Many users face the same issue on Windows 11/10: the built-in Microsoft Edge can open PDFs, but only supports basic viewing and comments. Meanwhile, the market is full of PDF editors for Windows — some are free but basic, others are powerful but expensive, and many online tools may raise privacy concerns - making it hard to choose the right one.
To help you find the most suitable solution, our team spent over 400 hours testing and comparing more than 40 popular PDF editors. During this review, we referred to trusted sources like TechRadar and PCMag, and we also checked long-term user feedback from Reddit, Quora, G2, and Trustpilot. This allowed us to fully evaluate each tool's pros, cons, use cases, and value for money.
This article is not just a simple list of features—it is a true buying guide. Whether you are a student, a professional, or a business user, you will quickly discover the best PDF editor for windows 11/10 here and make a smarter, more efficient decision.
Top 10 PDF Editor for Windows 11/10 – Tested Picks
Adobe Acrobat — Enterprise-Level PDF Editing & Collaboration
Powerful features for document editing, signing, commenting, and team collaboration.
(Standard: $22.99/mo or $155.88/yr; Pro: $239.88/yr)
No installation required. Supports OCR, conversion, merging, and compression. Free to use.
✅ Recommended Windows PDF Editors for Different Scenarios
Based on features, price, ease of use, and security, here are the best PDF editor for Windows recommendations for different needs:
Basic Office or Occasional Tasks: For viewing, commenting, or simple PDF merging, PDFgear is sufficient. It launches quickly and is easy to operate.
Affordable and Fully Functional: For text editing, OCR, and file security with a limited budget, Tenorshare PDNob is a great choice. One-time purchase, no subscription, suitable for individuals and small teams.
Enterprise or Advanced Needs: For complex document management or multi-user collaboration, Adobe Acrobat and Foxit PDF Editor provide stable, feature-rich, and secure enterprise-level solutions.
Lightweight and Convenient: For temporary merging, signing, or conversion, online tools like pdfFiller are convenient for quick use, but features and privacy are limited, making them suitable for occasional tasks.
1: How We Pick the Best PDF Editors for Windows 10/11
1. How We Test and Evaluate These PDF Editors
To create this 2025 PDF editor ranking, our team tested over 40 popular tools, comparing them across functionality, performance, and real-world user experience. During testing, we focused on the following scenarios:
Document Editing & Layout: Modifying text, inserting images, adding comments, annotations, and highlights, while evaluating how well the software supports complex document layouts.
File Format Conversion: Accuracy and layout retention when converting PDF ↔ Word, Excel, PowerPoint, images, and other formats.
OCR & Text Recognition: Accuracy of scanned documents or image text recognition, language compatibility, and efficiency for multi-page batch processing.
Collaboration & Sharing: Simultaneous multi-user editing, online commenting, version control, cloud storage, and cross-device synchronization.
What Makes a Great PDF Editor
Based on our tests and market research, here are the key features that a top PDF editor for Windows should have:
Complete Features: Should handle text and image editing, annotations, form filling, signing, merging/splitting, encryption, and permissions. More features mean more flexibility.
Editing & Conversion Accuracy: High accuracy is essential for text editing and file conversion. OCR should read multiple languages and handle complex layouts.
Speed & Stability: Fast loading of large files, smooth batch processing, and stable performance are crucial for efficiency.
User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive design and clear layout help individuals and teams start quickly.
Collaboration & Sharing: Real-time editing, team collaboration, comments, and version control are essential for professional workflows.
Security & Privacy: Encryption and permission settings protect your documents, whether personal or enterprise-level.
Compatibility & Integration: Works well with Windows/Mac and other office software to fit into daily workflows.
Value for Money: Reasonable price, flexible subscriptions or lifetime licenses, and free trials or free versions make it easy to try before buying.
2: 7 Recommended Paid PDF Editors for Windows 11/10
After hands-on testing, we selected the 7 best paid PDF editors for Windows 11/10. Each tool offers a free trial, allowing you to experience the core features before deciding to purchase.
1. Adobe Acrobat — Enterprise-Level PDF Editing & Collaboration
With years of experience handling PDF documents, we've tried many tools—from free editors to professional suites—but often return to Adobe Acrobat. As one of the pioneers in PDF technology, Adobe has continuously improved document reading, editing, and collaboration since the first Acrobat release in 1993.
Over the years, Acrobat has built a strong reputation in enterprise, academic, and design fields. Its consistent updates and reliability keep it at the forefront of professional PDF tools. In 2025, while using Acrobat DC for large-scale document processing, we truly appreciated its strengths in handling complex layouts, scanned files, and cross-platform collaboration.
From contract approvals to academic research organization, Acrobat's stability and high fidelity save significant time in daily work. While powerful, it may not suit everyone, especially occasional users or those on a tight budget.
💡 Core Features & Tested Experience
Comprehensive Editing & Layout Adjustment: Edit and replace text, paragraphs, and images while keeping the original layout intact.
OCR & Scan Optimization: Built-in OCR recognizes multiple languages and complex tables, turning scanned documents into editable content.
Cross-Platform & Team Collaboration: Works on Windows, Mac, iPad, and iPhone, allowing teams to comment, share, and manage documents in real time.
AI Assistant & Automation: 2025 adds AI features to auto-generate document summaries, recognize forms, and fill them with one click.
Security & Compliance Management: Supports encryption, permission control, and digital signatures to meet enterprise-level compliance needs.
Important Notes
Steep Learning Curve: Rich features may require 2–3 days for new users to get familiar with the interface and core tools.
High Hardware Requirements: CPU and memory usage are significant; best used on high-performance devices.
Subscription Cost: Long-term use can be expensive, making it less cost-effective for occasional users.
💰 Pricing & Licensing
Plan
Monthly (No Annual)
Annual
Free Trial
Acrobat Standard
$22.99
$155.88
7 days
Acrobat Pro
$29.99
$239.88
7 days
Acrobat for Teams
$32.99
$266.28
7 days
Acrobat Studio
$34.99
$299.88
7 days
Students & Teachers
/
$239.88
7 days
Lifetime Version Warning: Acrobat DC is subscription-only. Market "lifetime licenses" are often illegal, pose security risks, and cannot receive official updates or support.
Enterprise Users: Legal, admin, HR, and other departments that handle large volumes of contracts or reports. High requirements for format fidelity, security (permissions, encryption), and compliance.
Academic & Research Users: Regularly work with scanned documents and papers, relying on accurate OCR and annotation tools.
Professionals: Designers, lawyers, translators, and others who need documents to maintain perfect formatting and professional appearance.
Teams Needing Collaboration: Teams that require multi-user online reviewing, commenting, and version management.
👎 Who Might Not Need Adobe Acrobat
Occasional Personal Users: Those who only view, annotate, or sign PDFs a few times per month. Acrobat is powerful but expensive; lighter tools like Tenorshare PDNob or EaseUS PDF Editor may be enough.
Budget-Conscious Users: Cannot afford subscriptions. Acrobat has no one-time purchase option, and long-term costs are higher than other tools.
Lightweight Office Users: Only handle a small number of documents, do not require complex editing or batch operations. Advanced features may go unused and the interface could slow down daily tasks.
Real User Reviews
What G2 Users Like Adobe Acrobat:
"The biggest advantage of Adobe Acrobat is its ease of use. It has many built-in tools that make editing text and images simple, and I can directly highlight PDF files. It also has a dedicated customer support team and a strong community that can help whenever needed. I often use it to review documents and provide feedback. It even allows me to digitally sign documents and certificates."
"The software is bloated, filled with background services, and consumes a lot of unnecessary computer resources just to collect as much data from users as possible. Multiple processes also clog the task manager. A simple PDF viewer/editor should be lightweight and run smoothly on any older computer."
✏️ How to Edit PDFs on Windows 11/10 with Adobe Acrobat
Launch Adobe Acrobat and go to File > Open to import the PDF you want to edit.
Click "Edit PDF" in the left toolbar to modify text, images, and links.
Apply editing actions, such as inserting images, adding comments, or signing documents using the toolbar.
Once editing is complete, click File > Save or Save As to export your file as PDF, Word, or other formats.
2. Tenorshare PDNob – Cost-Effective Choice for Individuals & Professionals
Through long-term use of PDF tools, we realized that not everyone needs a fully featured and expensive solution like Acrobat. For most users, a simple, balanced, and reasonably priced editor often delivers higher daily efficiency. Tenorshare PDNob has gradually gained popularity in this niche.
Initially launched as a lightweight PDF editor, the 2025 version of PDNob now offers comprehensive PDF editing, conversion, OCR, and annotation features. When handling daily work reports, we often need to quickly modify paragraphs or replace images. PDNob's intuitive interface allows editing almost immediately without extra learning.
In academic writing, we also used it to organize scanned documents. The OCR recognition was accurate enough that only minor proofreading was needed for direct citation. Overall, PDNob strikes a good balance between usability and performance. While not as comprehensive as Acrobat for extremely complex professional tasks, it stands out in cost-effectiveness and everyday usability.
💡 Core Features & Tested Experience
Full PDF Editing: Supports text, image, and watermark addition, deletion, and modification with quick response.
High-Precision OCR: AI-enhanced OCR recognizes printed text nearly perfectly, and approximately 85% accuracy for messy handwriting.
Batch Processing & Page Management: Merge, split, compress, and rearrange pages, suitable for handling large volumes of documents.
Annotation Tools: Offers 200+ annotation options (highlight, comment, shape markers, etc.), suitable for team review but no real-time collaboration.
Lightweight & User-Friendly: Small installation package, fast startup, intuitive interface, almost zero learning curve.
⚠️ Important Notes
Limited Cross-Platform Support: No mobile (iOS/Android) support; cloud sync is weak.
Advanced Features Limited: Less capable than Acrobat or Foxit in complex forms, batch processing, and advanced editing; ideal for standard daily documents.
💰 Pricing & Licensing
License Type
Price
Key Benefits
Free Trial
No Time Limit
Access to 85% of features, limited to 20 watermark-free operations per month
Monthly
$14.99
Full features + 100 AI credits/month
3-Year
$35.99
Full features + 3600 AI credits/month
Lifetime
$55.99
Full features + 6000 AI credits/month
Tip: Unlike Acrobat's subscription-only model, PDNob offers lifetime licenses, giving flexibility for users who don't want long-term monthly fees.
👍 Who Should Use Tenorshare PDNob
Budget-conscious individuals: Need stable editing and conversion without high subscription costs.
Students & researchers: Frequent annotation, OCR, and conversion; simple interface and lifetime license are more convenient.
Small businesses & freelancers: Daily document editing and signing; PDNob's lightweight features cover most tasks.
👎 Who Might Not Need Tenorshare PDNob
Large enterprises & professional legal departments: Require complex collaboration, compliance, and automation; Acrobat is more suitable.
Users prioritizing cross-device or cloud-based workflows: PDNob currently focuses on Windows/macOS desktop; mobile and cloud collaboration are still developing.
Real User Reviews
What G2 Users Like Tenorshare PDNob:
"Tenorshare PDNob PDF Editor has many advantages, but its AI module, clean interface, cloud storage, and PDF OCR support are the main highlights. Beyond creating and editing PDFs, you can also use it for PDF conversion, protection, and e-signatures. It's easy to use and operate."
✏️ How to Edit PDFs on Windows 11/10 with Tenorshare PDNob
Launch PDNob, then click "Open PDF" or drag and drop your PDF file into the software.
Go to the top toolbar and click the "Edit" option to enter editing mode.
Use features like OCR, annotation, merge, and compress to further edit your PDF as needed.
3. Foxit PDF Editor – Efficient Enterprise-Level PDF Solution
Since its launch in 2001, Foxit PDF Editor has continuously upgraded its features, covering document editing, annotation, signing, and enterprise collaboration. As one of Adobe Acrobat's main competitors, Foxit offers unique advantages in performance optimization and cost control.
The 2025 version brings significant improvements in interface design, OCR accuracy, and cross-platform compatibility. In real office scenarios, we use Foxit PDF Editor for contract approvals, report organization, and scanned document management.
The software starts quickly and handles batch processing reliably. Especially when opening and editing large PDF files, delays are minimal. Foxit's annotation tools and form-filling features are very useful for team collaboration, saving a lot of time in daily document handling.
💡 Core Features & Tested Experience
Comprehensive Editing: Edit text, images, and layouts; create forms; merge and split documents.
AI Smart Tools: AI assistant summarizes documents, translates multiple languages, and answers content questions.
OCR & Document Conversion: High-precision OCR converts scanned files to editable text; supports PDF → Word/Excel/PPT.
Team Collaboration & Annotation: Highlight, mark, draw, and comment; supports shared review and version management.
⚠️ Important Notes
Advanced features require higher-tier subscription: eSign, Smart Redact, and other premium features are only available in PDF Editor+ plan.
Larger software size: May experience slight lag, occasional delay, or crashes during operations.
💰 Pricing & Licensing
Version
Annual Fee
Platforms
Key Features
Free Trial
PDF Editor
$129.99
Windows, macOS, Web
Basic PDF editing, conversion, annotation, OCR, 20GB cloud storage
14 days
PDF Editor+
$159.99
Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web
Enhanced features: AI Smart Redact, 150GB cloud, mobile support, eSign
14 days
Note: Foxit also offers an AI assistant subscription starting at $49.99/year, including 2,000 AI credits per month for document summaries, translation, and more.
Enterprise users: Need to handle contracts, reports, and multi-page documents efficiently, with high security and compliance requirements.
Professionals: Lawyers, accountants, designers, or others frequently editing and annotating complex documents.
Teams needing collaboration: Small to medium teams can use annotation, sharing, and permission control for basic collaboration.
👎 Who Might Not Need Foxit PDF Editor
Light or occasional users: Personal users who only read, annotate, or sign PDFs. High-end features may go unused; basic free tools or lightweight PDF editors suffice.
Budget-conscious users: Premium subscription costs are high; if only basic functions are needed, cost-effective alternatives like PDNob or PDFgear may be better.
Real User Reviews
What G2 Users Like Foxit PDF Editor:
"I like Foxit PDF Editor's fast response and convenient setup. The file manager is particularly useful, helping me save files efficiently. Compared to previous editors, my workflow has improved significantly. Their support is excellent, and I would consider purchasing again."
"I found the installation process a bit tricky and the initial setup challenging. Also, the free version doesn't support file signing, which limits its use for formal work. This was disappointing."
✏️ How to Edit PDFs on Windows 11/10 with Foxit PDF Editor
Launch Foxit PDF Editor and click "File > Open" to select the PDF you want to edit.
Choose "Edit" in the toolbar to directly modify text and images on the page.
To annotate or mark up, use the "Comment" feature to add highlights, underlines, or sticky notes.
4. Nitro PDF Editor – Designed for Professionals and Enterprises
Nitro PDF Editor is known for its stability and efficient document handling, making it suitable for daily office tasks and professional document management. Its interface follows a traditional office software layout, so users familiar with Microsoft Office can get started quickly.
During a project report, we used Nitro PDF Pro to open a document containing charts and tables. Scrolling and zooming were smooth, text and image edits were intuitive, and formatting adjustments were quick. Annotation features include highlighting, underlining, and comments, and exporting annotations preserves the original layout.
OCR accurately recognizes printed text and tables in scanned contracts and reports, though minor handwritten notes may need manual correction. Overall, Nitro PDF Editor emphasizes operational efficiency and practicality, ideal for users needing fast, reliable document editing and annotation.
💡 Core Features & Tested Experience
Comprehensive PDF Editing: Edit text, images, headers, footers, and create or edit PDF forms.
High-Precision OCR: Recognizes printed text and some handwriting; supports multiple languages.
Batch Operations: Merge, split, compress files, and export to multiple formats.
Security & Permission Management: Password protection, digital signatures, watermarks, suitable for contracts or sensitive files.
Cloud Collaboration: Integrates with OneDrive and Google Drive, and Nitro Cloud allows document sharing for team review.
⚠️ Important Notes
Installation & Compatibility: Desktop installer is large; older or low-spec PCs may experience lag or instability.
Download & Activation: Official download and activation steps are not very intuitive and slightly complex.
Upgrades & Costs: Market "lifetime" versions may be misleading; upgrading to new versions often requires additional fees.
💰 Pricing & Licensing
Version
Annual / One-Time Fee
Key Features
Free Trial
Nitro PDF Standard
$180/year
PDF editing, OCR, conversion, signing, batch processing
14 days
Nitro PDF Plus
Enterprise subscription – contact sales
Team collaboration, permission management, centralized deployment
14 days
Nitro PDF Classic
$270/3 years
PDF editing, OCR, conversion, signing, batch processing
Enterprise users: Daily handling of contracts, reports, and approval documents; need stable and efficient desktop tools.
Professional office workers: Finance, admin, or project managers who frequently deal with scanned documents and forms; using intuitive tools boosts efficiency.
👎 Who Might Not Need Nitro PDF Editor
Occasional viewers or editors: Users who only view, annotate, or fill forms occasionally; free PDF tools or built-in readers are sufficient.
High-intensity real-time collaboration teams: Nitro is mainly desktop-focused; real-time multi-user collaboration is less seamless than cloud-native tools.
Real User Reviews
What G2 Users Like Nitro PDF Editor:
"It's the best tool for editing PDFs and managing files. It integrates all necessary PDF editing and conversion tools in one place, helping us improve efficiency and manage all files at once. The eSign feature is also excellent. The eSign dashboard is very useful for tracking and recording new and pending entries."
"While Nitro performs well on basic tasks, more advanced needs (like integrated cloud collaboration, mobile editing, eSign tracking, and secure document sharing) are either limited or require other solutions. Compatibility and integration for some document formats also fall short of our needs."
✏️ How to Edit PDFs on Windows 11/10 with Nitro PDF Editor
Open Nitro PDF Editor; drag your PDF file into the welcome screen or click "Open" to import.
In the top menu, select "Review > Edit" to modify text, images, or adjust page layout.
To add elements, use the top toolbar to insert images, links, or form fields.
5. EaseUS PDF Editor – Ideal for Personal & Lightweight Office Use
EaseUS PDF Editor has mainly targeted Windows users seeking a lightweight, efficient PDF editing experience. From its initial basic editing version, the 2025 edition has improved stability and performance while adding OCR, batch processing, and format conversion features.
Compared with some professional heavyweight tools, EaseUS focuses on quick onboarding and intuitive operation. The interface is clean, with commonly used tools easily accessible, allowing fast text edits and image adjustments.
Startup is quick, scrolling and selecting content is smooth, with no noticeable lag. When testing OCR, scanned contracts were mostly recognized accurately, and table formats were largely preserved, though complex tables still required manual adjustment.
💡 Core Features & Tested Experience
Text & Image Editing: Edit PDF text directly, replace images, and adjust layouts.
OCR Text Recognition: Converts scanned documents into editable text; complex tables may need manual correction.
Format Conversion: Convert PDF to Word, Excel, or images; batch processing supported.
Document Security: Offers password protection, permissions, and watermarks.
⚠️ Important Notes
Platform Limitation: Windows only; macOS users need alternative tools.
Performance: Large PDFs (100+ pages) may have slight lag.
Advanced Feature Limits: Multi-page form batch operations, advanced layout, or complex workflows are limited; best for daily PDF editing and processing.
💰 Pricing & Licensing
Plan
Monthly
Annual
Lifetime
EaseUS PDF Editor
$19.95
$49.95
$79.95
👍 Who Should Use EaseUS PDF Editor
Daily office users: Handle contracts, reports, or forms; occasional annotation or signing.
Small teams: Need lightweight collaboration and quick annotation.
Users wanting quick onboarding: Clean interface allows new users to complete tasks fast.
👎 Who Might Not Need EaseUS PDF Editor
Large enterprises or professional users: Handling high-volume scanned documents or complex tables with advanced OCR and automation needs may require Adobe Acrobat or Nitro PDF Editor.
Cross-platform users: Only supports Windows; Mac or Linux users need alternatives.
Real User Reviews
What G2 Users Like EaseUS PDF Editor:
"Simple and easy-to-use PDF software. View and edit PDFs easily, plus sign and lock documents. I use it every day."
"The interface isn't very intuitive. Sometimes, when rotating a page, you're unsure which button rotates the entire document versus just the current page."
✏️ How to Edit PDFs on Windows 11/10 with EaseUS PDF Editor
Click "Open" to import your PDF into EaseUS PDF Editor.
Click the top "Edit" menu to modify text, replace images, or adjust layout.
Use the "Comment" panel to add highlights or notes; click "Save" when done.
6. PDF-XChange – Feature-Rich for Professional Users
PDF-XChange Editor feels low-key but powerful. It's not as well-known as Adobe Acrobat and doesn't have a flashy interface, but it's lightweight, fast, and highly customizable—perfect for users handling large technical documents daily. Its smoothness and stability stand out, even with big manuals or academic papers, avoiding the lag or crashes seen in some larger software.
The interface may look traditional at first, but it focuses on functionality and efficiency. You can switch between classic and ribbon styles, optimize for mouse or touch, and customize toolbars, shortcuts, and themes to fit your workflow. For users who value efficiency, this is a major advantage.
💡 Core Features & Tested Experience
Advanced Editing & Layout: Edit text, images, and objects freely, with precise control over positioning and formatting.
Users Seeking High Customization: Want to tailor interface, shortcuts, and toolbar layouts for maximum efficiency.
Enterprise Teams: Require document permissions, digital signatures, and automated workflows.
👎 Who Might Not Need PDF-XChange
Occasional PDF Users: Only viewing or simple annotations; advanced editing and batch features are unnecessary.
Budget-Conscious Users: High one-time cost for advanced versions and learning time may be a barrier.
Users Preferring Modern, Clean Interfaces: PDF-XChange has a dense, function-heavy interface; lighter tools like Tenorshare PDNob or EaseUS PDF Editor may be preferable.
Real User Reviews
What G2 Users Like PDF-XChange:
"Very easy to use and powerful, with features like marking, bookmarks, advanced search, thumbnails, page order, and orientation adjustments. Fast speed, OCR conversion, exporting images to Excel/Word, and fingertip editing are excellent. As an engineer, I also love the distance and perimeter tools."
"The software lags behind competitors in cloud integration and mobile accessibility. Lack of seamless cross-device sync can be inconvenient for cross-platform users."
✏️ How to Edit PDFs on Windows 11/10 with PDF-XChange
Click "File > Open" in PDF-XChange Editor to import your file.
Go to "Edit Objects > All" to directly edit text and images.
Use the "Comment" tools to add annotations, highlights, arrows, stamps, and more.
7. pdfFiller – Online PDF Editing & Collaboration Platform
When it comes to quickly handling PDF files online, pdfFiller stands out for its convenience and collaboration features. No software installation is needed; you can upload, fill, sign, and annotate PDFs directly in a browser.
In practice, we found that when fast completion of contracts or forms is required, pdfFiller's online platform can handle almost all tasks. Compared to desktop tools like PDF-XChange or Adobe Acrobat, pdfFiller requires no loading or installation—operations are immediate.
💡 Core Features & Tested Experience
Online PDF Editing & Annotation: Edit text, insert images, and add comments entirely online.
Form Filling & Creation: Fill existing forms and convert static PDFs into fillable forms.
Document Merging & Splitting: Combine multiple PDFs into one or split into separate documents.
E-Signature & Security: Add signatures online, with encryption and permission controls for document security.
⚠️ Important Notes
Advanced features require subscription: OCR, batch processing, templates, and enterprise features are paid; free version is limited to basic operations.
Download Restrictions: Editing is possible online, but downloading/exporting PDFs requires a subscription.
💰 Pricing & Licensing
Plan
Monthly
Annual
Free Trial
Basic
$8
$96
30 days
Plus
$12
$156
30 days
Premium
$15
$180
30 days
👍 Who Should Use pdfFiller
Frequent Personal PDF Users: Filling forms or signing non-sensitive contracts; fast online operation.
Temporary or Light Office Users: Occasionally handling documents, merging files, or quickly signing; avoids installation steps.
👎 Who Might Not Need pdfFiller
Legal, Finance, or Other Professionals: High-sensitivity documents should avoid online uploads; desktop tools or local encryption are safer.
Occasional PDF Users: Only viewing or basic annotation; subscription cost may not be worth it.
Real User Reviews
What G2 Users Like pdfFiller:
"Very practical tool for filling received PDF forms, making work easier. Text formatting matches PDF format precisely. Great for handling NDAs and insurance forms."
Open a browser and log in to pdfFiller, then drag and drop PDF files to upload.
Click the "Text" button, then select the area to add text.
Use "Signature" or "Add Fields" to insert signatures or create fillable areas like dates and text fields.
3: 3 Recommended Free PDF Editors for Windows 11/10
Here we introduce three free PDF editors that perform well on Windows 11/10, helping you quickly find the right tool for your needs.
1. PDFgear – Completely Free PDF Editor
When people think of PDF editors, Adobe Acrobat usually comes to mind. PDFgear breaks that impression. Launched by a small team in recent years, it aims to be completely free with no feature limits. We first heard of it in 2023, when its features were still basic. By 2025, it has become a stable, cross-platform, all-in-one tool with AI support.
We've used PDFgear a lot over the past six months, especially for travel or quick office tasks. Editing contracts, adding comments, or converting PDFs to Word for colleagues is fast and smooth, without watermarks or forced subscriptions. This use with confidence experience is what stands out most about PDFgear.
💡 Core Features & Tested Experience
Full Text Editing: Modify PDF text and layout directly, just like Word.
AI Copilot Assistant: Use natural language commands to operate PDFs, e.g., summarize content or compress files.
PDF Conversion & OCR: Convert between PDF and Word, Excel, PPT, images, and recognize text in scanned documents.
Annotations & Signatures: Add highlights, underlines, notes, or sign directly on the document.
Cross-Platform Support: Available on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and even web browsers.
⚠️ Important Notes
AI Copilot may not always interpret complex commands accurately; multiple attempts may be needed.
Web version can be slow with large files; documents over 200 pages may open more slowly.
Lacks advanced security features such as permission management and enterprise-level encryption like Acrobat.
💰 Pricing & Licensing
Completely free
👍 Who Should Use PDFgear
Students and educational users: Annotate and sign without paying; perfect for homework or study materials.
Freelancers and small teams: Edit, convert, and sign PDFs for free, avoiding high subscription costs.
👎 Who Might Not Need PDFgear
Large enterprises or high-security departments: Lacks permission controls and professional compliance features, not suitable for finance or legal sectors.
Users handling very large files: Frequent processing of hundreds of pages may be affected by slower load speeds.
Real User Reviews
G2 users like PDFgear because:
"PDFgear is an amazing find! It provides a seamless experience very similar to Adobe Acrobat, making conversions incredibly easy. And the best part? It's completely free, which is a huge advantage over other PDF software. Highly recommended!"
"This happened to me more than once, actually three times, which is why I wrote this review. Never use this software to edit PDFs! When saving, it seemed like everything was saved, but it wasn't, and I lost hours of work trying to fix PDFs..."
Click the "Open File" button in PDFgear to open your PDF.
Click the Edit tab in the toolbar to modify text or adjust fonts, size, and color.
Navigate to the Comment tab to use marking and annotation tools.
2. ONLYOFFICE PDF – PDF Editor Integrated in Office Suite
Many Windows PDF editors focus on a single feature, but ONLYOFFICE PDF stands out because it’s not a standalone tool—it’s part of a complete office suite. On Windows, we noticed that opening ONLYOFFICE lets you handle Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and switch directly to PDF editing. This seamless experience works very well for everyday office tasks.
Previously, we often had to switch back and forth between Word and PDF, which could mess up the formatting. With ONLYOFFICE, you can annotate and edit PDFs in the same interface, and collaborate with your team online without worrying about file compatibility. This office + PDF all-in-one design is very practical for Windows users.
💡 Core Features & Tested Experience
Edit PDF Text and Images: Modify text and replace images intuitively with no extra learning curve.
Form Creation and Filling: Add input fields, dropdown menus, and other form elements smoothly.
Annotations & Team Collaboration: Supports real-time multi-user annotations without noticeable delay, providing an experience similar to online documents.
Office Format Compatibility: Switching between PDF and Word/Excel preserves formatting almost perfectly.
Cross-Platform Support: Works on Web, Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
⚠️ Important Notes
PDF functions are less detailed than professional tools: lacks advanced OCR and automated batch processing; handling scanned documents is weaker.
Large installation size: as a full office suite, the installer is bigger and takes more space than a standalone PDF tool.
Slower initial startup: on older Windows devices, it may take a few seconds to open, not as fast as lightweight PDF editors.
💰 Pricing & Licensing
Completely free
👍 Who Should Use ONLYOFFICE PDF
Office users: If you regularly use Word/Excel/PPT and occasionally handle PDFs, ONLYOFFICE meets all needs at once.
Small to medium teams: Multiple users can annotate and collaborate simultaneously; the cloud collaboration version is more efficient than traditional desktop-only PDF editors.
Frequent cross-format handlers: Especially useful for those who switch between Word and PDF frequently without losing formatting.
👎 Who Might Not Need ONLYOFFICE PDF
Users with heavy OCR needs: If your work involves mainly scanned or photocopied documents, professional tools like Adobe Acrobat or PDF-XChange are more suitable.
Users who only need lightweight PDF tools: For occasional signing or simple annotation, installing a full office suite may be overkill.
Real User Reviews
G2 users like ONLYOFFICE PDF because:
"No matter which function you use, it has easy-to-use tools."
"I don't like the user interface much. For beginners, it can feel clunky at first. It looks a bit intimidating, so I wish the UI were more beginner-friendly and less intimidating. Perhaps some more engaging design elements could make it more attractive."
How to Edit PDFs with ONLYOFFICE PDF on Windows 11/10
Launch ONLYOFFICE PDF Editor and open the PDF you want to edit.
Go to the Home tab and click Edit Text to start editing text boxes and graphic objects.
Use the Insert tab to add tables, shapes, images, and hyperlinks.
3. PDNob Online – Free Online PDF Editor
Many people don't want to install extra software but still need to handle PDFs quickly. PDNob Online is designed exactly for this scenario. It is the web version of Tenorshare PDNob PDF Editor, easy to use, and requires no downloads.
In our recent tests for temporary document tasks, PDNob Online proved very convenient. Simply upload a PDF, and you can quickly perform OCR, compress, sign, merge, or batch convert files. Although it does not allow direct editing of PDF content, its speed and ease of use make it ideal for everyday office tasks and quick file handling.
💡 Core Features & Tested Experience
OCR Text Recognition: Extract text from scanned or image-based PDFs to make it copyable.
Batch PDF Conversion: Convert PDF to Word, Excel, PPT, or images, and process multiple files at once.
PDF Compression: Quickly reduce file size to ease email sharing.
Merge & Split PDFs: Combine multiple PDFs into one or split into individual pages.
Online Signature: Add signatures directly on PDFs, supporting handwritten or uploaded images.
⚠️ Important Notes
Does not support direct PDF editing: cannot modify text or images.
File uploads depend on network speed: large files may take longer on slow connections.
Security considerations: be cautious when uploading sensitive documents.
💰 Pricing & Licensing
Completely free
👍 Who Should Use PDNob Online
Temporary or light office users: Need to merge, compress, or sign PDFs without installing software.
Students and freelancers: Quickly handle assignments or contracts without complicated steps.
Users with batch processing needs: Upload multiple files at once for conversion or merging efficiently.
👎 Who Might Not Need PDNob Online
Users needing PDF content editing: For modifying text or images, the desktop PDNob version or other editors are more suitable.
How to Edit PDFs with PDNob Online on Windows 11/10
Open a browser and visit PDNob Online.
Select the desired feature, such as OCR, Convert, Compress, or Merge PDF.
Upload your PDF file and perform the selected operation.
4: Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does Windows 11 Have a PDF Editor?
Windows 11 comes with Microsoft Edge, which allows you to view, annotate, and fill PDF forms. You can add text, highlights, and drawings directly within the browser.
2. How to Choose the Right PDF Editor for Windows?
When selecting a PDF editor, consider the following factors:
Feature Requirements: Do you need text editing, OCR, form filling, digital signatures, etc.?
Budget: Are you looking for a one-time purchase or a subscription model?
Platform Compatibility: Do you need cross-platform support, such as Windows, Mac, or mobile devices?
Security: Is document encryption and privacy protection important for your workflow?
Based on these considerations, you can refer to the PDF editor recommendations listed earlier in this article to choose the most suitable tool.
3. What Are the Best PDF Editors for Windows 11/10?
Enterprise or Professional Users: Adobe Acrobat and Foxit PDF Editor offer comprehensive document management, collaboration, and security, making them ideal for high-frequency office use.
Individual or Budget-Conscious Users: Tenorshare PDNob provides core editing and form-handling features, with an affordable price and a simple interface.
Temporary or Basic Tasks: PDFgear meets needs for viewing, annotating, and merging documents. It's completely free and suitable for occasional use.
4. Is There a Better PDF Editor than Adobe Acrobat?
Although Adobe Acrobat is powerful, it’s expensive and can be complicated. For users on a budget, PDNob PDF Editor provides a practical alternative with text editing, OCR, and file conversion. It offers a one-time purchase option with no subscription, plus an unlimited free trial, making it suitable for individuals and small teams.
5. Are There 100% Free PDF Editors?
Yes. Several PDF editors are completely free and suitable for basic document tasks: PDFgear, PDF24 Creator, PDF Candy, and ONLYOFFICE PDF.
Summary and Recommendations
Choosing the right PDF editor for Windows depends on your actual needs:
Lightweight or occasional use: Free tools like PDFgear are sufficient for basic viewing, annotating, and merging tasks.
One-time purchase with high cost-performance: Tenorshare PDNob PDF Editor supports permanent purchase and unlimited free trial, offering comprehensive editing features suitable for long-term use.
Enterprise or high-frequency work: Adobe Acrobat and Foxit PDF Editor provide mature and stable solutions, ideal for complex document management and team collaboration.
No matter which tool you choose, our goal is to provide reliable and practical guidance to help you make an informed decision. As software updates and new versions are released, this guide will be continuously updated to ensure accuracy. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to contact us—your input helps us improve and deliver a better review experience.
The END
About PDNob
I am PDNob.
Swift editing, efficiency first.
Make every second yours: Tackle any PDF task with ease.
As Leonardo da Vinci said, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." That's why we built PDNob.
By Jenefey Aaron
2025-09-19 / PDF Editor