7 free PDF programs

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-31 15:16

View, edit and convert files with these tools.

For convenience, we distinguish four types of programs: viewers (for reading and annotating), editors (for editing text and other content), managers (for splitting, compressing and other file manipulations) and converters (for converting PDF to other formats). Most of the applications listed in this article can be classified into several types at once.

Completely free programs

These applications are not the most functional, but all their capabilities are available without restrictions.

1. PDF24 Creator

• Type of: viewer, manager, converter.
• Platforms: Windows.

This small program does not allow you to edit the contents of PDF documents, but is useful for many other format operations.

What you can do in PDF24 Creator:

• view PDF;
• combine documents into one file;
• recognize text in PDF;
• compress files;
• convert PDF to JPEG, PNG, BMP, PCX, TIFF, PSD, PCL and other formats;
• set a password for files or disable it;
• split documents into pages;
• fetch selected pages.

2. LibreOffice

• Type of: viewer, converter.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.

Although the popular LibreOffice software suite is designed to work with Word formats, its Draw application can edit PDF documents. And the Writer program from the same package can be used as a converter.

What you can do in LibreOffice:

• view PDF documents;
• convert DOC and other Word formats to PDF;
• edit text;
• draw in the document.

3. Foxit Reader

• Type of: viewer, converter.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.

Fast and convenient PDF-reader with different viewing modes. Ideal for users looking for a simple document reader without a plethora of advanced features. The program is available on all major platforms.

What you can do in Foxit Reader:

• view, highlight and comment on text;
• search for words and phrases;
• convert PDF to TXT;
• fill out forms and sign documents.

The mobile version of Foxit Reader allows you to edit text and other document content, but only as part of a paid subscription.

Shareware apps

These programs offer more functionality for working with PDF, but with some limitations. You can use the stripped-down free versions or subscribe with the full toolkit.

1. Sejda PDF

• Type of: viewer, editor, converter, manager.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.

A very intuitive and user-friendly program. When you launch Sejda PDF, you will immediately see all the tools grouped by category. Select the desired one, drag the required file into the program window and start manipulating. Most of the PDF actions in this application can be done in a few seconds, even if this is your first time using it.

What you can do in Sejda PDF:

• edit PDF;
• combine and split documents by page;
• compress file size;
• convert PDF to-j.webp" />
• protect documents with a password and disable it;
• add watermarks;
• discolor documents;
• crop the page area;
• sign documents.

The free version allows you to perform no more than three operations per day.

2. PDFsam

• Type of: viewer, manager, converter, editor.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.

PDFsam cannot boast of a polished and user-friendly interface. But the program has several useful managerial functions available to everyone without payment or any restrictions.

What you can do in PDFsam:

• merge PDF;
• split PDF by pages, bookmarks (in places with specified words) and size into separate documents;
• rotate pages (if some of them were scanned upside down);
• extract pages with specified numbers;
• convert PDF to Excel, Word and PowerPoint formats (paid);
• edit text and other content of files (paid).

3. PDF ‑ XChange Editor

• Type of: viewer, manager, converter, editor.
• Platforms: Windows.

A very functional program with a classic interface in the style of Microsoft office applications. PDF ‑ XChange Editor is not very beginner friendly. To master all the possibilities, you need to spend some time. Fortunately, all internal descriptions and tips have been translated into Russian.

What you can do in the PDF ‑ XChange Editor:

• edit and highlight text;
• add annotations;
• recognize text using OCR;
• edit non-text content (paid);
• encrypt documents (paid);
• convert PDF to Word, Excel and PowerPoint formats and vice versa (paid);
• compress files (paid);
• sort pages in any order (paid).

4. Adobe Acrobat Reader

• Type of: viewer, manager, converter, editor.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.

Popular universal program for working with PDF from Adobe. The free version is a very convenient cross-platform document viewer, the rest of the functions are available by subscription.

What you can do in Adobe Acrobat Reader:

• highlight and comment on text, search for words and phrases;
• edit text and other content (paid);
• combine documents into one file (paid);
• compress files (paid);
• convert PDF to Word, Excel and PowerPoint formats (paid);
• Convert JPG, JPEG, TIF and BMP images to PDF (paid).

All of these and other features are available in the desktop versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Mobile versions only allow you to view and annotate documents, as well as (after subscribing) convert them to different formats.

This material was first published in May 2018. In March 2020, we updated the text.