Adobe Acrobat Pro is extensively considered because the business commonplace relates to PDF enhancing. Acrobat has just about every software you could take care of PDF document, comparable to including textual content, updating tables, inserting pictures, simply to call a number of.
Nonetheless, its pricing plan can maintain many individuals again from buying the software program.
Billed with $179 for the annual buy or $14.99 per thirty days in subscription, many people and small enterprise homeowners really feel Acrobat Professional is a “rip-off”.
To not point out the deep studying curve of Acrobat.
So, that naturally brings up this query: How do you edit a PDF file without Adobe Acrobat?
Fortunately there are fairly a number of options, some are free, some are paid choices (less expensive than Acrobat). We present you all of them on this article.
Methodology 1: On-line PDF Modifying Providers

If you happen to solely have a few PDF documents to switch, and also you’re in a rush, and your paperwork doesn’t include delicate or confidential knowledge, then one of the best ways to shortly edit your PDFs is by utilizing a web-based PDF editor.
Simply add your PDFs to the server of the service supplier you select, and you can begin making adjustments straight away.
Listed below are a number of widespread online PDF conversion companies that you may attempt:
- PDFescape — free. It lets you edit, annotate, password defend any PDF recordsdata. Additionally, you possibly can create new types or fill out current types. Limitation: as much as 10 MB and 100 pages.
- PDFBuddy — free. You should use it to edit and signal PDF recordsdata. Limitation: you’ll want to enroll to avoid wasting any adjustments. Add as much as 3 PDFs without spending a dime every month.
- PDFPro — free. You’ll be able to edit, convert, and safe PDF recordsdata with out join. Limitation: Uploaded to three PDFs a month without spending a dime.
- Sejda — free. It allows you to edit, fill and signal PDF recordsdata. You might be free so as to add or delete textual content. Limitation: As much as 200 pages or 50 Mb and three PDFs per hour without spending a dime.
Methodology 2: Primary PDF Editings With Preview App (Mac Solely)
Preview is the built-in app for opening PDFs and photographs within the Mac. It permits you not solely to view the PDF but additionally to edit any PDF document.
If you open the PDF, go to Instruments panel, you’ll be able to annotate, spotlight, and underline the texts, add/delete pages, password defends, compress, fill and signal PDF.
It’s as highly effective as Acrobat in options, however you do many fundamental editings to your PDF with out downloading another third-party apps.
Methodology 3: Edit PDF in Google Docs
Google Drive is a superb productive software in our everyday work. We create a number of docs and sheets with Google Docs.
Lots of you might not know that you may really use Google Docs to show a PDF file into an editable doc. Then you possibly can edit the textual content of the PDF in a simple manner.
After you add a PDF to Google Drive, open it with Google Docs (see the screenshot above). Then you possibly can edit the textual content.
In the meantime, the pictures in your PDF can be eliminated when it’s turned to a Google doc. When you end enhancing, you possibly can select to obtain it as a PDF.
Methodology 4: Edit PDF in Microsoft Workplace Phrase (for Home windows Customers)
If you’re on a Home windows PC, you can too use Workplace Phrase to open and edit PDF documents. Simply open a PDF by Microsoft Phrase, you will see that it turns into an editable doc.
Now you’re free to edit the textual content and pictures, just about the identical expertise as enhancing a standard Phrase doc. After you’re carried out with enhancing, it can save you it as a PDF.
You may watch the above video tutorial for extra, or see this guide from PCWorld for an in-depth step-by-step tutorial.
Methodology 5: Use Standalone PDF Modifying Software program (Cheaper Than Acrobat)
If you happen to really feel Adobe Acrobat is just too costly, there are some good but cheaper options as nicely. Their worth normally falls between $50 and $150, with a one-time buy.
We’ve examined numerous of them and we’re impressed by their personal expertise.
You may learn our opinions of the perfect PDF editors for Windows and Mac.
PDFelement (Home windows & macOS) is a really highly effective PDF editor that has nearly all of the options that Adobe Acrobat has to supply and it’s less expensive.
The software program suite is filled with dozens of small helpful instruments that allow you to edit, convert, mix, and arrange PDFs. If you’re on the lookout for a way to make a fillable pdf kind without Acrobat, that is the one we advocate.
After you obtain it, you possibly can markup, edit the textual content/pictures/hyperlinks, add types. These options might be simply discovered within the software program and it has a ravishing interface.
There are lots of nice paid options as nicely that allow you to mix pages, encrypt, watermark, OCR textual content recognition, and so forth.
The OCR model (Optical Character Recognition) lets you flip scanned PDFs into searchable and editable texts. Perpetual license is offered for PDFelement, whereas it additionally gives a subscription plan.
The app is appropriate with Home windows, macOS, and iOS.
PDFpen (macOS & iOS) is one other nice different to Acrobat for Mac customers. Because the title signifies, PDFpen lets you edit PDFs effortlessly.
With it, you possibly can edit textual content and pictures simply and effectively. It lets you markup, draw, annotate, add or delete pages, OCR, add a password, and so forth.
It’s extra highly effective than the Preview app in PDF enhancing, and you should use it to finish any fundamental and superior PDF enhancing duties effectively.
As well as, the software program gives a tremendous personal interface and makes enhancing expertise a breeze.
PDFpen is barely obtainable for macOS and iOS. The Primary plan price is $74.95 and the Professional model is $124.95.
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