---
title: Best PDF Editors
canonical: https://saasranked.com/best/pdf-editors/
facts_checked: 2026-10-08
---

# Best PDF Editors

Edit, sign, convert and protect PDF files. 9 PDF editors ranked by points out of 100 from 14 published rules. Method: https://saasranked.com/best/pdf-editors/how-we-score/

| # | Product | Points | Editing | Systems | Signing and security | Price | Privacy | First-year price for text editing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Wondershare PDFelement](https://saasranked.com/software/pdfelement.md) | 90 | 30/30 | 15/15 | 20/20 | 10/20 | 15/15 | $79.99/yr |
| 2 | [Foxit PDF Editor](https://saasranked.com/software/foxit-pdf-editor.md) | 88 | 30/30 | 15/15 | 20/20 | 8/20 | 15/15 | $129.99/yr |
| 3 | [iLovePDF](https://saasranked.com/software/ilovepdf.md) | 85 | 30/30 | 15/15 | 20/20 | 5/20 | 15/15 | $67.12/yr |
| 4 | [PDFgear](https://saasranked.com/software/pdfgear.md) | 81 | 24/30 | 15/15 | 14/20 | 20/20 | 8/15 | $0 |
| 5 | [Adobe Acrobat](https://saasranked.com/software/adobe-acrobat.md) | 81 | 30/30 | 15/15 | 20/20 | 1/20 | 15/15 | $179.88/yr |
| 6 | [Nitro PDF](https://saasranked.com/software/nitro-pdf-pro.md) | 75 | 30/30 | 9/15 | 20/20 | 1/20 | 15/15 | $180/yr |
| 7 | [PDF-XChange Editor](https://saasranked.com/software/pdf-xchange-editor.md) | 71 | 30/30 | 3/15 | 12/20 | 18/20 | 8/15 | $62/yr |
| 8 | [Smallpdf](https://saasranked.com/software/smallpdf.md) | 64 | 18/30 | 12/15 | 8/20 | 11/20 | 15/15 | $108/yr |
| 9 | [Sejda PDF](https://saasranked.com/software/sejda.md) | 56 | 18/30 | 9/15 | 6/20 | 15/20 | 8/15 | $0 |

## 1. Wondershare PDFelement

Best for: Windows users who want to buy a PDF editor once. PDFelement suits people who want a full desktop editor on Windows or Mac at a lower price than the big names. It covers text editing, OCR, redaction, forms, file comparison and tracked signature requests, and it is still sold as a perpetual licence. The catch: there is no free version, and the store shows sale prices without saying what the yearly plan renews at.

## 2. Foxit PDF Editor

Best for: People who want a full desktop editor with a one-time licence option. Foxit PDF Editor suits people who want OCR, redaction and file comparison in a desktop editor at a lower yearly price, or who prefer to pay once. The base plan covers Windows, macOS and the web; mobile apps and signature requests need PDF Editor+. The $209.99 perpetual licence runs on Windows and macOS without AI, Smart Redact or cloud features.

## 3. iLovePDF

Best for: Budget buyers who mostly work in the browser. iLovePDF suits people who want a wide set of browser tools, with redaction, comparison, OCR and forms even on the free plan. Premium is cheap at €60 a year and adds existing-text editing, desktop and mobile apps, and certified digital signatures. Free use is capped by file size and files per task.

## 4. PDFgear

Best for: People who want to edit PDF text for free. PDFgear suits anyone who wants to edit PDF text, run OCR and redact without paying, on a computer or a phone. Files are edited on your device and saved without watermarks. Its password tool only adds an open password, it documents no way to compare two PDFs, and it says some advanced options may cost money later.

## 5. Adobe Acrobat

Best for: People who want PDF editing and signature requests on every device. Acrobat suits people who want one PDF editor on Windows, Mac, phones and the web, with signature requests built in. Standard edits text and sends documents for signing, but redaction, OCR and file comparison need Pro. There is no perpetual licence, and cancelling an annual plan billed monthly after 14 days costs up to half the remaining commitment.

## 6. Nitro PDF

Best for: Windows and Mac users who want a full desktop editor with OCR and redaction. Nitro PDF suits Windows and Mac users who want text editing, OCR, redaction and file comparison in one desktop app. Standard costs $180 a year, and Classic trades the subscription for a $270 three-year Windows licence. There is no Android app, no free version, and signature requests cost extra through Nitro Sign.

## 7. PDF-XChange Editor

Best for: Windows users who want to pay once, or use a capable free version. PDF-XChange Editor suits Windows users who want to pay once: $62 buys a perpetual licence that edits text, redacts and builds forms. The free version covers OCR, password protection and digital signatures without watermarks, but licensed tools stamp their output. There are no Mac, mobile or web apps.

## 8. Smallpdf

Best for: Occasional users who work in the browser. Smallpdf suits occasional users who want quick browser tools and a free plan that does not watermark files. Pro adds direct text editing, OCR and unlimited signature requests through Sign.com. Form building, file comparison and certificate-based signing are not published, and the desktop app is for Windows only.

## 9. Sejda PDF

Best for: Occasional users who need to change text in a PDF now and then. Sejda suits occasional users: the free version edits existing text and adds no watermark, within hourly limits. Paid plans are cheap, from a €5.50 week pass to €71 a year with desktop apps that work offline. It no longer sends documents for signature, and redaction, comparison and certificate signing are not published.