and distribute PDF files. It can automatically detect multiple fields and allows you to insert symbols, texts, or signatures.
OCR Feature: Yes
Edit Text and Images: Yes
Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android
Free Trial: 7-Day Free Trial
Features:
- View, store, and share PDFs.
- Lets you annotate and print files.
- Robust features to password lock and secure your PDF.
- Allows you to scan documents.
- Convert PDF to other file formats.
- Enables you to import/export data.
- Easy feature for Text Recognition.
- You can split your PDF files.
- You can keep track of the Original Layout.
Pros
Cons
Key Specs:
OCR Feature: Yes
Edit Text and Images: Yes
Pricing: Plan starting at $19.99/ per month. Discounts on yearly payment.
Free Trial: Yes, 7-day
7-Day Free Trial
2) PDFfiller
Best for filling forms online
PDFfiller is one of the best PDF editors that allows you to edit, create, and manage PDF documents and forms online. It has good organizational tools and lets you store your documents on the Cloud. If you need a tool that will help you streamline the tedious process of filling digital forms, PDFfiller is an obvious choice. This open-source tool can add or remove text from PDF files. It also enables you to add checkmarks, and watermarks, and highlight or annotate specific elements in PDF files.
Features:
- You can easily merge PDF files.
- You can export your edited PDF in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, JPG, PNG, TIFF, or RTF formats.
- Quickly collect data & payments.
- Allows you to extract the matter of PDF files in bulk.
- Easy filling of digital forms.
- It removes unnecessary pages.
- Has the option to let you view the meta-info of the document.
Pros
Cons
Key Specs:
OCR Feature: No.
Keep Original Layout: Yes.
Edit Text and Images: Yes.
Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.
Pricing: Starts from $8/ per month
Free Trial: Yes, 30-days
30-Day Free Trial
3) IceCream Apps PDF Editor
Best for rearranging pages of documents
IceCream Apps PDF Editor helps you easily create and edit PDFs. It has all the basic amenities of a generic PDF editing tool. It offers multiple language support and has a documented training regime to familiarize you with the tool. You will also be able to password-protect your documents with this tool. It allows you to include links and watermarks in PDF.
Features:
- Allows you to access/control permissions.
- It offers a provision for you to make annotations.
- It has a page rotation feature.
- Offers features for rearranging and collating documents.
- It helps append/merge files.
- You can export your edited PDF in JPG, PNG, TIFF, or RTF formats.
- Add digitally verified signatures.
- Offers a very good form management feature.
Pros
Cons
Key Specs:
OCR Feature: Yes.
Keep Original Layout: Yes.
Edit Text and Images: Yes.
Supported Platforms: Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, and 7.
Pricing: $49.95 for a lifetime plan.
Free Trial: There is a free version of the app available.
Download for Free
4) Ashampoo PDF Pro 3
Best for adding texts/images and shapes
Ashampoo PDF Pro is a PDF editor tool that enables you to create, edit, and convert PDFs online. It comes complete with almost every PDF editing feature that you may need. It offers multiple language support that has skyrocketed its global popularity. You can export your edited PDF in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, HTML, text, and image file formats.
Features:
- It offers a protection features to help you safeguard your documents from prying eyes.
- Ashampoo allows you to add text, images and shapes to PDFs.
- It allows you to change the text and link sizes, colors, and font styles.
- Offers PDF page management features like merge, split, compress, Flatten PDF, etc.
- It allows you to set a password to protect PDF files.
- It is good at helping you organize PDFs.
Pros
Cons
Key Specs:
OCR Feature: Yes.
Edit Text and Images: Yes.
Supported Platform: Windows
Pricing: $49 One-time Payment, No Time Limit
Free Trial: Lifetime Free Basic Version
Lifetime Free Basic Version
5) PDFSam Basic
Best for mixing PDF files
PDFSam Basic is one of the best Open-Source PDF editors to virtually combine files, rearrange pages, and organize and optimize documents. It also allows you to compress, crop, and split pages. The tool contains page extraction features, size, rotate, extract, and repair texts. It allows you to convert PDFs to grayscale. Your PDF documents stay private on your computer; no need to upload them to a third-party service. A feature allows you to decrypt, encrypt, extract, and mix pages.
Features:
- Maintains a comprehensive editing history.
- Allows you to scan documents.
- You can export your edited PDF in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, HTML, text, and image file formats.
- Offers you the document management feature.
- It helps you to merge and compile PDFs seamlessly.
- Provides the Field Function feature for editing purposes.
Pros
Cons
Key Specs:
OCR Feature: Yes
Keep Original Layout: Yes
Edit Text and Images: Yes
Supported platforms: Windows, Mac OS, Linux
Pricing: Free Basic Version
Link: https://pdfsam.org/download-pdfsam-basic
6) PDFedit
Best for the ability to convert documents with a single click
PDFedit is an open-source PDF editor software for PC with a library for manipulating PDF documents. It offers a GUI, a set of CLI (command-line tools), and a pdf editor. You can delete or add text images into the PDF by selecting the part or section you want to edit. This tool also includes a pdf editor whose graphical interface is based on QT3.x, with all features implemented using a scripting language.
Features:
- It offers the ability to convert documents with just the click of a button
- It can be used as a PDF reader and editor both
- Reliable tool to handle different PDF versions
Pros
Cons
Key Specs:
OCR Feature: No
Keep Original Layout: No
Edit Text and Images: Yes
Supported platforms: Windows and Mac OS
Pricing: Open Source Software and is Free
Link: http://pdfedit.cz/en/support.html
7) LibreOffice Draw
Best for presentations
LibreOffice Draw is an Open-Source PDF editor that helps you create anything from a simple sketch to a complex plan. It allows you to effectively communicate your ideas via visual cues of graphic details and diagrams.
It allows you a maximum page size of 300×300 sq. cm, which makes it an effective tool for creating posters, brochures, technical drawings, and much more. I
Features:
- Has a good photo editing feature.
- Streamlines workflow with the help of spreadsheets.
- Allows you to create 3D objects and Vector graphics.
- Has a feature that connects objects to show relationships.
Pros
Cons
Key Specs:
OCR Feature: No
Keep Original Layout: Yes
Edit Text and Images: Yes
Supported platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac OS
Pricing: Free to use.
Free Trial: Open Source
Link: https://www.libreoffice.org/discover/draw
FAQ:
Best Open-Source PDF Editor Tools
Tool Name | Best for | Free Trial | Link |
---|---|---|---|
Adobe Acrobat | Side-by-side PDF comparison | Yes, 7-day | Learn More |
PDFfiller | Signing forms online | Yes, 30-days. | Learn More |
IceCream Apps PDF Editor | Rearranging pages of documents | Free to use. | Learn More |
Ashampoo PDF Pro 3 | Adding texts/images/shapes to PDFs | Lifetime Free Basic Version | Learn More |
PDFSam Basic | Mixing PDF files | Open Source | Learn More |
PDFedit | Ability to convert documents with a single click | Open Source | Learn More |
LibreOffice Draw | For Presentations | Open Source | Learn More |