Best Free PDF Editors for 2025
The Search for Free PDF Editing
I used to think PDF editing required expensive software. Then I discovered there are actually some solid free options out there. Not all of them — some are barely usable — but a few stand out from the crowd.
Our Top Picks
1. PDFescape (Free Online)
Probably the best completely free option. You can:
- Edit text directly in the PDF
- Add annotations and comments
- Fill out forms
- Add or remove pages
Limit: 10MB file size on free plan
2. LibreOffice Draw
This is a hidden gem. It's part of the free LibreOffice suite:
- Completely free, no catches
- Edit text, images, and layouts
- Works offline
- Export to multiple formats
Best for: Advanced editing without paying
3. Canva (Free Tier)
Yes, Canva can edit PDFs!
- Beautiful templates
- Easy drag-and-drop
- Great for creating new PDFs
- Export to PDF when done
Limit: Best for creating new PDFs, not heavy editing
4. Sejda PDF Editor
Solid online editor with a generous free tier:
- Edit text and images
- Annotate and highlight
- Merge and split PDFs
- 3 tasks per hour on free plan
What About Adobe?
Adobe Acrobat Pro is the industry standard, but at $15/month, it's not for everyone. The good news? Adobe offers a 7-day free trial. Use it for big projects, then switch to free tools for smaller tasks.
Online vs Desktop: Which Is Better?
Online tools: Convenient, no installation, but privacy concerns
Desktop software: More features, works offline, better privacy
Our Recommendation
For quick edits and simple changes, PDFescape or Sejda are perfect. For heavier editing needs, install LibreOffice Draw — it's surprisingly powerful and completely free.