TOP 10 FREE PDF EDITOR OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE IN 2021
Introduction
File formats are used by businesses to keep their records. The retention periods for many file formats are extensive or indefinite. You’re probably familiar with PDFs (Portable Document Format), which are the standard preservation format for digital records. The data is kept in the form of documents in these file formats.
Adobe Systems created the PDF format in 1993 to facilitate the exchange of digital files. The documents saved in this file format could be opened, reviewed, and printed by computer users. You can find the Adobe Reader version that can read PDF files almost anywhere.
Despite the fact that the PDFs are rather old, they nevertheless hold their allure on the Internet. The PDF file format has the unique feature of full mobility, allowing users to access it on a wide range of operating systems and platforms.
PDF files have become an important component of the technological world. It has become a necessary tool for many people, and it is now the standard digital format for any important document. For all your PDF needs, the current trend is to use a dependable and intuitive PDF program at home, at work, or on the move.
What are the best 10 PDF editor open-source software in 2021?
PDFSam is a free and open-source PDF editor for Windows that includes one free and one paid PDF editor. PDF Basic is a piece of software for merging, splitting, extracting pages, rotating, and mixing PDF files. It’s compatible with Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. Since 2006, it has been free and open source. PDF visual is a program that allows you to visually see your PDF document as pages. The business edition of PDFSam Enhanced includes all of the sophisticated editing features you’ll need. PDFSam Basic is a free and open-source PDF editor that you may use.
Pros:
You can graphically organize your PDF pages using the open-source PDF editor.
The sequence of the PDF pages can be changed.
You can combine and merge PDF pages, as well as split and extract them.
You might be able to rotate and save a single page or a group of pages.
Cons:
Occasionally, the visual document generator will display incorrect data.
Java is required to operate the open-source PDF editor.
It has a steep learning curve that might be perplexing to newcomers.
2) PDFCreator (free and open-source)
PDFCreator is an online free PDF editor that can transform any printable file to PDF and a variety of other formats. With this open-source online PDF file software, users can produce PDF files from any application.
This online PDF file editing software’s advanced functions enable users to regulate and protect the output to obtain the desired outcomes. This user-friendly program is available for free indefinitely.
The following are the core functions:
Annotations
Editing of Content
Create a PDF document
Signatures in digital format
Encryption
Add a PDF Reader to a Merge/Append PDF Reader
Create PDF Documents
PDFs that are secure
Signatures in the digital age
PDF/A (Portable Document Format/ Archiving) is archive-ready.
Simple to Use
Saving is done automatically.
Tokens and actions can be merged and rearranged.
Multilingual COM interface
It allows you to secure the PDF file by editing the information.
PDF Architect Free by PDF Forge is a free open-source PDF editor. It can convert Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and over 300 more file formats into PDF files. It’s a terrific open course PDF editor to have on your list because it makes the PDF file’s critical features customizable. For Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7, this open-source PDF editor is accessible.
Pros:
It comes with a lot of advanced editing tools.
It can employ OCR to convert scanned pages into editable PDF files.
It enables you to sign PDF files with a digital signature.
You can build new forms as well as fill out and update existing ones.
It has the ability to combine many PDF files into a single document.
Cons:
Your work will be watermarked if you use the free version. To remove the watermark, you must purchase a license.
4) Inkscape
INKSCAPE is a free graphics tool. It works similarly to Corel Draw, Freehand, Adobe Illustrator, etc. It’s one of the greatest free PDF editors available. You may need to develop vector pictures for your next project if you are a web designer, graphic artist, illustrator, or free-hand sketch artist. Inkscape is an excellent tool for tasks as such. Any PDF file can be read, edited, and information extracted using it. This is a wonderful open-source PDF editor to have if you have experience editing PDFs.
Pros:
It has the ability to alter every aspect of a PDF file, including adding or deleting images, text, and hyperlinks.
It may be enhanced using scripting to add many more features.
Cons:
It is not simple to use.
After you edit and save it, it may be saved as blank pages.
LibreOffice is a free and sophisticated office suite for Windows that also includes an open-source PDF editor. This open-source PDF editor was designed to work similarly to Microsoft Word in terms of opening and editing PDF files. PDF files are quite simple to alter. It can assist you in the editing of text and graphics. You can also white-out select areas before adding text. Although the open-source PDF editor is a powerful word processor, its capacity to edit PDF files is restricted. It will, however, do the fundamentals, and because it is an open-source PDF editor for Windows, it will always be accessible to edit your PDF files.
Pros:
It is simple to use and opens PDF files.
It can be used to modify and convert different file formats to PDF.
You can sign your work with a digital signature.
It has the ability to add and remove PDF pages.
Cons:
When it comes to editing PDF files rather than other text files, it has several limitations.
When working with huge PDF files, it can be a little glitchy.
An open-source PDF editor for Windows that is increasingly rising in popularity is Apache Open Office Draw. It is a leading open-source office software package for word documents, sheets, slideshows, graphics, databases, and more, and this is one of the best open-source PDF modifiers. It’s mostly a graphics-based open-source PDF modifier. It is mainly used for drawing images, graphs, and other visuals, but it can additionally edit Pdf documents. Your PDF file is imported as a picture, and then the text is added on top of it. After that, you can save the PDF as a new document. Because it’s an open-source PDF editor, it’s from a respectable developer.
Pros:
It can be used on lots of platforms.
There are numerous editing options available.
It contains a feature that allows you to check your spelling.
It’s ideal for adding graphics to a PDF document.
Cons:
When loading a huge PDF file, it takes a long time.
Some functionalities, such as the Excel functionality, will obstruct your workflow.
When working with huge PDF files, some issues occur.
7) PDFlite (free and open-source)
PDFlite is a free and open-source PDF converter that can convert any document or image into a PDF file. The software can convert practically any file type into a PDF. The user may effortlessly create PDFs thanks to PDFlite’s user-friendly interface.
The user may browse PDF documents fast and effortlessly, with all of the standard capabilities such as search, print, and zoom available. With the help of PDF Reader, this is possible. This tool makes it simple to convert documents to PDF and images to PDF.
Spotlights:
PDF Conversion supported
Enables to read PDFs
Annotate PDF documents
Encryption and Content Editing
Combine/ Merge
8) Sumatra PDF 6 (free and open-source)
Sumatra PDF is an open-source PDF application with a straightforward user interface. This portable and powerful PDF tool is available for free. This online PDF editor software gets up and running immediately.
For Windows, the software functions as a free PDF, eBook, and reader. It’s ideal for small businesses. The PDF reader can be made faster and more user-friendly.
Highlights:
Annotations in PDF Reader
Powerful and portable content editing
The user interface is simple.
PDFs may be viewed quickly and easily.
Although the free and open-source PDF software listed above is of excellent quality and can adequately edit, merge, modify, and organize PDFs, there is another PDF program – Acrobat Reader DC – that is amplifying acceptance in the market. Let’s get started learning about Adobe Acrobat Reader DC’s main features:
If you’re looking for a popular PDF reader, Acrobat Reader is the best option. This online PDF file editor program allows you to examine, sign, gather, and track feedback on PDF files, as well as quickly distribute them.
Acrobat Reader DC makes it simple to edit, export, and send PDFs for signatures.
The user may comment and interact on PDF files quickly. You may work on documents from anywhere using the Acrobat Reader DC program. This cloud-based software includes all of the necessary tools for converting, editing, and signing PDFs.
Highlights:
Annotations
Watermarking
Merge/Append
Encryption
Editing of Content
Create a PDF document
Signature on a computer
10) PDFedit (free and open source)
PDFedit is a free online PDF modifier that allows you to edit PDF files. This free, open-source PDF editor is extensively used. The application can be used as a simple PDF viewer. It allows you to remove specific text, images, or charts from a Pdf document.
The customer can choose which part or portions to change and then edit them with ease using PDFedit. Text and images can be added to a PDF file with this software.
Highlights:
Conversion of documents
Password security
Tools for customization
Flexibility for several platforms
Optional extras
Comments
Editing of Content
Security for PDF conversion
Library-based PDF manipulation
Merge/combine