What are the best programs to edit a PDF file? 2022 list

PDF is one of the most widely used document formats today. Created in 1991 and released a couple of years later by Adobeone of the most important firms in the world of digital formats, this document has become a clear reflection of what innovation can do to change the world.

Previously, activities such as the sale of products, project proposals, to name a few, were carried out by visiting potential clients, showing them a catalog or a physical document, in which the proposal was exposed. However, with the advancement of technology, and the need for human beings to perform several tasks at the same time, the habit of visiting clients is becoming a thing of the past. being replaced by emailing documents, catalogues, proposals and projectsamong others.

that’s where the PDF format has a leading role, since it can contain various elements that allow explaining and exposing a point in question perfectly. For create quality PDF documents it is necessary to know how to manipulate, manage and edit them at will. In this guide you will know everything you need to know about this format, especially what are the best software to edit them easily, quickly and for free.

Uses and types of documents in PDF format

The format has evolved to such an extent that currently there are different types of this, which are designed to support different elements or with different purposes. Having said that, we can identify the following types of PDF:

PDFx

This is the standard format designed for documents that will later be printed on paper. This has a peculiarity and that is that it eliminates all those leftover elements that cannot or do not need to be printed. Namely, if you insert a 1000px image, but only 70% of it will be visiblethe excess is removed to make the final file less heavy.

High Quality PDF

This is similar to the previous one, only does not remove leftover elements, in fact it does the opposite. If you insert a 600px image cropped to 300px in a document, the original image will be saved in case the recipient wants to enlarge it.

PDFx-1

This is a variation of the first format explained. This is exclusive for paper printsso it only retains the information necessary for the content to be printed in CMKY colors.

PDFx-3

Another variant of the first on this list. The difference is that it also preserves information in RGB so that it can be displayed perfectly on screens.

PDFx-4

Same as above but has support to support images in PNG format and other files with transparencies.

PDF image only

It is a variant that admits only images reproduced in bitmap.

Electronic forms in PDF

This type of PDF supports the use of electronic forms that can be filled out online, making the document more interactive. Widely used by official websites for sending official documents.

*Previously, a PDF could only be created or edited with an Adobe program. Any of these allowed you to convert your creations into a document of this format, but now things have changed. There is a wide range of programs capable of fulfilling this task perfectly, many of them we can use online and others we will need to download to our devices.

Summary of all recommended PDF file editors and programs:

• Adobe Acrobat
• PDF Elements
• nitro-pro
• Foxid Phantom PDF
• able word
• PDF Elements App
• PDFMax
• PDF Text Editor
• PDF File Editor
• PDFEscape
• PDF Buddy
• dochub
• I lovePDF

List of the best PDF editing software and apps for Windows and Mac computers

The best alternatives to edit PDF documents are on Windows and MacOS. In these desktop devices you will be able to find a wide variety of programs that will allow you to make your files in this format much more interesting. The best are undoubtedly the following:

Adobe Acrobat

Unsurprisingly, many consider the Adobe Acrobat as the best PDF editor since it is developed by the same firm that created the format, allowing you to do everything possible with your documents. On this platform you can add all kinds of elements to make your files more dynamic and visually attractive; you can add hyperlinks, text boxes, electronic forms And a long etcetera.

If what you want is to create an ebook or a presentation, this is the best possible option. The only drawback is that its cost is high, but the power of the software is worth every euro paid.

PDF Elements

An alternative to the main editor that perfectly meets what is needed for quality PDF editing. Its main advantage is its value for money, since it allows you to do everything that Acrobat does but at a much lower cost. Its interface is very easy to use, allowing you to create interactive documents without having to be an expert on the subject.

nitro-pro

This is a very powerful PFD editor that will allow you to create, merge and edit all kinds of documents in this format. In addition, you will be able to add all the elements you need and configure the file according to the type of PDF you need. It has OCR technology so you can perfectly edit scanned documents. When you download it you will be able to choose between two versions; personal and company. Each one has its own characteristics that adjust to the needs of each user.

Foxid Phantom PDF

An editor with an interface very similar to that of the typical Microsoft WordOffice. Here you can do practically anything with your document; from creating, merging and splitting files, to sharing everything you create and converting other formats to PDF. In general, it is one of the most complete options. available to the user, with OCR technology to identify scanned documents.

able word

A basic but very useful editor. It is basically a word processor that allows you to export everything you do to PDF format. admits images, interactive tables, electronic forms and hyperlinks. It’s not very popular, but it’s a great alternative if you’re looking for free PDF creation and editing software.

List of Best PDF Editor Apps for Android and iOS

If yours are mobile devicesyou can rest assured that there is a wide variety of applications that will allow you to edit your PDFs to perfection with various special functions that have nothing to envy computer editors. The best are:

PDF Elements App

This is the mobile version of the editor that we mentioned earlier. On this type of device, it retains many of its main functions, with some limitations that you can eliminate if you export your documents to the desktop version, which you can do perfectly well. You will be able to scan documents encoded in QR code and edit them, as well as create your own PDFs from scratch.

PDFMax

Possibly the best editor on the list, rivaling even the desktop Acrobat. In addition to all the basic functions that this type of program should have, it has other special ones that make it a completely unique application. It highlights its text reflow that allows you to read PDF without having to adjust the screen zoom; It will automatically choose the ideal frame so that you can have an adequate vision.

In the same way, you will be able to extract individual pages from a complete document and use the text-to-speech engine to listen to everything that is written in it, making your ebooks authentic audio books. It also has several auto-complete options, so that the electronic forms you need are automatically filled with the data that the application has saved about you.

PDF Text Editor

A fairly basic and free editor that perfectly meets what you need to make shallow edits to PDF documents. The drawback is that it only allows you to edit text, you won’t be able to add images or other elements such as interactive forms, although you will be able to insert hyperlinks.

PDF File Editor

This is another basic edit, although it has a couple of special functions such as placing a watermark on your documents or protect them with a password. However, it lacks other more powerful features like inserting images or electronic forms. Also, it’s just an editor, you won’t be able to create files from scratch.

List of online and free PDF document editors

Finally there are the free online tools to edit your PDF. Unlike an installable program or application, these platforms have quite limited functions, although depending on your needs, they may perfectly meet your needs. The best options are:

PDFEscape

an online editor very easy to use thanks to its simple interface that will allow you to create electronic forms. Apart from that, there isn’t much else to say, apart from being able to insert text since it doesn’t support images or other types of elements, which makes the documents you create here flat and not very dynamic.

PDF Buddy

This is a more powerful editor that allows you to add images, signatures and correct the content of each document. In addition to this, you can combine PDF filesas well as dividing them if necessary. The only drawback is that the quality of the images and graphic elements you add are quite low.

dochub

It is another good online alternative to edit PDF that allows you to insert images, watermarks and other graphic elements with an acceptable quality. Undoubtedly the best of this list of online publishers.

iLovePDF

iLovePDF It is one of the most famous online editing tools and used by millions of users. easily you allows from joining, dividing, compressing files of this nature can even pass and convert other documents such as Word or JPG to be able to open them in PDF.