What is PDF editor software?

PDFs, or portable document formats, are file types that cannot be edited; they are electronic images that look like printed documents but cannot be edited directly. For quick creation and editing, PDF editor software helps convert PDFs into live, editable documents, including .doc, .png, .jpg, and .xls. PDF editors provide a wide variety of protective features. For example, users can password-protect PDFs, sign documents digitally, split and merge files, remove specific text areas, choose desired PDF sizes, etc. This is ideal for users who frequently work with PDF documents like contracts, legal documents, invoices, resumes, etc. In addition to password protection, users can add watermarks to PDFs to protect the copyright of the information in the PDF. PDF editors come with various other data protection features that benefit professionals in an industry that encourages the safety of distributed information. The most trusted PDF editor for business professionals, user reviews suggest, tends to be one built with security features in from the start rather than bolted on as an afterthought. Moreover, it provides tools to hide, remove, and prevent data from being exposed. Redaction, password protection, and user restriction settings all help encourage the safety of PDFs. When using PDF editor software, professionals who handle sensitive documents can be fully prepared to manage and create them. PDF editor software benefits various users, including businesses that distribute physical copies, who often need to convert documents into digital versions. After a document is scanned, it can be manipulated and shared using PDF editor tools. PDF editors should not be confused with file reader software, which allows users to view any file type, including PDF files. Users who want to adjust the content in a PDF file require a PDF editor.

Based on G2 reviews, lawyers and HR departments evaluate PDF editor software by comparing redaction reliability, e-signature support, and OCR accuracy. PDF editors come with many features related to editing and distributing a PDF: Optical character recognition (OCR): One of the significant features of PDF editor software is the ability to turn the PDF into a document that can be edited. OCR scans the document and locates the text within it. Once the scan is complete, it allows the user to manipulate the text. This converts the image of text within the PDF into editable text that a user can edit. Text boxes: Users can manipulate editable text after using the OCR feature. Size, color, and alignment are all common text adjustments that can be done on the platform. Crop: The crop feature makes specific portions of the PDF smaller. The size and shape of the crop can be manipulated based on the user's needs. Delete: The delete function enables users to remove a page from the document easily. Watermarks: Watermarks are transparent images that users can include to indicate branding and ownership. It is one of the few security features that come with PDF editors since they protect the copyright of the PDF once a document is distributed. Redaction: Redactions are another common security feature within PDF editor software. This tool allows users to remove sensitive information within the document, such as an entire area of text. In most cases, a redaction cannot be undone once it is made. Password protection: Password protection guards the document from being edited by someone else, an essential feature for confidential files or files with sensitive information. For example, if someone downloads a PDF and opens it in their PDF editing tool, password protection prevents that user from making their edits. Page merge: With the page merge function, users can combine multiple PDF pages into a single page. Also, PDFs can be opened from various sources and combined on the platform into a single PDF. Users can also use this tool to split merged pages apart with this tool. Page rearrangement: This feature moves pages around so users can choose the order in which pages will appear in the document. Users can rotate a page or select several and rotate many pages at once. Annotations: Annotations are notes that can be added to the PDF. Annotations are typically used to add a comment to a specific area of the PDF. They can also direct a client’s attention to a specific area of the PDF, such as a signature box. Electronic signature: This feature enables users to sign a PDF electronically. Clients and users, with permission, can view and sign a PDF digitally, commonly done with electronic proposals, contracts, or other types of client documents.

Basic PDF editors: These editors allow users to make basic changes to their PDFs, such as correcting typos, adding text, and deleting pages. They are suitable for simple tasks, but they may not be able to handle more complex editing needs. Advanced PDF editors: These editors offer more advanced features than basic editors, such as the ability to edit images and PDF forms, add headers and footers, and create bookmarks. They are a good option for users who need to do more than just make simple changes to their PDFs. PDF annotation software: This type of PDF editor software allows users to add comments and annotations to their PDFs. This can help users collaborate on documents or provide feedback. Online PDF editors: Several online PDF editors allow users to edit their PDFs on web browsers without installing software. These are ideal if only a few changes need to be made to a PDF or if there isn't much storage space on the computer.

Page 2 | Best PDF Editors: User Reviews from September 2026

PDFCreator

PDFCreator is a document automation and PDF creation solution designed to help businesses and IT professionals streamline the conversion, securing, and routing of documents directly from the applications they already use. Developed by pdfforge, a brand under Avanquest Software, PDFCreator is widely utilized across various sectors, including legal, finance, healthcare, and insurance, to standardize and automate document output on a large scale. This versatile software integrates seamlessly into existing workflows, allowing users to capture print output from applications such as Word, Excel, web browsers, and ERP systems. By converting this output into consistently formatted documents, PDFCreator supports multiple file formats, including PDF, JPG, PNG, and TIF. It is suitable for both individual workstations and centralized, IT-managed environments, making it adaptable to a range of organizational needs. Key features of PDFCreator include automated document creation with rules-based file naming, routing, and delivery, which significantly enhances efficiency. The software also offers robust security measures, such as encryption, password protection, digital signing, and granular access controls, ensuring that sensitive information is well-protected. Additionally, users can apply custom watermarks, configure metadata, and implement branding automatically, which helps maintain a professional appearance across all documents. PDFCreator addresses the inefficiencies associated with manual document handling by automating the entire creation pipeline—from conversion and formatting to security and delivery. Once the necessary rules are configured, the process operates without manual intervention, reducing the likelihood of errors and allowing teams to focus on more strategic tasks. The software is available in a free edition for individual, non-commercial use, as well as three business editions tailored for professional workstations, terminal server environments, and high-volume centralized deployments, all without requiring additional hardware. Furthermore, PDFCreator supports a wide array of languages, including Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Bosnian, Catalan, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Ligurian, Lithuanian, Norwegian Bokmål, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), and many more. This multilingual capability makes it an accessible solution for diverse teams and organizations operating in various regions.

Average Rating: 4.4/5.0

Total Reviews: 126

How Do G2 Users Rate PDFCreator?

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)
Document Management: 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10)
Convert to PDF: 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10)
Editing History: 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)

Who Is the Company Behind PDFCreator?

Seller: Avanquest Software
Company Website:
Year Founded: 1984
HQ Location: Courbevoie, FR
LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
348 employees on LinkedIn®
Ownership: Claranova Group

Who Uses This Product?

Top Industries: Computer Software, Information Technology and Services
Company Size: 43% Small, 35% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About PDFCreator?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros

Users love the straightforward ease of use of PDFCreator, making PDF conversion and management effortless and reliable.
Users value the easy conversion of documents to PDF with PDFCreator, appreciating its speed and seamless merging features.
Users appreciate the straightforward PDF processing in PDFCreator, enjoying its reliability and professional output quality.
Users appreciate the easy installation of PDFCreator, enabling quick setup and immediate access to its powerful features.
Users appreciate the seamless merging capabilities of PDFCreator, enhancing efficiency for compiling multiple documents into one PDF.

Cons

Users are frustrated by intrusive advertising, including frequent pop-ups and bundled adware, which disrupt their experience.
Users express frustration with the outdated interface and slow performance when handling large files in PDFCreator.
Users experience editing issues with scanned PDFs, making text modification challenging and inefficient at times.
Users experience slow performance with PDFCreator, particularly during the processing of large files, impacting efficiency.
Users find the interface outdated and slow, making the experience less user-friendly during large file processing.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of PDFCreator?

"Effortless PDF Creation with Versatile Export Options"

Rating: 5.0/5.0 stars

— Amar K.

Best PDF Editors - Page 2

How Many PDF Editors Products Does G2 Track?

Category Stats (Sep 2026)

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G2 Grid® for PDF Editors

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