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 3 | Best PDF Editors: User Reviews from October 2026

Goodnotes

Goodnotes was founded back in 2013 and currently has offices in Hong Kong and London with 200+ employees from 30+ nationalities. Our app offers industry-first digital paper, powered by AI, and with over 26 million monthly active users and average rating of 4.75/5 from 1.8 million user reviews, Goodnotes is the No. 1 App for Productivity on the App Store. We won Apple’s iPad App of the Year for 2022. Goodnotes 6 is a powerful note-taking app designed to provide a seamless and natural handwriting experience on digital paper. The comprehensive solution combines the simplicity of handwriting, the power of digital tools, and advanced AI features to enhance productivity, planning, organization and live collaboration. Whether you're in a meeting, on a call, or brainstorming, Goodnotes keeps your ideas organized and accessible. Key Features: - Seamless Handwriting Experience - PDF Document Annotation - Sharing & Collaboration - Advanced Spell-check & Word Prediction - Shape Recognition - Voice Recording - Sync Across Devices Enjoy seamless digital handwriting with real-time spell-check and intelligent word prediction, helping you maintain both accuracy and speed. Import and annotate any document, including PDFs and images, highlight, underline, create, save and reuse your custom designs, graphics and elements, take notes directly within the documents and share with your team to collaborate on in real time. Sync your notes across all your devices effortlessly, ensuring you have access to your important information anytime, anywhere. Effortlessly draw and create perfect shapes with our intelligent shape recognition technology, ensuring your diagrams and illustrations are precise and presentation-ready.

Average Rating: 4.7/5.0

Total Reviews: 119

How Do G2 Users Rate Goodnotes?

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)
Document Management: 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10)
Convert to PDF: 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10)
Editing History: 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Goodnotes?

Seller: Goodnotes
Company Website:
Year Founded: 2011
HQ Location: London, United Kingdom
Twitter: @GoodnotesApp
47,490 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
314 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

Top Industries: Computer Software, Higher Education
Company Size: 67% Small, 13% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Goodnotes?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros

Users find GoodNotes to be extremely user-friendly, facilitating easy note-taking and seamless organization of materials.
Users value the easy organization features of Goodnotes, allowing seamless management of notes and documents across devices.
Users find the easy setup of Goodnotes straightforward, enhancing their notetaking experience without complications.
Users love GoodNotes for its user-friendly design, seamless integration of handwritten and typed notes, and flexible features.
Users praise Goodnotes for its helpful and interactive note-taking features, enhancing organization and efficiency in their tasks.

Cons

Users experience slow performance with large notebooks and image-heavy files, causing noticeable lag during use.
Users face connectivity issues with Goodnotes, experiencing unreliable sync and a lack of real-time updates.
Users experience significant performance issues with Goodnotes, including lag, sync delays, and memory consumption in heavier tasks.
Users report technical issues with Goodnotes, including performance lag, sync problems, and unreliable cloud features.
Users find the expensive pricing of Goodnotes a barrier, especially for those needing cross-platform access.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Goodnotes?

"Goodnotes Makes Virtual and In-Person Tutoring Easy and Organized"

Rating: 4.5/5.0 stars

— Eileen T.

Best PDF Editors - Page 3

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Category Stats (Oct 2026)

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G2 Grid® for PDF Editors

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