If you've just opened a PDF that needs editing and realised it's not as easy as it first seems, you've come to the right place. Here, we show you how to edit a PDF, and better yet how to edit a PDF for free. You can edit text in a PDF, annotate a PDF and comment on a PDF using these tools, and we're here to explain how. See also: Best PDF editor 2017
Adobe invented the PDF (Portable Document Format) to solve a problem that dogged people for years: how to view and print documents without requiring the original software that document was created in or the fonts it uses. It wasn't meant to be a replacement for a word processor – it was a layout format for precise alignment of text and images.
Many programs can save documents in PDF format, but few can edit them directly. But what if you receive a document in PDF form and need to change it? Or you might save a file as a PDF but lose the original (editable) document through a disk or human error? In all of these situations, you need a PDF editor.
However, here's the thing: free PDF editors generally do not allow you to edit text. What they offer is the ability to erase (or 'whiteout') text and replace it with new text. Matching the font, both size and colour, but it's all you'll be able to do if you can't get hold of the original file used to create the PDF.
Some free PDF editors let you annotate PDFs and add or remove pages. The original content cannot be changed, but you can insert notes and comments, use a highlighter pen, strike through text, delete pages, fill out forms and so on.
If you need to properly edit a PDF with results that look exactly like the original, you'll need to spend a few pounds in order to do so. We talk about the best paid-for, fully-fledged PDF editors in our best PDF editor round-up. But if the above sounds like it'll do the trick, continue reading for our pick of the best free options.
You might also like: Office 2016 for PC buying guide
AbleWord
- RRP: Free
- Buy from AbleWord
AbleWord is the only free PDF editor we're aware of that can import a PDF and make it completely editable. It's best when importing PDF files that were created in Word, but will attempt to replicate all PDF files. The end result won't look identical to the original but will be close.
Foxit Reader
- RRP: FREE
- Buy from Foxit Software
Foxit Reader is a lightweight alternative to Adobe Reader and many people prefer it. It's more than just a PDF reader though and it has a wide range of powerful tools. You cannot edit the contents, but text can be struck through with a line and replaced by a pop-up note.
PDF-Xchange Viewer
- RRP: £0 inc. VAT
- Buy from Tracker Software
PDF-XChange Viewer offers an almost identical set of features to Foxit Reader and it is useful for annotating in a similar manner.
LibreOffice
- RRP: FREE
- Buy from LibreOffice
LibreOffice, the free Office alternative, is worth considering if you want to edit the text in a PDF file. It loads PDFs and it can cope with very large documents with hundreds of pages. The only snag is that each line of text is text box, which makes it awkward to edit large amounts of text.
PDF Pro
- RRP: Free
- Buy from PDF Pro
PDF Pro is an online tool that lets you upload three PDF files per month and edit them.
PDF to Word
- RRP: Free
- Buy from Nitro PDF
PDF to Word does exactly what the name says. You select a file on your PC, upload it to the site and it emails you the Word document a minute or two later. The advantage of this is that you can use Word or another word processor to edit the text and resave the document as a PDF.
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