Adobe Acrobat is a popular program used for editing PDF files. However, it can be expensive and difficult to use. If you are looking for an alternative to Adobe Acrobat, there are several free programs that can do the job. This blog post will discuss some of the best free PDF online editor tools available online.
What is Adobe Acrobat?
Adobe Acrobat is a software program that allows you to create, edit, and view PDF files. It is available for both Windows and Mac computers. Adobe Acrobat is the industry standard for viewing and editing PDFs. It is widely used by businesses and individuals. It is available as a subscription-based service or as a one-time purchase.
Why do we need an alternative to Adobe Acrobat?
Adobe Acrobat is a powerful program, but it can be expensive. The subscription-based service starts at $14.99 per month. That can add up over time. Additionally, Adobe Acrobat can be difficult to use for some people. It has a steep learning curve and can be intimidating for beginners. If a user is looking out to do daily tasks and basic edits such as adding images, signatures, or to write on PDF, Adobe Acrobat can be a very expensive option to choose.
What are the free alternatives to Adobe Acrobat?
There are several free alternatives to Adobe Acrobat. We will discuss some of the best options below:
- PDFescape
PDFescape is a free online PDF editor that allows you to edit, view, and annotate PDF files. It also lets you fill out forms and add signatures. You can use PDFescape without creating an account, but you will be limited to editing PDFs that are less than 100 pages.
Features:
- Edit, view and annotate PDFs
- Fill out forms
- Add signatures
- No limit on file size
Limitations:
- Limited features in the free version
- A1Office PDF Editor:
A1Office Office PDF Editor is a free online PDF editor that allows you to edit text, images, and pages in PDF files. It also lets you draw freehand on the pdf with its draw tool.
Features:
- Edit text, images, and pages in PDF files
- Add signatures
- works on any web browser
- Does not have any limit on editing a pdf in a single day
Limitations:
Does not have the OCR technology, therefore cannot edit the existing text for now. Will be updated in the next version.
- PDF-XChange Editor:
PDF-XChange Editor is a free online PDF editor that allows you to edit text, images, and pages in PDF files. It also lets you add signatures and Bates numbering. It comes with the famous OCR technology that lets you edit text on scanned images.
Features:
- Edit text, images, and pages in PDF files
- Add signatures
- Bates numbering
- Enables scanned image text editing
Limitations:
- Its free version comes with a small watermark at the bottom of the page.
- The interface may seem to be a bit overwhelming at first.
- Nitro PDF Reader:
This is also a great alternative to Adobe Acrobat as it offers plenty of features that a user might be looking for, the tools and options that can make your work much easier on a daily basis. If a user is only reading a document, it helps in commenting, annotating, collaborating with the team, marking text, etc.
Feature:
- Biggest advantage of this software is that it supports touchscreen devices so anyone will be able to work on it with the help of touch.
- Team collaboration
- Annotation and text mark-up
Limitations:
- Does not allow you to digitally sign your documents.
- PDFelement:
It can be considered one of the greatest alternatives to Adobe acrobat as it provides a user with the best features for viewing as well as editing a PDF file. This alternative provides great functionality, security, and stability to view and edit the document, and runs on the latest OCR technology which lets you edit scanned images and texts in 20 different languages.
Features:
- text editing, OCR editing
- Spell check error detection
- Best with working with multiple files and extracting data
Limitations:
- The free version is quite limited. You can get the best experience with the paid version.
Conclusion:
When you are editing a PDF, online options can prove to be a convenient option that does not require you to have any installations or plugin additions and are free to use. Although some features are locked behind a paywall, the free versions provide enough for most users. There are several free alternatives to Adobe Acrobat. Each has its own set of features and limitations. You should try out each one to see which suits your needs best. Give one of these alternatives to Adobe Acrobat a try today!