Reader, editor or online tool
"PDF editor" covers very different programs. Start with the job you need done, then pick the kind of tool:
| Kind | Examples | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Free readers | Adobe Acrobat Reader, Foxit PDF Reader, Okular, Sumatra PDF | Reading, comments, highlights, filling forms, signing |
| Free editors | PDFgear, PDF-XChange Editor, Sejda Desktop | Changing text, pages and files on your computer |
| Online tool sites | PDF24 Tools, iLovePDF, Adobe Acrobat online, Xodo | One quick job like merging, compressing or converting |
| Built in | Firefox, Preview on Mac | Filling, signing and marking up without installing anything |
A reader is often enough. Adobe says plainly on its Reader page that text and image editing is not available in Acrobat Reader, but commenting, filling forms and adding your signature are.
Free limits to know
Free PDF tools are limited in different ways. These are the limits we found on the official pages:
| Tool | Free limit |
|---|---|
| Sejda Desktop | 3 tasks a day, documents up to 50 MB and 200 pages, merge up to 30 files and 50 pages |
| Xodo | 1 free action a day on Xodo Web |
| iLovePDF | Caps per task, for example merge 100 files or 300 MB, Word to PDF 1 file or 15 MB |
| PDF-XChange Editor | About 70% of features unrestricted in the free version |
| PDFescape | Editing existing text and images, merging, converting and compressing are Premium |
| PDF24 Tools | No artificial limits, per its site; funded by ads |
We found no statement about a watermark on free output on these pages. That does not rule one out, so check your first file before a big job.
Already on your computer
You may not need a new app. Firefox has a built-in PDF editor that adds text, pictures, highlights, drawings and saved signatures and fills in forms. On a Mac, the Preview user guide covers filling out and signing forms, annotating, combining PDFs and adding, deleting or moving pages.
On Linux and other systems, Okular is free software under the GPLv2+ with an annotation mode and signature support.
Private documents
Online tools work on files you upload to the vendor. For contracts, IDs or medical papers, read the service's privacy page first or use a program that runs on your computer, such as PDFgear, Sejda Desktop, Okular or a self-hosted copy of Stirling PDF.
Our own sign PDF tool places your signature on your device, and our fill PDF form tool fills forms in your browser.
Free PDF tools on this site
- Merge PDF: combine files in the order and with the pages you choose.
- Sign PDF: draw, type or upload a signature and place it on any page.
- Fill PDF form: type into form fields or add text anywhere on a page.
- Compress PDF: make a file smaller by recompressing its images.
- PDF to JPG: save pages as JPG or PNG images.
We opened each tool's official page on the date in the table and wrote down only what it says. "Not stated" or an empty cell means the page does not say it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I edit the text of a PDF for free?
Yes, with some tools. PDFgear says its software is free and that business features are available for free on Windows, and PDF24 lists a free online PDF editor. Adobe Acrobat Reader cannot edit text or images, and PDFescape keeps editing existing text and images for Premium.
Which free PDF tools have daily limits?
Sejda Desktop allows 3 tasks a day on the free plan, and Xodo allows 1 free action a day on Xodo Web. iLovePDF limits the number of files and the size per task instead. PDF24 says it has no artificial limits.
How do I sign a PDF for free?
Adobe Acrobat Reader and Foxit PDF Reader both let you add a signature for free. Firefox can sign with a saved signature, Preview on a Mac can fill out and sign forms, and Okular can sign PDFs too. You can also use the sign PDF tool on this site.
Is there an open-source PDF editor?
Okular is free software under the GPLv2+ with annotations and signatures. Stirling PDF is open core: most of its code is under the MIT License, some folders have separate licenses. Sumatra PDF is free and open source but is a reader for Windows.
Can I merge PDFs without installing anything?
Yes. PDF24 Tools, iLovePDF and Adobe's free online tools all list a merge tool in the browser. iLovePDF's free plan merges up to 100 files or 300 MB per task. The merge PDF tool on this site works in your browser as well.