However, if you are only interested in free features, you can still edit some files and save them to your computer.
Advantages:
Use OCR to identify text in PDF files
Can import many different shapes and images
Support adding QR codes to PDF
There is a portable version
Defect:
Many features require a fee
Working with : Windows
Link reference : https://www.tracker-software.com/product/pdf-xchange-editor
PDF files can be downloaded from computer, URL, SharePoint, Google Drive or Dropbox. Edited PDF can be saved to your computer or any file storage service.
PDF-XChange Editor has a lot of features, so it can overwhelm new users. However, you can rest assured because all the options and tools are simple and categorized into separate sections for easier management.
An interesting feature is the ability to bookmark all form fields to easily know where you need to fill out information. This is really useful if you are editing PDF files with multiple forms, as a sorting application.
Although there are watermark appear in the free version, this program allows you to edit existing text, add new text to existing PDF file and add or delete pages from the document.
You can download this program in mobile mode for use on flash drives or as a regular installer.
The best free PDF software on Windows and Mac
05. Smallpdf Online PDF Editor
One of the fastest ways to add images, text, shapes or signatures to PDF is by Smallpdf. This is a website that makes it easy to upload PDF files, make changes, then save them to your computer without having to create user accounts or pay for any features.
Advantages:
All features are free
Allows you to add text to PDF
You can put spaces on the areas you want to delete
Support import image
Can download and save PDF files from various sources
Defect:
Do not allow you to edit existing text
Working with : Any operating system
Link reference : https://smallpdf.com/edit-pdf
Instructions for creating a PDF file from multiple image files on Windows
06. FormSwift's Free PDF Editor
FormSwift's Free PDF Editor is a really simple online PDF editing software you can use without creating user accounts.
Downloading PDF files to the web and using menus at the top of the page to quickly perform some basic PDF editing functions before downloading the computer is simple.
Advantages:
Everything is free and requires no user accounts
Do not leave watermark
You can delete or edit existing text and images with white or black spaces
Allows you to insert your own images
Can add your own custom text to PDF
Circle icons, check marks and "x" can be placed on any text
Support highlighting everything on the page
Easily enter, draw or upload your signature
Defect:
Unable to edit existing text
There are no easy-to-access undo buttons (but you can delete what you have done)
Only PDF files can be uploaded from the computer (not supported to upload from Google Drive or Dropbox)
Working with : Any operating system
Link reference : https://formswift.com/edit-pdf
When you have finished editing the PDF file, you can download it as a PDF file, print directly with the printer or save the PDF file as a Microsoft Word DOCX document.
Note: Converting PDF to DOCX does not always work smoothly, but compensates for nicely formatted images and fully editable text.
Another feature of FormSwift at formswift.com/snap allows you to quickly edit or sign PDF files from your phone by taking photos of documents. After that, you can share or download the PDF file when done. It's not 100% perfect because almost everything done through a web application is a weakness, but it will still work if you're patient.
You can also upload Word documents and images to FormSwift if you need to edit them.
How to edit PDF file using FormSwift online
07. PDFelement Pro
PDFelement Pro is a free software but has a huge drawback: there will be a watermark appear on each PDF page. However, it supports some really great PDF editing features.
Advantages:
Allows direct editing of PDF documents
Support adding images, links and custom watermarks
The background of PDF pages can be edited
Header and footer can be added
Support combining multiple PDF files into one file
PDF pages can be cut into multiple files
OCR support
Can insert, extract, delete and rotate PDF pages
Help easily edit embedded forms
Can use passwords to protect PDF files
Defect:
The free version has watermark on every page
Works with : Windows, macOS, Android and iOS
Link reference : https://pdf.wondershare.com/download.html
This program is a great PDF editing software if no watermark appears on every page in the PDF file.
However, depending on what you need to edit your PDF, the watermark weaknesses may be considered ignored.