Best Program to Edit PDF for Windows and Mac In 2025 [Tested and Reviewed]

Part 1: What Makes a Best Program to Edit PDF?

When writing our review for the best program to edit PDF, we tested each PDF editor using real-life tasks to see how well they perform. We used different file types, like research papers, forms, and image-heavy PDFs, to reflect frequent user needs. Here’s the criteria we tested each tool against:

• Features like editing text/images, OCR, file conversion, redaction, and AI tools.
• Ease of use, including how simple the layout is and how quickly you can learn it.
• Speed, especially with large or many files.
• Security, such as passwords and digital signatures.
• Device compatibility with Windows 10/11 and macOS.
• Overall value, comparing free and paid options.

Here’s a short comparison of each tool we’ve reviewed below. So, you can go through it if you don’t have time to read the entire review:

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Part 2: Best Program to Edit PDF for Windows (Including Windows 10 & 11)

The following are the best PDF editor software for Windows, including the latest 10 and 11 versions. We’ve listed their key features, reviews, ratings, advantages, and drawbacks in detail:

1.Tenorshare PDNob

Tenorshare PDNob is the best freeware PDF editor for Windows 10/11 on our list because of its free, comprehensive PDF editing and management features. It offers OCR, editing, splitting, merging, and converting PDFs, AI Summaries, and annotation tools. Here’s a detailed look at its key features:

Overview At a Glance:

• 99 % OCR Accuracy: It can modify scanned PDFs into editable and searchable documents with a 99% OCR accuracy rate.
• 30+ Convert Formats: Convert your text into any one of dozens of different formats, such as Word, Excel, PPT, images, EPUB, and PDF/A.
• 100+ Edits: Add or modify text, image, watermark, and background settings at least 100 times in your document.
• 200+ Annotations: Offers more than 200 types of highlights, shapes, stamps, as well as notes.
• PDF Management: It would be easy to compress, split as well and merge your PDF files.
• Image Editing: You are able to edit or alter any picture with a different one.
• Security: Such services entail digital signatures, encryption, and passwords.
• AI Support: The app enables the use of GPT-4 to summarize, give insights, and find answers from large PDF documents.
• Screenshot Capability: It can be used to take screenshots of all your editing actions.
• Batch Processing: Users are able to adjust up to 1 million files, and their size will not be a factor.
• Multilingual Support: This application is applicable in 16+ languages, starting with English, followed by Chinese, French, among several others.
• Flexible Customer Care: Quick customer care support enables prompt response to customer problems, thus effective working process.
• Platform Compatibility: It is compliant with most Windows and Mac platforms.

Expert Insights:

Tenorshare PDNob is the best program to edit PDF for beginners and professionals. For students and researchers, it simplifies academic work by allowing users to summarize papers and extract key data efficiently. While legal and business professionals can use it to redact sensitive information and convert contracts. Freelancers can also benefit from features like batch editing client documents, saving time, and boosting productivity.

Performance and Rating Summary:

Here’s a breakdown of the performance and rating summary of Tenorshare PDNob based on key criteria:

Getting Started Steps:

Here’s how to use Tenorshare PDNob to edit a PDF document:

• Execute Tenorshare PDNob on your Windows or Mac. Then, tap “Open PDF” to upload the PDF document that you wish to edit.

• Head to “Edit” on the menu above. Then, choose an editing tool to modify text, images, or background, etc, in the PDF document. Or choose “Comments” from the menu bar to annotate, highlight, or add comments in the PDF.

• Once edited, move to “File” in the menu bar. Then, tap “Save as” to save and shift the modified PDF file to your computer.

2.Foxit PDF Editor

Foxit PDF Editor is another PDF editing software for Windows 10 /11 that offers advanced editing features similar to a word processor. You can change text, images, and layout with drag-and-drop. This tool also includes AI help for summarizing, translating, and rewriting content, and OCR for turning scanned documents into editable text. You get strong security with password protection, encryption, and redaction, along with Microsoft AIP and Azure AD support. You can also create interactive forms and convert files between PDF and formats like Word or Excel.

Editors’ Review:

Foxit is praised on Software Advice for being much cheaper than Adobe, and packed with smart features like OCR, eSign, and AI tools. Users on TechRadar also love its editing and collaboration tools. But some note slow performance with large files and inconsistent features across platforms. While a few also find advanced tools hard to locate, and mention mixed support quality.

Expert’s Rating:

Foxit has earned 4.6/5.0 from 80+ reviews on Software Advice, 4.5/5.0 on TechRadar.

Why It Stands Out:

• About 45% cheaper than Adobe Acrobat Pro.
• Easy-to-use with a familiar, Office-like layout.
• Fast and lightweight for everyday tasks.
• Strong security features and encryption.
• Affordable plans for individuals, teams, and educators.
• Supports real-time teamwork with comments and unlimited e-signatures.
• Supports all major platforms and provides 20–150 GB of cloud storage.
• Integrates with Google Drive and OneDrive.

Things to Watch Out For:

• Slows down with large or image-heavy files.
• Some advanced tools are hard to find.
• Limited support for non-English languages.
• Doesn’t support ePub file conversion.
• Customer support has mixed feedback.

3.Nitro PDF Pro

Nitro PDF Pro offers powerful PDF editing with drag-and-drop tools to change text, images, and layouts, and OCR to turn scanned files into editable text. You can convert PDFs to and from Word, Excel, and more while keeping the format intact. Moreover, this best program to edit text in PDF supports secure sharing with password protection, eSignatures, and compliance tools. Users can also add comments, highlights, and work together in real time through cloud storage. Nitro AI (in Beta) helps summarize and extract info from documents.

Editors’ Review:

Nitro is complemented on PCWorld as a strong Adobe alternative with powerful editing, e-sign, and OCR tools, and an easy Office-style interface. It supports all major platforms and offers a one-time purchase option. However, some users show concerns that it slows down with large files, is pricey for casual users, and has some formatting and support issues.

Expert’s Rating:

Nitro PDF Pro is rated 4.5/5.0 by Software Advice and GetApp from 500+ reviews.

Why It Stands Out:

• Full-featured and affordable alternative to Adobe Acrobat.
• Easy-to-use Office-style interface.
• Offers a one-time purchase option (no subscription required).
• Accurate OCR and file conversions.
• Supports Windows, Mac, and mobile.

Things to Watch Out For:

• Slows down with large or complex files.
• The AI assistant responds slower than some competitors.
• Pricey for occasional users.
• Only a 14-day free trial, no free permanent version.
• Minor formatting issues when editing text.
• PDF-XChange Editor

PDF-XChange Editor offers powerful PDF editing tools to modify text, images, and pages. It includes accurate OCR for turning scans into searchable text, and strong annotation, form creation, and redaction features. Users can compare documents, batch process files, and apply security settings. The 2025 update also adds color tools, reusable signatures, improved stamps, and enterprise-friendly settings. However, this best program to edit PDF documents is Windows-only.

4.PDF-XChange Editor

Editors’ Review:

Users on Software Advice, TechRadar, and Trustpilot like the one-time payment for PDF-XChange Editor and praise its speed, advanced tools like OCR, and easy-to-use interface. It’s great for editing, annotating, and handling large files. However, it’s Windows-only, OCR costs extra, and beginners may find the interface a bit overwhelming.

Expert’s Rating:

PDF-XChange Editor has earned 4.6/5.0 on Software Advice and 4.5/5.0 on TechRadar.

Why It Stands Out:

• Affordable one-time license, unlike Adobe’s subscription.
• Runs fast and uses fewer system resources.
• The free version allows basic editing and annotations without watermarks.
• Customizable interface similar to Microsoft Office.
• Accurate OCR and strong form creation tools.

Things to Watch Out For:

• Only supports Windows.
• The free version doesn’t include OCR, forms, or batch tools.
• The interface may feel crowded for new users.
• Can crash with large or complex files.
• No real-time collaboration or cloud co-editing.

Part 3: Best Program to Edit PDF for Mac

Here are the best program to edit PDF on Mac with their user insights, ratings, pros, and cons reviewed in detail:

1.Preview (Built-In)

Mac Preview is a free PDF editing program that’s built into Mac and offers basic PDF editing features like adding text, highlights, shapes, and handwritten notes. You can sign documents, reorder or delete pages, rotate or crop images, and fill out existing forms. It also supports password protection, simple file exports (Word, JPG, PNG), and quick annotations directly from Finder using QuickLook.

Editors’ Review:

Mac Preview is praised on PCWorld, TechRadar, Macworld, and Apple Community forums for being a free, built-in PDF tool on macOS that supports basic tasks like highlighting, adding text or shapes, managing pages, and signing documents. It also offers form-filling and password protection. However, some users complain that it can’t edit existing text, lacks advanced tools like OCR, and can be slow for large or complex files.

Expert’s Rating:

Apple Mac Preview is rated 4.5/5.0 on TechRadar, 4.0/5.0 on PCWorld, and 4.0/5.0 on Macworld.

Why It Stands Out:

• Free and comes pre-installed on all Macs.
• Easy to use with a simple interface.
• Operates smoothly with other Apple apps like iCloud.
• Fast and efficient for basic PDF tasks.

Things to Watch Out For:

• Can’t edit existing text or images.
• No advanced features like OCR or proper redaction.
• Doesn’t support real-time collaboration or cloud sharing.
• Only available on macOS, not for Windows or Android users.

2.PDF Expert by Readdle

PDF Expert lets you edit text, images, and links in PDFs like a Word doc. This best program to edit PDF for free supports annotations, Apple Pencil notes, form filling, digital signatures, OCR for scanned files, and AI tools for summaries and scan improvement. You can merge, split, and organize pages, sync across Apple devices, and convert files to/from popular formats, all with password protection and redaction features.

Editors’ Review:

PDF Expert is praised on Software Suggest and GetApp for its clean, easy-to-use design, strong annotation tools, and smooth syncing across Apple devices. Users like the AI-powered summarization and the option for a one-time purchase. However, it’s limited to Apple platforms, some AI tools require a subscription, and performance may lag with large files.

Expert’s Rating:

PDF Expert has earned a 4.5/5.0 rating on Software Suggest.

Why It Stands Out:

• Easy to use with a clean, simple interface.
• Fast and lightweight, especially on Apple devices.
• Offers a lifetime purchase option with no need for ongoing subscriptions.
• 50% student/teacher discount available.
• Integrates smoothly within the Apple ecosystem.

Things to Watch Out For:

• Not available on Windows or Android.
• Premium features are expensive.
• AI tools are basic compared to rivals.
• Some issues with non-Apple stylus compatibility.

Part 4: Free Tools vs Paid — How to Choose the Best Program to Edit PDF?

Picking between free and paid PDF editors depends on how often you use them and what features you need. If you only need to do simple tasks like highlighting, signing, or filling out forms, a free PDF editor like Mac Preview or PDF-XChange Editor’s basic version is usually enough.

But if you work with PDFs often and need features like editing scanned files, converting formats, batch processing, or using AI tools, a paid editor is worth it. Options like Tenorshare PDNob, Foxit, or Nitro offer more power and save time.

Part 5: FAQs About the Best Program to Edit PDF

1. What is the best free program to edit PDF files without watermarks?

You can use Apple’s Mac Preview to edit PDF files without watermarks. It’s built into Mac and is free to use. For Windows users, try Tenorshare PDNob. It offers free editing without watermarks.

2. Which PDF editor is best for editing text in scanned documents?

Tenorshare PDNob is the best PDF editor for editing text in scanned documents, offering 99% OCR accuracy.

3. Can I edit a PDF file on my browser without downloading software?

Yes. You can edit a PDF file in Microsoft Edge without downloading any software. However, it will be basic editing without advanced features like OCR.

Final Thoughts

The best program to edit PDF for you depends on your needs, device, and budget. Foxit and Nitro are great for professionals needing advanced editing and security. PDF-XChange is ideal for Windows users wanting a one-time purchase, while Mac users can choose between the simple built-in Preview or the more powerful PDF Expert. However, overall, Tenorshare PDNob is our top pick. It’s free, easy to use, accurate, provides comprehensive PDF editing and management tools, AI summaries, and supports both Windows and Mac.

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