PDF editor · PDF-XChange Co Ltd

PDF-XChange Editor

Windows PDF editor with a free version and a perpetual licence from $62, including one year of updates.

71/100

#7 of 9 PDF editors
Facts checked 8 Oct 2026

In short

A single-user licence costs $62 once, is perpetual and includes one year of updates^2,4.
The free version is free for private and commercial use, but licensed tools such as text editing add watermarks^1,3.
OCR, password protection and digital signatures work in the free version¹.
Comparing documents and the enhanced OCR engine need Editor Plus, at $79 once^1,2.
It runs on Windows 10 and later only¹.

PDF-XChange Editor suits Windows users who want to pay once: $62 buys a perpetual licence that edits text, redacts and builds forms^1,2,4. The free version covers OCR, password protection and digital signatures without watermarks, but licensed tools stamp their output^1,3. There are no Mac, mobile or web apps¹.

Best for: Windows users who want to pay once, or use a capable free version.

Where the points come from

Editing30 of 30

Systems3 of 15

Signing and security12 of 20

Price18 of 20

Privacy8 of 15

Editing 30 of 30 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Edit existing text	YesAdd/Edit Document Text is a licensed feature; the free version watermarks its output^1,3.	6 / 6
OCR	YesOCR is a free feature; Editor Plus adds an enhanced OCR engine¹.	6 / 6
True redaction	YesRedact Documents and Find and Redact are licensed features¹.	6 / 6
Create fillable forms	YesCreating and editing fillable forms is a licensed feature^1,6.	6 / 6
Compare two PDFs	YesCompare Documents shows replacements, insertions and deletions; it needs Editor Plus¹.	6 / 6

Systems 3 of 15 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Apps	WindowsSupported systems are Windows 10 and later; no other system is listed¹.	3 / 15

Signing and security 12 of 20 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Request e-signatures	Not publishedOnly a DocuSign integration is listed for sending documents to sign¹.	0 / 8
Password protection	YesFree feature: 128- or 256-bit AES encryption with password and permission settings⁷.	6 / 6
Certificate-based signatures	YesAdds PAdES digital signatures and certifies documents, both free features⁷.	6 / 6

Price 18 of 20 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Free version without watermarks	YesThe free version is free for private and commercial use; only licensed features add watermarks³.	8 / 8
First-year price for text editing	$62/yrPDF-XChange Editor single-user licence, $62 once with one year of maintenance².	5 / 7
One-time licence	YesAll end-user licences are perpetual, with no annual subscription fees⁴.	5 / 5

Privacy 8 of 15 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Edits files on your computer	YesA Windows desktop app that edits files on your computer¹.	8 / 8
SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001	Not published	0 / 7

The rule behind each line: how we score PDF editors.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

Plan	Price as listed	Per month	Notes
Free versionPrivate and commercial use	Free^1,3	$0	Licensed features add watermarks
PDF-XChange Editor1 user	$62 one-time^2,4	–	Perpetual; one year of maintenance included
PDF-XChange Editor Plus1 user	$79 one-time^2,6	–	Adds enhanced OCR, document comparison and form recognition
PDF-XChange PRO1 user	$131 one-time^5,6	–	Bundle of Editor Plus, PDF-Tools and PDF-XChange Printer

Prices exclude VAT. Each licence includes one year of maintenance; two- or three-year maintenance costs less when bought with the licence². After maintenance ends, you keep the versions released while it was active¹.

Strengths

Licences are perpetual, with no annual subscription fees⁴.
The $62 Editor licence is low for an editor that changes existing text^1,2.
OCR, password protection and certificate signatures are free features^1,7.
The free version may be used for private and commercial work³.

Limits

Windows only: no macOS, mobile or web version is listed¹.
Text editing, redaction and form building add watermarks unless licensed^1,3.
Document comparison needs Editor Plus^1,6.
There are no refunds once licence keys are released².

What PDF-XChange Co Ltd says

Vendor claims. We show them, but they earn no points.

PDF-XChange says 70% of the editor's features are unrestricted in the free version¹.
PDF-XChange says the editor has 402 features, 257 of them free¹.

Other PDF editors

1
Wondershare PDFelementWindows users who want to buy a PDF editor once
90/100
$79.99/yrfirst-year price for text editing
2
Foxit PDF EditorPeople who want a full desktop editor with a one-time licence option
88/100
$129.99/yrfirst-year price for text editing
3
iLovePDFBudget buyers who mostly work in the browser
85/100
$67.12/yrfirst-year price for text editing
4
PDFgearPeople who want to edit PDF text for free
81/100
$0first-year price for text editing

All 9 PDF editors

Sources

PDF-XChange Editor, PDF-XChange Co Ltd. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
PDF-XChange Editor :: Volume pricing chart, PDF-XChange Co Ltd. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Software Products - Demo Limitations, PDF-XChange Co Ltd. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Product Licensing Explained, PDF-XChange Co Ltd. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
PDF-XChange PRO :: Volume pricing chart, PDF-XChange Co Ltd. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Products, PDF-XChange Co Ltd. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
PDF-XChange Editor features: Secure Documents, PDF-XChange Co Ltd. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.

Website: www.pdf-xchange.com/product/pdf-xchange-editor · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with PDF-XChange Co Ltd.