Here are 5 best free pdf editors that let you edit PDF files for free. Some of these free pdf editors let you do all type of edits within PDF files, while some provide basic edits, like merge PDF, split PDF, and more.
PDFedit
PDFedit is the open source project. By saying open source, the application is free to download. The program helps in manipulating the PDF files and docs. The program contains set of command tools that lets you edit the PDF contents. Complete editing of PDF documents is possible with PDFedit. You can change raw PDF objects (for advanced users) or use many GUI functions. Functionality can easily extended by using a scripting language (ECMAScript).
The scripts library of the application is downloadable from the online library and they shall be automatically loaded in your application as soon as you restart your editor. PDFedit GUI based on the Qt 3 toolkit and scripting engine (QSA), so every operation is scriptable. Part of the program is also command line interface for PDF manipulation. Tools also include example usage of the library, which proves to be useful and handy in case you stuck anywhere. Read more about PDFEdit, or download free here.
PDFTK Builder
PDFTK Builder is free graphical user interface to the Windows OS, while you can make, append, and edit your PDF docs in different ways. The entire PDF editor is very simple to use. The GUI of the application is very simple since all the edit options are neatly placed in tab form. You can perform different functions to edit PDF files- Collate Split, Backgraoung / Stamp and Rotate. All these useful functions with PDFTK Builder is very handy and absolutely.
Its functions in overview:
Collate PDF: this function allows you to collate your PDF pages like reorder, delete and duplicate pages in the single document or merge the pages of two docs into one. You may also specify the range of pages, which you need to be merged or collate and this free PDF editor will do the rest. Also, remove pages from the PDF file while you edit PDF files. Just mention the range of pages or just single page and use collate function to delete or duplicate pages.
Split PDF: allows you to separate each page of a PDF document into its own file. Therefore, you can split your PDF files into more than one file. The range of pages you will choose will be converted into another new file.
Background/ Stamp PDF: This is very useful feature when you are creating work PDF file. You can add your business/ company logo on the background of the pages of the PDF file. You can add background or stamp on all the pages or on just one page. ‘Stamp’ is very similar to ‘background’ except that the ‘stamp’ is placed on top of the source document.
Rotate PDF: ‘Rotate’ enables you to rotate a range of pages in a document.
The new document created after you have finished editing PDF, can be protected with the help of encrypted password. Also, add restrictions of editing the file by encrypting your PDF file. You can make your file available to only for reading mode while preserve editing rights to yourself. Download PDFTk free here.
Also check out free docx viewers, and free alternative to adobe reader.
PDFfill PDF tools
PDFfill is free PDF editor and advanced toolkit. It includes wide range of editing options like merge, split, reorder, encrypt and various other functions which you will need to edit PDF files. The advanced tools in the toolkit includes functions like Images to PDF, PDF to Images, Form Fields Delete/Flatten/List, PostScript to PDF, PDF Information, Scan to PDF, and Create Transparent Image options. The program adds no watermark of its own and makes your documents useable for any use and completely free of cost.
Some of the useful PDFfill PDF tools are:
- Merge or split– Merge two PDF files into one or split the files into more than one file for various uses.
- Security options– Use encryption or decryption keys for your PDF documents. You can apply Master Password or User Password as you may require for attaching authority and imposing restriction on your work PDF doc. Protect PDF files with passwords and prevent PDF files from being printed, copy, changed, filled, extracted, signed, assembled or merged.
- Rotate or Crop– You can rotate images in the PDF files or entire file by any angles you make readability better. Crop a page to modify its layout of Print or View by specifying its margins.
- Add watermark– you can add watermark images and text to the PDF file with this PDF editor.
- Convert– you can also convert any file to PDF file or any image into PDF file. For conversion, you need not use any other external application.
Read more about PDFill, or download free here.
LittlePDF
LittlePDF is free PDF editor, which is very light weight and easy to use freeware. The application will not only edit PDF but also works as PDF converter, creator, reader, and printer. Read, open, print, save, edit, convert, and view PDF File Documents with ease. LittlePDF can do it all.
Overview of its features:
- The application is good alternative of the of any other PDF programs. As the application enables you to read and open the PDF files, instead you need not use any other program.
- You can also convert doc file to PDF file, within a click.
- Perform complex PDF editing functions with this freeware. You can edit PDF with ease using this useful application.
- The program runs successfully on Windows.
- Print, save, and edit PDF files
- It is a freeware
Download LittlePDF free here.
PDF Hammer
Update (24-Sep-2012): This website seems to have shut down now. Instead, you can try other tools that we covered above.
PDF Hammer is free PDF editing tool that requires you to upload your PDF file and then you can easily convert, arrange, delete, or remove PDF pages for editing purpose. Interestingly, the application need not require installation; the entire edit functions are performed in your web browser. All the functions of the editing are easy to use and in built in your browser (automatically).
Using the application is definitely very easy. Since you need not install any application on your desktop, it does not consume disk space. Just upload your PDF file on this web application and do all edit work easily and without wasting your valuable time. If you have, more than one file to edit that requires same edit functions, than you can upload all the files for once and perform respective operations.
All the functionality of the application is useful and hassle free. This makes PDF hammer very useful even if you are amateur and go for command line tools and interface. The GUI based this web application is automatic and all you require is upload and select. Moreover, obtain high quality output that too very quickly.
Note: PDF Hammer is down for maintenance at time of writing of this article.
Read more about PDF Hammer, or try free here.
