Discover the 8 Best Free PDF Editing Tools

PDF (portable document format) documents are widely used for sharing documents, forms, and presentations. However, sometimes you may need to annotate, edit, or comment on a file to provide feedback, highlight important information, or fill out a form.

In this blog post, we will review how to edit a PDF with some of the best free PDF editors available in 2025 and compare their features, prices, and compatibility. We will also introduce Wave Browser, a new and innovative web browser that offers a seamless document annotation experience within your browser.

What Features Should I Look for in a Free PDF Editor?

When looking for a free PDF editor, it's important to consider features such as the ability to edit text and images, add annotations and comments, merge or split documents, and convert documents to different formats. Additionally, look for user-friendly interfaces and compatibility with your operating system.

Which PDF Editor is The Best and Free?

Finding the right PDF editor can be challenging, especially when you're looking for a tool that’s both powerful and free. Whether you need to make quick annotations, fill out forms, or edit content in your PDFs, the right editor can make all the difference. 

Learn more about the best free PDF editors available today:

1.Google PDF Editor

Google doesn't have a dedicated "PDF Editor" in the traditional sense, but Google Drive allows for some basic PDF editing capabilities through its integrated tools, and it's free to use. Here’s what you can do with Google Drive:

1. View PDFs: uou can easily view PDFs stored in Google Drive.
2. Annotate PDFs: using Google Docs, you can convert a PDF to an editable Google Doc (which may alter formatting, depending on the complexity of the document), allowing you to add comments, highlight text, or edit the content.
3. Fill out PDF Forms: uou can use Google Drive to fill in PDF forms if they are not protected or locked.

Google's free editor works on any device that supports Google Drive, including Windows, Mac, Chrome OS, iOS, and Android.

2. Mac PDF Editor

Mac comes with a built-in PDF editor called Preview, which allows you to open, view, and annotate PDF files directly on your computer. With Preview, you can use various tools to highlight, underline, strikethrough, add notes, shapes, text, signatures, and more to annotate your documents.

The Quick Look feature lets you preview and annotate files without fully opening them. You can easily share your annotated PDFs via email, AirDrop, or Messages.

This free PDF editor is available exclusively for Mac devices.

3. Canva PDF Editor

Canva’s free PDF editor is one of the best free PDF editors available, offering an easy-to-use online tool for creating and editing documents. With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, you can add text, images, shapes, icons, stickers, and more.

You can also personalize your documents with templates, fonts, colors, and filters. Canva’s free PDF editor allows you to download, print, or share your files with ease. It’s compatible with any device that has a web browser, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.

4. Wave Browser PDF Editor

Wave Browser comes with a built-in PDF editor, making it easy to view and annotate PDF files directly within the browser. Simply open your PDF file in Wave Browser, and you can start adding text, highlighting important sections, or drawing directly on the document.

This intuitive PDF editing feature eliminates the need for third-party tools, streamlining your workflow and enhancing productivity, all within the secure and fast Wave Browser

5. Firefox PDF Editor

Firefox’s free PDF editor is a convenient annotation tool that integrates directly into the Firefox browser. Using the Firefox Viewer, you can open, view, and annotate PDF files effortlessly. It offers a variety of tools, including highlight, underline, strikethrough, note, text, and drawing features, to help you mark up your documents. 

You can easily save, print, or share your annotated files. This free PDF editor is compatible with any device that supports Firefox, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.

6. Xodo Reader & Editor

Xodo is a free and powerful annotation app that lets you view, edit, sign, and share files. You can use tools such as highlight, underline, strikethrough, note, text, shape, stamp, and signature to annotate your documents. You can also sync your files with Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. Xodo Reader & Editor is compatible with Android and iOS devices.

7. PDFelement

PDFelement is a powerful yet user-friendly PDF editor designed to streamline document management. Offering a comprehensive set of tools, PDFelement allows you to edit, annotate, convert, and secure your PDFs with ease.

The software also supports OCR (Optical Character Recognition), enabling you to edit scanned documents. With its robust conversion options, PDFelement allows you to convert PDFs into various file formats, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

8. Adobe Acrobat Reader

Adobe Acrobat Reader is one of the most popular and reliable PDF readers available today. As a free PDF reader, it allows you to easily view, print, and annotate PDF documents with a range of tools, including text highlighting, underlining, and adding comments. Adobe Acrobat Reader also offers features for filling out forms and signing documents, making it an essential tool for both personal and professional use. For advanced PDF editing, conversion, and document protection, users can upgrade to Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.